“Who (or what) is Reel Chat?”
Hosted and developed by independent filmmaker Adam Stolfo, Reel Chat is your quintessential movie reviews podcast. Throughout the course of their fortnightly show, the Reel Chat team give you their thoughts on all things cinema. It’s more than just retrospective opinions and reviews mind you – it’s a round-the-board discussion show with one goal in mind – the entertainment, enjoyment and subjectivity of movies. For their latest season, the team is tackling the Top 100 Greatest Movies as voted for by Empire Magazine’s readership.
Reel Chat regular guests and contributors include filmmaker Andrew McCaskill (the cinematography and film score maestro), writer Penny Jelly (our screenplay and streaming queen), as well as ongoing special appearances from Damon Quah, Michael Hadjion, Jesse O’Brien and Matthew O’Neill.
If you’re a fan of cinema, Reel Chat is the ultimate resource to hear all about the films you love (or love to hate) in a unique and original platform.
“Why should you watch or revisit this film? Why is it, or why is it not, worth your time?”
Reel Chat aims to give their loyal listeners so much more than your average movie reviews podcast. Meticulously researched and featuring special industry guests, the show shines because of it’s focus on one specific film’s history, cultural significance and behind-the-scenes info. In the course of an episode discussion, Adam and his team break down a film, looking at it’s cast, it’s filmmakers, it’s screenplay, it’s cinematography, it’s music and soundtrack, it’s legacy, it’s Blu-ray or digital releases (and streaming), as well as it’s most interesting little-known anecdotes and production trivia.
“Forgotten gems, new releases, classic well-loved franchises – we aim to look at them all!”
As their shows are full of spoilers, the Reel Chat team recommend that you listen to their podcasts shortly after you’ve seen the film in question. That way you’ll get the most out of it, and everything they discuss will be fresh and relevant in your mind. You will also most likely learn a thing or two you never thought you would.
“There is a particularly passionate niche market of cinephiles out there, so please help us find them!”
Please give Reel Chat feedback here on their site and on their social media feeds. Post your thoughts and chat to them on their Facebook page. Follow them on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to their YouTube channel. Download the official Podcasts app in the App Store and listen to them at your own convenience. Favourite sections of the show… least favourite sections of the show… all feedback will be listened to, taken on board and appreciated.
“There is just so much goodness to explore. So come join us. If you’re into cinema, then we want to hear from you!”
Your feedback and response is the key to keeping Reel Chat alive and kicking.
Please give them iTunes ratings and reviews – as this helps immensely with a podcast’s stature and significance on iTunes and Apple Podcasts. The more ratings and reviews they receive, the more the podcast pops up on iTunes feeds alongside other popular Film & TV themed podcasts.
THE TEAM
Owner & Host – Adam Stolfo
Adam Stolfo was always destined to be a creative person. Following in the footsteps of his father, production designer Otello Stolfo, Adam discovered filmmaking in high school after experimenting with a variety of creative outlets throughout his early years, and became enthralled by the visual storytelling power of the movies. A little obsessed (he prefers the word ‘passionate’) with his two biggest movie inspirations – “Back To The Future” and “The Terminator” (don’t they both involve time travel!??), Adam is the quintessential movies guy, willing to discuss all things film – practically all the time if permitted! Podcasting is Adam’s latest creative venture, and he believes “Reel Chat” is a perfect way for the team to share their love of film in the most accessible and entertaining way possible. Appearances: 109
Regular Guest – Andrew McCaskill
Andrew McCaskill is a long time film buff. Brought up on a steady diet of Hitchcock films, Foreign films and 80’s pop culture classics; watching “Plan 9 From Outer Space” a dozen times, has made him the man he is today. He still counts the screenings of “Se7en” and “The Thin Red Line” as life changing moments. He has made a handful of short films over the years, with the hope of building up towards a feature film. Film scores are an underrated art form which, have always been a crucial element of a film’s success. Andrew believes it’s great to be able to use this podcast to give proper time and respect to the composers and their works. He hopes you enjoy our geeky banter. Appearances: 73
Regular Guest – Penny Jelly
The newest member of the team, Penny Jelly loves movies – and not just because it’s an excuse to disappear from the real world for hours at a time (often with a choc top) – but because it assists in keeping her sane and able to operate in real-time outside of the letterbox framing of a good movie. Penny had the privilege of seeing a lot of the movie greats at the cinema – be it re-runs of “Rear Window” or “Arsenic and Old Lace” with her parents – or the first time release of classics such as “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Alien” (although for “Alien” she was asleep as a mere toddler during the second feature of a Drive-In double – but woke at seminal moments of the film. This might explain her love of great narrative, the ‘show don’t tell’ philosophy and strong enjoyable character story-arcs… As well as a fear of Drive-Ins… And chest-bursting aliens. Penny loves the blatant over the top nature of fantastic in-your-face blockbusters, but is just at home with the subtlety of independent cinema, or a damn good doco. This passion for all things right with movies drove her to study screenwriting and script editing and hopes to one day write her way out of just watching movies, and into her own writer role. Currently the character of Penny Jelly is delighted to be sitting in a room with crazy characters talking about movies on “Reel Chat”. Appearances: 35
Sub Guest – Matthew O’Neill
As a 5 year old watching “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein”, Matthew O’Neill found himself hooked on film, in particular – Horror. When he is not watching the films of Fulci, Fisher and Franco, he can be found riding off into the sunset with a tin of spaghetti western by his side. He also runs the Melbourne Horror Film society along with 3 other Horror nerds. While his heart is very much attached to the Horror genre – he does consider “Escape To Victory” to be one of the greatest films ever made, and can’t wait for the day that “Reel Chat” covers “Zardoz”. Appearances: 26
Sub Guest – Michael Hadjion
Michael Hadjion was raised in a film-mad household where “2001: A Space Odyssey” was considered the sacred oracle that shaped all subsequent films (and modern life as we know it). Combined with a childhood of nerdish passions such as Warhammer 40k, Dungeons & Dragons and Sierra adventure games, this laid solid foundations for a love of all things Fantasy & Sci-Fi. Having an older sister meant that Michael was also spoon-fed 80’s “Brat Pack” classics, Christian Slater’s back-catalogue and far too many viewings of “Point Break” and “Strictly Ballroom.” As such, Michael’s interest in film draws upon diverse influences and he is just as likely to enjoy a rom-com, zom-com or a zom-rom-com. Appearances: 18
Sub Guest – Damon Quah
Script an engaging story with interesting characters to create a film built upon the solid performances of skilled actors – a recipe for success? Damon thinks so and this is his simple criteria when judging all movies he sees. In his youth, Damon could be found watching anything Adventure, Comedy, Action or (especially) Sci-Fi that you could imagine from all eras… so basically he watched a lot! In his late teens his interests shifted toward the world of ‘classic’ movies. There he enjoyed works from famed directors such as Hitchcock, Kazan, Kubrick and Capra whilst developing his outlook that a good film needs to hold up today without relying on being judged “good for its time.” These days with his daily routines focused on his young family, his criteria for what makes a good film remains unchanged. If anything, time (or less there of) has made him more uncompromising. He always welcomes clever technical achievements or unconventional plot twists, but never as compensation for other shortcomings. The crafting of a captivating and engaging story are always paramount. Appearances: 14
Sub Guest – Jesse O’Brien
Jesse is an Australian filmmaker with a background in visual effects. He is the writer/director of the science fiction feature Arrowhead, which was the recipient of the John Hinde Award for Science Fiction by the Australian Writer’s Guild. He is currently about to premiere his second feature, British/Australian horror comedy Two Heads Creek. Appearances: 15
www.jessetobrien.com