Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast
A weekly podcast brought by the team that brings you cupofteacritiques.com, the site that encourages critical viewing of film so you can decide for yourself if they’re your "cup of tea." Reading the tea leaves of the film industry is challenging. Each week on the podcast, the team peels back the layers on a movie genre or industry trend to offer aspiring filmmakers some clarity and guidance on what is often rough and indecipherable terrain that is the film and television industry. So, grab a deep brew for a deep look and some hilarious moments.
Music by Julian Hartwell (Say No More - Gh3dEJ)
Fair Use Notice: The movies and TV series excerpted and discussed on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast are copyrighted productions. Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast refers to them for the purposes of social commentary and constructive criticism of the productions’ content, which constitutes "fair use" as codified in section 107 of U.S. Copyright law.
Episodes
34 episodes
Changing Lanes: What are the risks and benefits of being typecast in film?
It is fun being in your comfort zone as an actor, you know, when you’re getting roles in your established specialty (i.e. comedy, rom‑com, action). But what if you wanted to break the mold, try something in a different genre or as a different t...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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42:32
Why do we love and hate blaxploitation films?
Despite spanning only five years in the mid‑1970s, the blaxploitation era of filmmaking left an indelible mark on the film industry and in the hearts and minds of many in the Black community. While some insist the movies contributed to what wer...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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39:49
What makes a good (or bad) villain? [Replay]
Darth Vader. Thanos. Lucy van Pelt! What are the qualifications for a villain in your story? Does it even need to be human? Maybe your villain is something more abstract. What villains are your cups of tea? Write us a review and share some of y...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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48:21
Horror or Thriller: What's the Difference? [Replay]
Was Heretic more of a thriller than a horror movie? What's the difference? Check out our article on the Cup of Tea Critiques
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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35:28
How does an actor pull off two roles in the same film?
One of many challenges an actor can embrace is playing multiple roles in the same production. But what goes into the preparation and execution? What elements raise or lower the degree of difficulty? Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast a...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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42:37
Just how important are costumes and props in film?
Have you ever considered how much research is needed to ensure the style and fit of a character’s outfit matches the period of the film? What about something as benign as the badge on a police officer’s uniform, the walker a character uses, or ...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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57:28
How do boxing movies stand out from their sports counterparts?
There is no doubt that studios produce movies like Rocky, Creed, Cinderella Man, and Ali primarily for entertainment. What boxing movies like these typically have in common, though, is a hyperfocus on flawed ...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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53:14
Why are Today's Cartoons More Heavy than Funny? [Replay]
Remember when you watched cartoons as a kid? These times are likely some of your fondest childhood memories; you still recite some of the lines even today. A fair number of shows were centered around animals, and then later with people. T...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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51:23
Creating a Buzz: What are some of the most extraordinary movie marketing campaigns?
We are familiar with the usual teasers, posters, and trailers that are par for the course in movie promotions. But what about the ad campaigns that go beyond these and show thinking way outside the box, like the one for Smile that sat ...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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39:56
The Countless Menagerie of Doomsday Films
Let’s say you’re not a vegan and there is suddenly no meat available because the animals were stricken by a virus and died. We recently saw a screening of director R.T. Thorne’s 40 Acres that presents such a scenario and gives us a gli...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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44:03
The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Plot Twists in Cinema
Have you ever felt invested in a movie’s characters and had a pretty good idea of the plot’s trajectory less than halfway through the story? How did you feel when things shifted? A main character who had won your heart got whacked; the story su...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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34:06
Why are Today's Cartoons More Heavy than Funny?
Remember when you watched cartoons as a kid? These times are likely some of your fondest childhood memories; you still recite some of the lines even today. A fair number of shows were centered around animals, and then later with people. T...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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51:23
What is the Cultural Impact of Physical Media’s Decline?
The emergence of high-speed internet has led to shrinking DVD and CD sales over the last fifteen years or so. As seen in what we still refer to as our monthly “cable bill,” technological advances have expanded the options for watching movies an...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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43:26
The Short Films that Led to Long Careers
For decades, aspiring filmmakers have used short films as tools for learning their craft. Constrained by tiny budgets, small casts, and limited options for shooting locations, they produce complete stories ranging from five to thirty minutes in...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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46:58
Where’s Hollywood’s Sense of Adventure?
You may remember movies like The Mummy, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. These family‑friendly films incited a sense of adventure and stirred the imagination. So, what happened to them? They seem...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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47:33
Post‑Apocalypse Now!
Let’s say you’re not a vegan and there is suddenly no meat available because the animals were stricken by a virus and died. We recently saw a screening of director R.T. Thorne’s 40 Acres that presents such a scenario and gives us a gli...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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44:03
Happy Anniversary Jaws!
Did it make you afraid to go into the water? Maybe you remember the frenzy around the blockbuster movie, Jaws. This month is the 50th anniversary of its release, and we are celebrating with personal remembrances and our thoughts on
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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41:59
The Joy of Hate Watching!
Ever hear of “hate-watching?” It is the tendency to watch movies and television shows that do not appeal to you. Some go beyond lacking appeal to making you cringe every time you see them. Indeed, occasionally you watch the shows just for the s...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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35:29
Where are all the Action Movie Heroines?
Have you seen the new John Wick movie, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina? Ana de Armas plays the lead and she is a badass in the film! It got us thinking how rare it is to see women presented as the lead in action movies. While th...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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35:00
What Makes a Production a Classic?
Consider for a moment your go-to movies or television shows. You know, the ones you stream decades (or perhaps just a year or two) after their release and they still make you laugh, make you cry, or just stir something inside you. Would you con...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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41:42
How throwback films take you waayyy back!
Last fall, COTC reviewed the Peacock series, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, starring Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard,...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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33:52
Where are all the Sports Movies?
Remember movies like Little Big League, Any Given Sunday, Mighty Ducks, Major League, and Sandlot? From the 1990s to the early 2000s, the film industry released about four sports movies like these ev...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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44:38
Sinners and the Mystique of Vampirism
Ryan Coogler’s recent hit movie, Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan, has sparked a lot of buzz. What is the appeal of vampires and what adds credibility to a vampire production? In this episode, we dive into the mystique of this centu...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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49:39
When the Industry Goes Reel!
In this episode, we delve into cinema on difficult topics and social issues. Be aware that samples of these works and some aspects of our discussion may be triggering for some listeners. Many movies and TV series mirror real‑life circumstances ...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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57:12
Who the Heck is Alan Smithee — and Why Should You Care?
Have you ever wanted to remove your name from something that turned out badly? Maybe it was a group project, a paper you wrote, or a decision with an undesirable outcome. A little-known pseudonym adopted by the Directors Guild of America has al...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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37:48