Zainab Azizi on SEND HELP

Today on the Following Films Podcast, we’re joined by Zainab Azizi, producer at Sam Raimi’s Raimi Productions and one of the key creative forces behind the upcoming film Send Help. We talk about working inside Raimi’s production company, developing elevated genre films, and what it’s really like collaborating with one of the most iconic voices in modern horror. From behind-the-scenes process to navigating the studio system, this is a conversation about making bold films and surviving the chaos that comes with them.Send Help will be in theatres on Jan. 30th

Welcome back to the podcast. Today’s episode might challenge a few assumptions, and that’s kind of the point.We’re talking about Heated Rivalry, a story that’s often labeled as “not for straight men.” It’s a romance written largely for women, shaped by the female gaze, and centered on an intense relationship between two men. So why are we bringing it up here? Because it opens the door to a much bigger conversation about curiosity, desire, and what it actually means to be a good partner.This episode isn’t about changing who you’re attracted to, or telling anyone what they should like. It’s about asking better questions: Why do our partners love the stories they love? What are they getting from them emotionally? And what can we learn when we step outside media that’s been made exclusively for us?We’ll talk about how curiosity strengthens relationships, how emotional connection is often the core of attraction, and why engaging with stories written for the female gaze can give straight men a clearer understanding of what many women want, and often don’t feel safe asking for directly.So whether you’ve watched Heated Rivalry, heard about it in passing, or dismissed it outright, stay with us. This conversation isn’t really about a show at all. It’s about attention, empathy, and how listening, sometimes in unexpected ways, can make you a better partner.

Welcome back to The Following Films Podcast, where we dive into the stories behind the films that move us, challenge us, and stay with us long after the credits roll.Today’s episode brings us a powerful new drama that explores trauma, resilience, and the complicated journey home after war. Sheepdog, written and directed by Steven Grayhm, arrives in theaters January 16, 2026, and it’s a deeply human story about what it really takes to heal.The film centers on Calvin Cole, a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran who is court-ordered into treatment under the care of a VA trauma therapist in training. Just as he begins confronting his past, his estranged father-in-law—a retired Vietnam veteran recently released from prison—arrives at his doorstep, forcing Calvin to face everything he’s been trying to outrun. Through community, tough love, and compassion, Sheepdog becomes a story about putting yourself back together again—for your family, and for yourself.The film features an extraordinary ensemble, including Steven Grayhm, Vondie Curtis Hall, Dominic Fumusa, Lilli Cooper, Matt Dallas—and today’s guest, Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen, whose work continues to bring depth, grace, and emotional truth to every project she touches.Madsen, best known for films like Sideways, brings a remarkable presence to Sheepdog, helping ground the story in empathy and emotional realism. Her performance is part of what makes this film resonate so deeply, especially as it tackles the generational impact of war and the quiet battles that continue long after soldiers come home.I’m thrilled to welcome Virginia Madsen to The Following Films Podcast to talk about her work on Sheepdog, what drew her to the project, and why stories like this feel so vital right now.Let’s get into it.

Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast. I’m your host, Chris Maynard, and today I’m joined by writer-director Ali Cook to talk about his Oscar-shortlisted new short film, The Pearl Comb.Starring Beatie Edney (Highlander) and Ali Cook (Kajaki), The Pearl Comb follows the wife of a fisherman whose miraculous healing powers draw the scrutiny of the medical establishment. When she becomes the first person known to cure tuberculosis, a skeptical doctor is sent to investigate. Set in a time when women were barred from practicing medicine, the film explores power, belief, and the limits society places on women—what begins as an attempt to expose her becomes a journey that challenges long-held scientific and gender-based assumptions.Inspired by the true story of the Edinburgh Seven, the first women to study medicine in the UK, The Pearl Comb blends historical drama with mysticism. It has already been nominated for five British Short Film Awards, winning two, and will also screen at the Oscar-qualifying Cleveland International Film Festival later this year.Beyond filmmaking, Ali has had a remarkable career as both a magician and stand-up comedian, and in today’s conversation we dig into how those experiences shaped his storytelling voice, his sense of misdirection and wonder, and how performing live informed his work behind the camera.I’m thrilled to have him on the show.For more information, go to https://www.alicook.co.uk/

Actor Jon Heder joins host Chris Maynard for a wide-ranging conversation about his new film Tapawingo. Best known for his iconic role in the cult classic Napoleon Dynamite, Heder talks about choosing meaningful projects, the creative process behind Tapawingo, and where he’s at in his career today. The episode also looks back at his collaboration with Billy Zane in Waltzing With Brando, with behind-the-scenes stories and reflections on independent filmmaking. Tapawingo is available on Blu-ray starting today, December 16th. A great listen for movie lovers, film fans, and anyone interested in the art of acting.

