The Devil's Backbone

How decisions about Time affect our storytelling.

"Trees and people used to be good friends..." This week, we're watching Miyazaki's first masterpiece.

What is a ghost? A tragedy condemned to repeat itself time and again? An instant of pain, perhaps? Something dead which still seems to be alive? An emotion suspended in time? Like a blurred photograph? Like an insect trapped in amber?

When we talk about "genre" as it relates to movies, books, comics, etc. what do we mean? What IS "genre?" Josh and Ira break down how we use that term on Film School. Also, Josh recommends MasterChef (Hulu), and Ira recommends Sunderland Till I Die (Netflix). The Genre Five Leaf Clover is available over at StoryGrid.com: https://storygrid.com/books/story-grid-genre-five-leaf-clover/

"The earth knows it's wrong for us to survive..." We're diving into Miyazaki's second feature film! The world is a wasteland called the "sea of despair." But one intrepid young heroine might have the keys to save us all.

Josh and Ira take a trip outdoors to visit the Criterion Closet when it visited Los Angeles. It was a hoot!

Hayao Miyazaki's first film!

Josh announces our next project on Film School: we're diving deep into the Japanese anime master, Hayao Miyazaki!

I'm not drinking any f----ing merlot!