3.45-Filmmaker Interview with Aaron Blaise

3.45-Filmmaker Interview with Aaron Blaise

Author: Jonathan Ytreberg June 3, 2025 Duration: 21:48
Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, I interview Aaron Blaise, director of the animated short film "Snow Bear," a story of a lonely polar bear navigating a rapidly changing Arctic in search of connection. Listen to hear about how Aaron found his way into animation, what he learned from his many years as an animator at Disney, and the emotional inspiration for the story of this new film. Books mentioned in this episode include: Lullaby by Chuck PalahniukFight Club by Chuck PalahniukFilm...

There's a whole century of stories waiting in the Academy's archives, and The Oscar Project Podcast is digging through every single one. Instead of just focusing on the current awards season, this show takes the long view, working its way through every film ever nominated for an Oscar starting all the way back in 1929. Each episode is a deep dive into a specific year or a particular film, unpacking not just the cinematic craft on screen but the historical context that shaped it. You'll hear about forgotten gems, surprising snubs, and how the art of filmmaking has evolved over decades. Alongside these detailed reviews and discussions, the podcast regularly features conversations with filmmakers, historians, and authors who provide unique insights into the industry's past and present. It’s for anyone who loves film history as much as the movies themselves, offering a structured but fascinating journey through Hollywood's most celebrated-and sometimes controversial-moments. Tune in to this thoughtfully crafted podcast for a richer understanding of how the Oscars have reflected, and sometimes directed, the entire trajectory of modern cinema.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Oscar Project Podcast
Podcast Episodes
4.17-Raffles with Madison Hatfield [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:04
Send us Fan Mail Today's episode is my conversation about the 1930 film Raffles. I'm joined by Madison Hatfield film writer and director who previously came on the podcast in 2025 to talk with me about her film "I Could…
4.16-Filmmaker Interview with Christine La Monte (REPLAY) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:03
Send us Fan Mail Today I’m replaying an episode from earlier this winter, my interview with Christine La Monte, producer of two recent documentaries, Ai Weiwei’s Turandot and the Oscar shortlisted Viva Verdi!. Viva Verdi…
4.15-The Big House with Lewis Beer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:20
Send us Fan Mail Today's episode is my conversation about the 1930 film The Big House. I'm joined by Lewis Beer who writes the Slow Moving Pictures newsletter, and we talk about the key themes that weave throughout the f…
4.14-98th Oscars Nominee Interview (REPLAY) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:37
Send us Fan Mail Today's episode is a re-air of portions of three interviews I did with several of this year's Oscar nominated filmmakers. You'll hear from Julia Aks and Steve Pinder, directors of the film "Jane Austen's…
4.13-With Byrd at the South Pole with Kevin Pettit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:21
Send us Fan Mail Today's episode is my conversation about the 1930 film With Byrd at the South Pole. I'm joined by Kevin Pettit who writes the See You At the Movies newsletter, and we talk about how the film is essential…
4.12-Filmmaker Interview with Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:21
Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, I interview Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, directors of the Oscar-nominated short film "The Girl Who Cried Pearls." The film is a wonderful lesson in the true value of a thing a…
4.11-Hell's Angels with Vicki Lesley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:15
Send us Fan Mail Today's episode is my conversation about the 1930 film Hell's Angels. I'm joined by Vicki Lesley who writes the Vicki Lesley is...Documental newsletter, and we talk about the beautiful cinematographic mo…
4.10-Filmmaker Interview with Luke Angus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:33
Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, I interview Luke Angus, director of the animated short film "Solstice." The film tells a story of loss and grief through the eyes of a lonely Inuit. Listen to hear about how he starte…
4.9-Song of the Flame with Taylor Lewis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:19
Send us Fan Mail Today's episode is my conversation about the 1930 film Song of the Flame. I'm joined by Taylor Lewis who writes the Luz Films newsletter, and we talk about how difficult it is to evaluate a film based on…
4.8-98th Academy Awards Nominees [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:24
Send us Fan Mail The nominees for the 98th Academy Awards are here. Take a listen to hear the full list, some fun trivia facts about the nominees, and my personal thoughts on the films that made the cut as well as those…