Today on the podcast, Chris Maynard sits down with filmmaker Kevin Lewis—yes, that Kevin Lewis, the mad genius who gave us Willy’s Wonderland and cemented his place in modern cult horror. He’s back with a new Southern-Gothic nightmare, Pig Hill, a film that premiered at FrightFest and is now available on VOD courtesy of Cineverse, the folks behind Terrifier 3 and The Toxic Avenger.Pig Hill follows Carrie, played by Rainey Qualley, a young woman obsessed with the eerie legend of the “pig people”—grotesque creatures said to stalk the wooded hills of her rural hometown. As the disappearances of local women reach a chilling tenth victim, Carrie, her brother (Shiloh Fernandez), and their friend Andy (Shane West) begin digging into the folklore… and discover there may be more truth to the stories than anyone wants to believe.Today’s episode of the Following Films Podcast is brought to you by Google Workspace. We keep things running smoothly and efficiently at Following Films with the convenience of cloud-based Google Workspace programs. Google Docs lets you work and save on Google Drive, Hangouts lets you video chat, Gmail gives you a professional email, and Calendar lets you organise – from anywhere, at any time. You should try it and see how it can help your business, too. Google Workspace is offering a 14-day trial. If you sign up using my link, I can give you a discount, and it helps to support the show go to https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/G6uFSo let’s dive into Pig Hill, the filmmaking process, and what keeps Kevin chasing the next nightmare. Pig Hill is available on VOD today—and I’m thrilled to welcome Kevin Lewis back to the pod.

Welcome to another episode of The Following Films Podcast. Today, I’m thrilled to be joined once again by director Simon Cellan Jones. If you’ve been with us for a while, you’ll remember our fantastic conversation around his film Arthur the King — and I’ve been eager to have him back on ever since.Simon returns at a particularly exciting moment in his career. His highly anticipated new project, The Family Plan 2, starring Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan, will be hitting Apple TV+ on November 21st. We’ll be diving into the making of the film, revisiting his experience on Arthur the King, and exploring how his storytelling continues to evolve across such varied and ambitious projects.I’m genuinely grateful to have him back on the show — so without further ado, here is my conversation with Simon Cellan Jones.

Welcome to the Following Films Podcast. I’m your host, Chris Maynard, and today we’re diving into a film that’s been buzzing in genre circles for all the right—and very strange—reasons. Before we get started, a quick reminder: if you enjoy this episode, please take a moment to share it with a friend, subscribe on your favorite podcast app, and leave us a review. It really helps the show grow and keeps conversations like this one coming your way.

Today’s episode is a really fun one — I got to sit down with Augie Duke to talk about her work on The Workout, but like all good conversations, we ended up going everywhere.We talk about the fear that creeps in when you become a parent, the joy and tragedy of video stores, pets, and a bunch of other beautifully random things along the way.Now, full disclosure — this one’s got some real-life texture to it. Augie’s Wi-Fi drops out here and there, so there are a few abrupt edits, and I had the office door open because, you know, life happens — the dogs are making noise, one of my kids and the love of my life walk by. It’s a bit chaotic… and I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way.So settle in, embrace the imperfections, and enjoy this conversation with Augie Duke.

So today we’re diving into Mulholland Drive — David Lynch’s weird, beautiful, haunting masterpiece. It’s one of those movies that stays with you for days after you watch it. You think you’ve got it figured out, and then you realize… no, you really don’t.It starts off like this dreamy Hollywood story — a young actress, a mysterious woman with amnesia, a city full of possibility. But as it goes on, things start to shift. The details don’t line up. Time kind of folds in on itself. And by the end, you’re not sure what’s real, what’s imagined, or whose story you’ve even been watching.That’s what makes Mulholland Drive so fascinating — it’s not really a mystery to solve, it’s more like a dream unraveling. It’s about love, guilt, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.In this episode, we’re going to break down that ending — who Diane really is, what the dream means, and how Lynch turns Hollywood itself into this strange, almost spiritual landscape of illusion and despair.So… let’s open the box and see what’s inside. David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive