June Updates
Podcasts, guest posts & what I’ve been watching
Hello and welcome to Popped! A newsletter about film history and culture. Thank you for reading.
You join me as I ride the train to Cardiff. I’m on the way to spend the weekend watching Wales play football, going to gigs and generally having a lovely time with the family.
As romantic as writing on a train sounds, I’m actually jotting this down on my phone, it’s raining outside and all I have for sustenance are Percy Pigs.
I write today to bring you a couple of things I’ve worked on recently with other people. It’s been great fun to do these little side pieces, one of which I’m sharing far too late as the event I was writing for happened two weeks ago. If you can time travel, please consider attending.
Podcast
First up is a podcast episode that’s just been published today. I joined the lovely
on The Oscar Project as he gradually watches and talks about every Oscar nominee through history.For this episode I watched a film called The Leatherneck from 1929. It was made as Hollywood was transitioning to sound, so it was partly made in sound at the time, though that copy has been lost.
What we’re left with today is a copy on YouTube with no sound at all, not even music. I’ve never watched a silent film in complete silence before, and I don’t know if I’d recommend it or not!
Do have a listen to the episode and consider subscribing to Jonathan’s newsletter and podcast. There’s plenty on offer with interviews with people like me, along with actual real life film makers!
Cardiff Animation Festival Blog
Ok so yes, this one’s on me. I did shout about this on socials but didn’t put it on here!
It was a nice surprise and exciting to be asked to write for Cardiff Animation Festival ahead of their recent Weekender event. They asked me to write about nostalgia in animation and the power of nostalgia for modern audiences.
Here is a link to the blog and while you’re there, have a look at their past events and what’s coming up, especially if you’re nearby.
Popped Updates
Gosh I have been slow on here haven’t I! Popped being on my mind daily doesn’t seem to add up to posting less than once a month.
But such is life.
I have finally started working on some research based posts which I’m excited about. I’m also keen to start making some YouTube videos which actually have plans and outlines! I’m threatening to do something, any day now.
In the meantime, do add me on instagram as I’m most active there at the moment.
My Last 4 Watched
In between cinema visits I’m attempting to catch up with what I missed from 2024. Zendaya constantly cementing her place as a modern icon in Challengers, it was refreshingly well made after sitting through Fright Night: Prom Queen.
The Phoenician Scheme was a bit “Wes Anderson by numbers” for me. I think the viral Wes Anderson aesthetic reels/TikTok’s over the last year or so has made his films look like a pastiche of themselves.
And as for Nosferatu…Robert Eggers is definitely at home in horror. More please!
That’s it for now. Always good to catch up.
Thanks for reading, and stay safe!
Gareth
Loved this check-in, Gareth—Percy Pigs, podcast adventures, and all. Your take on The Leatherneck made me grin.