The Projector #40: The Best of What’s Still Around (Patreon)

by Keith Phipps

What if we run out of new stuff to talk about? It’s not the craziest possibility given what’s going on in the world. Production cycles for film and television are long, meaning it will take a while for the pipeline to stop turning out material, but given that a) we probably won’t return to anything approaching a normal existence until we have a COVID-19 vaccine and b) the most optimistic projections for that vaccine still have it some ways in the future, it’s a possibility worth considering. Already, in-progress TV seasons have been cut short and upcoming seasons delayed. While some late-night shows and SNL have found ways to struggle on, we could be looking at some pretty grim prospects for future programming. 

The supply of movies will likely last longer, with the biggest completed movies still stockpiled for the day when theaters can finally reopen (for real, not Texas/Georgia-style). Is it possible that even movies deemed too iffy for release will become semi-precious commodities for those starved for something new to watch?

What seems more likely: we’d enter a time of reflection on the past. You can already see it coming on social media. Maybe I’m just noticing it more, but my Facebook and Twitter feeds seem increasingly dominated by “Name Five Movies That Changed The Way You See The World”-style participation games. It makes me wonder if — should trends persist — we’ll find ourselves living in the equivalent of the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers video for “You Got Lucky,” puzzling over bits of culture that were in the midst of a wasteland (just a metaphoric wasteland, at least hopefully).

It could be worse? There’s certainly a lot I’ve never seen, and you too. And, speaking extremely locally, the format of this podcast is flexible enough that we could expand the idea of programmed double features so it’s not so dependent on what’s brand new. So far we haven’t run out of options, but you might see us getting a bit more experimental down the line. 

In the meantime, we’re happy to have you join us in this strange, semi-isolated pop culture world. Have a great weekend. And here’s some pieces to read:

• For Vulture, Alison Willmore spoke to Alice Wu about making movies, stopping making movies, then starting up again.

• Also for Vulture, Bilge Ebiri spoke to Claire Denis about life in quarantine.

• For Fangoria, Keith Phipps dug into the strange ’70s horror movie Messiah of Evil (a future Your Next Picture Show recommendation).

• For The Guardian, Charles Bramesco talked to the makers of Blood Quantum, a zombie movie built around the culture of indigenous peoples.

• Does James Bond have an Austin Powers problem? Miles Surrey considered the issue for The Ringer.