The Projector #32: Jingle All the Way (Patreon)

by Keith Phipps

Have we ever explained the mysterious jingling noise that can sometimes be heard in the background of Next Picture Show episodes? If not, it’s probably time. But first a little bit of build-up in the form of our recording history. When we first started recording The Next Picture Show we used an actual professional recording studio, and an historic one at that. Thanks to family ties, we had access to Riverside Studios used by Chicago’s jazz and blues label Denmark Records. Riverside has played host to countless notable musicians over the years, including Archie Shepp, Roscoe Mitchell, and the Chicago Underground Trio. 

A change in ownership meant a change in venue, however. We next switched to the top floor of Genevieve’s apartment, an intimate space only occasionally disturbed by the splashing of a pet turtle owned by one of Genevieve’s roommates. When Genevieve moved to Michigan, however, we had to find yet another recording space. That brought us to our current home, Sweet Emulsion Studios, a.k.a. Scott’s basement.

Sweet Emulsion has worked out quite well, even when some of us literally phone in the podcast via Skype. (If you didn’t notice any difference, great!) Scott is generous with beer and water and it’s always fun to see what movies his daughters have been watching via the Blu-rays laying around. (Lately: a lot of Twilight. Who knew that was still a thing?) But recent developments have also brought an occasional guest to the podcast: Julius, Scott’s (fairly) recently acquired kitten.

Hence the jingling noise, courtesy of a bell attached to Julius' collar. (He's a cat who needs to be monitored at all times.) We hope it’s not too distracting to listeners because we kind of love it. Julius usually wanders in late in the recording and moves from lap to lap, occasionally nudging the microphone. All of which is a long way of setting up a picture of the cat in question. Hopefully it was edifying anyway.

Also edifying (we hope): This week’s episode of The Next Picture Show, the second part of out two-part look at Thelma & Louise and Birds of Prey: And the Fabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn, with special guest Angelica Jade Bastién.

And if you want something to read, how about these items?

• It’s a good week that yields not one but two interviews with David Cronenberg. Charles Bramesco spoke to him for The Guardian and Alison Willmore did the same for Vulture.

• Are phones the new televisions? For Vulture, Kathryn VanArendonk considered the future of how and what we watch.

• For Polygon, Maya Phillips looked at the new wave of police-brutality movies, and what they don’t get about the issue.

• When Kelly Reichardt met Bong Joon-ho (via Skype with help from The Atlantic’s David Sims).