hosts Kevin Mumphrey, Victoria V.A. Jones, and Karsten Hyde-Fargason welcome filmmaking couple Kyle and Zuzu Weingart, the creative minds behind the feature film Cuisine de l'Apocalypse.

The Weingarts discuss how their shared love for movies—from It's a Wonderful Life to Mel Brooks and B-movies like Tremors—inspired them to pursue filmmaking. Zuzu shares her unusual start in Japanese refrigerator commercials, and Kyle recounts how Zuzu motivated him to leave a gas station job to go to film school.

They detail the challenges and dynamics of working together as a married couple and parents on projects like their first $5,000 feature film, The Waiting Game, which battled unexpected four feet of Montana snow. Zuzu also discusses the heartbreak and silver lining of having her scene with Nicolas Cage cut from the film Butcher's Crossing (which earned her a SAG card).

Finally, they dive into their new project, Cuisine de l'Apocalypse. Kyle reveals the film was inspired by his love for cooking shows and Gilligan's Island, aiming to be a fun, unpretentious movie. Zuzu explains how they secured funding, including a $50,000 film grant and a supportive private investor, after starting their production company, 99 Productions, right before the 2020 pandemic.

We discuss the current state of the movie industry, focusing on the disappointing box office results of October, the impact of economic factors on movie-going habits, and the phenomenon of celebrity fatigue. They explore the dynamics of upcoming films, the competition they face, and the expectations audiences have for sequels and franchises. The discussion also touches on the high costs of big-budget films and the anticipated box office performance of major releases like Wicked and Avatar.

In this engaging conversation, We dive into various topics surrounding the film industry, including predictions for the upcoming Oscars, the evolution of The Rock's career, and the impact of streaming services on audience engagement. They discuss the changing landscape of Hollywood, the significance of action and comedy films, and the future of major franchises like Star Wars and Marvel. Additionally, they explore the introduction of new Oscar categories and the idea of recognizing animal performances in film.