

Blank Check with Griffin & David
Blank Check Productions
Not just another bad movie podcast, Blank Check reviews directors' complete filmographies episode to episode. Specifically, the auteurs whose early successes afforded them the rare ‘blank check’ from Hollywood to produce passion projects. Each new miniseries, hosts Griffin Newman and David Sims delve into the works of film’s most outsized personalities in painstakingly hilarious detail. Produced by Ben Hosley.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 23, 2018 • 2h 28min
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk with J.D. Amato
Blank it, thank it! J.D. Amato (The President Show) returns, in the last episode of our mini series devoted to the filmography of director Ang Lee, to discuss 2016’s high frame rate Iraq War drama, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. But what makes this movie so revolutionary? What is the evolution of frame rates in film? Who are the shortest and the tallest actors according to IMDB? Together they examine the history of cameras from film to digital, the BIG3 basketball league and never doing an episode on The Happytime Murders. For your very own “I Talked the Walk 2018” merch go to TeePublic! On Thursday, look out for our bonus episode on the Ang Lee directed short film “Chosen” part of the BMW film series The Hire and then next week will begin our new mini series on the films of Nancy Meyers!David Sims’ Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk review on the AtlanticJoin our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X! Buy some real nerdy merch.Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord.For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 16, 2018 • 2h 17min
Life of Pi with Ray Tintori
Filmmaker Ray Tintori joins Griffin and David to discuss 2012’s Oscar award winning drama, Life of Pi. But was Tobey Maguire in an early cut of the movie wearing a terrible wig? Did Ray’s mother work as a script supervisor on this film? Does Ang Lee know about this podcast? Together, they examine the early stages of development for this project, working with VR technology and Griffin sets the record straight about his father.Halon Entertainment - Life of Pi Previs Highlight ReelDennis Hopper reading “If” by Rudyard Kipling on the Johnny Cash ShowJoin our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X! Buy some real nerdy merch.Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord.For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 9, 2018 • 2h 32min
Taking Woodstock with Alex Ross Perry
Writer and director Alex Ross Perry (Christopher Robin) returns to Blank Check to discuss 2009’s Taking Woodstock. But is this a comedy tho? Did this film win AARP’s Movies for Grownups Award for Best Grownup Love Story? Is the portrayal of an LSD experience accurate? Together they examine the career of Demetri Martin, a mysterious bucket of glitter, Sha Na Na and straight trippin’ boo. Plus, Griffin shares a Martin Scorsese Woodstock story and Alex brings the chocolate milk!And look our for an upcoming screening of Alex Ross Perry’s new film, Her Smell, starring Elisabeth Moss, Cara Delevingne and Dan Stevens!Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X! Buy some real nerdy merch.Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord.For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 2, 2018 • 1h 58min
Lust, Caution with Chris Weitz
Director, screenwriter and producer Chris Weitz (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Twilight Saga: New Moon) joins Griffin and David to discuss 2007’s extreme erotic espionage period thriller: Lust, Caution. But what makes this NC-17 rated film a blank check? How was Tang Wei’s career affected after the release of this movie? Did one of the hosts go through a Jessica Alba phase and can the listeners guess who? Together they examine green lights in Hollywood, scoring films, Wetflix and foregrounding the mahjong.And check out Operation Finale staring Ben Kingsley, Oscar Issac and directed by Chris Weitz!Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X! Buy some real nerdy merch.Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord.For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 26, 2018 • 1h 51min
Brokeback Mountain with Las Culturistas
Comedians and the hosts of Las Culturistas podcast (foreverdogproductions.com) Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang join Griffin and David to discuss 2005’s western romance, Brokeback Mountain. Together they examine the careers of Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, Oscar winners over the years and, of course, erasure.Also help support Dresser Kittens at dresser-kittens.myshopify.com/Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X! Buy some real nerdy merch.Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord.For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 19, 2018 • 2h 15min
Hulk
This week is all about 2003’s Hulk. The origins of this project. How Ang Lee played the Hulk on set. Our hosts favorite film genre: the bad dad Nick Nolte. The juxtaposition of serious and comic books in the filmmaking. How the hulk hands kid’s toy comes from a somber, meditative family drama about the way our fathers damage us. And the careers of Jennifer Connelly and Eric Bana. Music courtesy of "Night Court Theme" by Jack ElliottJoin our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X! Buy some real nerdy merch.Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord.For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 12, 2018 • 2h 11min
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon with David Ehrlich
David Ehrlich (IndieWire) joins Griffin and David for an in-depth conversation on 2000’s Wuxia epic, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Together they examine the sweaty nature of the Police inspector Tsai and his daughter, eye performance, cave life and share James Schamus stories. Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X! Buy some real nerdy merch.Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord.For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 5, 2018 • 1h 51min
Ride with the Devil with Peter Labuza
Peter Labuza (The Cinephiliacs podcast, Village Voice) joins Griffin and David to discuss the 1999 Civil War epic, Ride with the Devil. But is Jim Caviezel a weirdo? Does Tobey get his nub back? What is a skuzzin? Together they examine the careers of Tobey Maguire, Jeffrey Wright and Jewel, the film theory of James Schamus and dumb people trying to one up each other. Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X! Buy some real nerdy merch.Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord.For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 29, 2018 • 1h 49min
The Ice Storm with Emily Yoshida
Emily Yoshida (Night Call podcast) returns to discuss 1997’s bleak drama, The Ice Storm. But what drew Ang Lee to this project? Is ‘HU’ a good shorthand for hook up? Is this one of the top films to portray the winter in the Northeast? Together they discuss key parties, being passed out in a bathroom, reminisce about the nineties and Griffin shares a Elliott Gould tale. And check out Blank Check’s wiki!Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X! Buy some real nerdy merch.Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord.For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 22, 2018 • 2h 11min
Hotel Transylvania Trilogy
Griffin and David present a special episode covering the Hotel Transylvania films and tv series. But how do the monsters pay for staying at the hotel and do they ever leave? What is the recent history behind Sony Pictures Animation? Do the hosts open toys on mic and there is a bunch of dead air? Together they discuss Genndy Tartakovsky’s career, zinging, blah blah blah and more. Plus, a Burger Report: Masterpiece Theater edition! Genndy Tartakovsky's POPEYE Animation TestJoin our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X! Buy some real nerdy merch.Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord.For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices