Emilia Yu
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in Interviews, TV
Interview: The Cast of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Talk Childhood Inspiration and the Weight of Tolkien’s Legacy
Amazon Prime Video made a splash this fall with the premiere of season one of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, estimated to be the most expensive show ever made and one that builds on JRR Tolkien’s expansive fantasy realm of Middle Earth. The show brought to the small screen stunning corners […] More
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in Interviews, TV
Interview: Director Ry Russo-Young Talks ‘Nuclear Family,’ Processing through Filmmaking, and Self-Awareness
Nuclear Family tells the story of how lesbian couple Sandra Russo and Robin Young created, and then fought for the integrity of their family. A would-be idyllic childhood for daughters Ry and Cade, each conceived through a different sperm donor, turned traumatic when one of the donors sued for paternity and visitation rights for Ry. […] More
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in Interviews, TV
Interview: The Producers and Cast Explore the Peterson Tragedy in ‘The Staircase’
Hardcore fans of the true crime genre are well aware of the unsettling story of the Petersons and the infamous staircase where patriarch Michael Peterson allegedly found his bloodied and deceased wife, Kathleen. The obvious question: did he do it? Two decades, two trials, and two miniseries later, no one really knows. The Staircase, which […] More
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in Interviews
Interview: Bill Simmons and the Creators of HBO’s ‘Music Box’ Series Discuss the Windows of a Musician’s Career
Famed journalist and sports analyst Bill Simmons put a fresh spin on music documentaries last year with the release of season one of Music Box on HBO Max. The series features six documentaries, each by a different filmmaker, each showcasing a different artist. We got the chance to listen in to an HBO FYC panel […] More
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in Interviews, Podcast
Interview: ‘Shang-Chi’ VFX Team On Origin Stories, Creating Rings, the Challenges of Good Weather
The ‘Verse! Squad recently sat down with the Academy Award-nominated visual effects team behind Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. This was an extra big deal for us because this was the only movie of 2021 (and 2022 so far!) that The ‘Verse! gave top ratings to across the board. We know none […] More
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in Interviews
Interview: Alexandre Desplat Talks ‘The French Dispatch’ and the Poetic World of Wes Anderson
In an era of percussive, growling, exhilarating Zimmer-esque film scores, it can be refreshing to hear a score with a lighter touch. Light, but also intentional, meticulous, and whimsical. Alexandre Desplat, one of the most prolific and decorated film composers of our time, brings together the minimalist, the classical, the quirky, and the Dada in […] More
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in Reviews
Film Review: ‘The Nowhere Inn’ is a Trippy Seductive Descent into the Artist’s Intentions
Another wacky Annie Clark project, another raft of reviews trying way too hard to dissect her whole life story through her public image. Written by and starring regular music and comedic collaborators Carrie Brownstein (Portlandia, Sleater-Kinney) and Annie Clark (St. Vincent), and directed by Bill Benz (Portlandia, At Home with Amy Sedaris), The Nowhere Inn, […] More
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in Emmys, Interviews, TV
Interview: ‘Bridgerton’ Music Supervisor Alex Patsavas Talks Collaboration with ShondaLand and Blending Soundtrack and Score
If you watched Netflix’s steamy regency-era period drama Bridgerton, there’s probably just one aspect of the show you remember more than the…cavorting. And that’s the music, from a playful string quartet cover of Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” to Sufjan Steven’s “Love Yourself” blending seamlessly with the show’s luxurious aesthetic. We had the chance to […] More
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Behind the Scenes: How Nainita Desai Uses Found Sound to Tell a Murder Story
In today’s golden age of true crime media, it can be hard to imagine new ways to tell these tragic stories. Netflix’s American Murder: The Family Next Door achieves this by elevating the voice of the victim. Nainita Desai, who composed the score, works seamlessly with this vision using found sound. As the documentary transitions […] More
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in Interviews, TV
Interview: ‘Invincible’ Showrunner Simon Racioppa Talks Inspiration, Animation as a Medium, and Partnership with Robert Kirkman
The world is not tired of superhero stories and shows like Amazon Prime Video’s Invincible explain why. A coming-of-age story about a teenage superhero whose father is the most powerful hero on the planet, Invincible is relatable, action-packed, humorous, and horrific all at once. We had the chance to speak with showrunner Simon Racioppa about […] More
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in Interviews
Interview: ‘PEN15’ Director Sam Zvibleman Talks Honesty, Hard Work, and the Magic Behind the Scenes
I have a long list of shows that helped get me through the pandemic, but one that really stayed with me was PEN15. Season two premiered in September of last year, building on the honest, refreshingly awkward legs of season one. A show about middle school, “as it really happened” starring two of the three […] More
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How ‘Invincible’ Deconstructs What Truly Makes Us Human
At first glance, it’s easy to draw parallels between Amazon Prime Video’s two superhero hits, Invincible and The Boys. They’re hyper violent, utilize evil Superman tropes, and feature fraught father-son relationships. What sets the two apart however, is where The Boys chooses gritty cynicism, Invincible chooses optimism and belief in the human spirit. The show […] More