Cinema Yūgen

Step into a sun-bleached Las Vegas where the forgotten are vanishing and something mechanical is taking their place. Bag Lady follows two brothers and mismatched outsiders — the wary conspiracist Skee and the everyman Bender — as a strange discovery about an elderly recycler pulls them into a fast, furious battle against an unseen invasion.
Part homage to They Live and Terminator and part reckless action-comedy, the short blends intimate character moments with bone-crunching, tightly choreographed fights. As the pair argue about control, agency and whether anyone really notices the dispossessed, the stakes grow: what happens when society decides the expendable are expendable no longer?
With dark humor, arcade-style action beats, and a heart built from real-world empathy, Eric Jacobus's Bag Lady is a short that teases a larger world — landing like a punch, then making you think about who gets left behind. Watch the short on YouTube this November and meet the film that sparks both a laugh and a chill.
CHECK IT OUT:
https://ericjacobus.com/
https://youtu.be/HbV7QQkRLTU
https://www.youtube.com/@EricJacobusOfficial
 

Return to the interrogation room (or the confessional) with Kent Hill as Andrew Leavold — aka Alby Wrangler — drags you into a chaotic DIY odyssey — The Taller They Come — like Hearts of Darkness if it were filmed on a shoestring and powered by chicken feathers. From a 30‑kilo suitcase of props and a hired farting monkey to night shoots in a stoned cemetery, this episode cracks open the messy, glorious engine of cult filmmaking.
Follow three mates parachuting behind enemy lines in Ghana as they cobble a feature from whatever lies around, improvise scenes on the fly, bribe locals, and embrace the freedom of doing it badly and proudly. It’s a story about imposter syndrome, obsession, and the strange redemption that comes from making the movie you dreamed of in a dwarf restaurant 18 years ago.
Short, funny, and defiantly unpolished, this episode continues this love letter to film nerds and anyone who still believes you can make art with nothing but gumption, a rubber hand, and a very expensive monkey.
CHECK IT OUT:
https://youtu.be/P7FGz0M-y7U
https://youtu.be/8g_wrTdjG-0
https://www.youtube.com/@andrewleavold634
https://trashvideoarchives.com/

Kick back with host Kent Hill as he drags you headfirst into the chaotic, hilarious, and deeply human world of Andrew Leavold's (aka Alby Wrangler) latest no‑budget fever dream, The Taller They Come. From miniature guard towers that explode like B‑movie dreams to improvised kung‑fu on West African streets, this episode reads like a travelogue written by a mad director — equal parts gonzo satire and heartfelt confession.
Between walkouts, one‑word reviews, on‑set tattoos, and late‑night screenings of obsession‑fueling cinema, the interview unfolds as a wild behind‑the‑scenes odyssey that peels back the curtain on creative freedom, cultural collision, and the costs of making art your way. Strap in, sip your cheap beer, and let the storytellers take you where mainstream cinema never will. STAY TUNED FOR PART 2!
CHECK IT OUT:
https://youtu.be/P7FGz0M-y7U
https://youtu.be/8g_wrTdjG-0
https://www.youtube.com/@andrewleavold634
https://trashvideoarchives.com/
 

Step into a room full of fiberglass monsters, childhood ambitions and the hum of old projectors as Bob Lindenmayer and host Kent Hill trade stories that feel like scenes from an undiscovered film. From hand-built Maximilians to the surreal final shot of a classic sci‑fi, this episode unfolds like a director’s scrapbook — nostalgic, candid and full of the small, stubborn choices that make cinema alive.
They move from toy-set ingenuity to studio politics, the grit of stunt performers, and the lonely joy of making work that might only be seen by a handful — yet changes a life. Whether you’re a movie obsessive or someone who loves a good behind‑the‑scenes confession, this conversation pulls you into the messy, exhilarating world of filmmaking and the people who keep its magic burning.
CHECK IT OUT:
https://www.makingmegaforce.com/
https://youtu.be/YDvNRpxdCjo
https://hill33kjw.podbean.com/e/speeder-rides-again-the-megaforce-resurrection/
https://hill33kjw.podbean.com/e/unveiling-the-magic-the-making-of-megaforce-with-bob-lindenmeyer/
https://hill33kjw.podbean.com/e/an-inside-scoop-from-legends-barry-bostwick-and-bob-lindenmeier/
 

Join host Kent Hill as he sits down with Paul MacDonald, the Scottish schoolboy whose childhood obsession with Highlander led him to become a master swordsmith and the official blade-maker for the new Hollywood remake. From metal-detecting relics at original locations to piping on set and crafting a screen-accurate MacLeod sword, Paul’s journey reads like mythology made real.
With Chad Stahelski’s epic vision and Henry Cavill stepping into the role, this episode weaves nostalgia, craftsmanship, and on-location magic into a short, compelling tale of destiny, tribute, and the strange alchemy that turns a fan into a part of the legend.
CHECK IT OUT:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Macdonald%20Armouries/279095758864885/
https://youtu.be/omOZyLmNMJs
 

Step into a tale that unfolds like a beautiful lie: a grieving woman, a magnetic stranger, and a romance that peels back layer after layer until the heart of darkness is revealed. In this episode we celebrate Cruel Love — Nick Lyon’s sleek, suspenseful film — and the luminous final performance of Christian Oliver, whose presence animates every scene.
Through candid conversation with the leads Elisabeth Harnois, Bai Ling and their director, we trace the film’s pull: sunlit mansions that hide dangerous corners, a femme fatale who refuses to be simple, and the slow, terrifying unspooling of trust. It’s a story of desire, survival, and the fragile places where people collide — part tribute, part thriller, and entirely unforgettable.
CHECK IT OUT:
https://www.nicklyon.com/cruellove
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/cruellove2026
https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0RTN32BMMCZOVM6XLT9I6X3IW9
https://youtu.be/wedpaz1nAk0
 

When the CGI giants sleep, a handful of stubborn artists crawled back into the dungeon to resurrect a blood‑stained kind of fantasy. In this episode Kent Hill sits down with Richard Pate — the unforgettable, self‑styled King Gerind — and trades stories of Scottish moors, giant spiders, practical effects, and the fierce, ridiculous joy of making movies on a shoestring.
Listen as laughter and nostalgia peel back the curtain on Hex Studios’ operatic follow‑up: a louder, juicier adventure that promises bigger thrills and richer characters. This is a love letter to indie cinema — messy, brave, and utterly alive — told by the people who fought to bring old‑school fantasy back to life.
CHECK IT OUT:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8971170/
https://youtu.be/NXHNZV-IhCo
https://hill33kjw.podbean.com/e/the-slave-and-the-sorcerer-a-love-letter-to-sword-sorcery/
https://hill33kjw.podbean.com/e/into-the-abyss-the-reign-of-queen-gennara-with-megan-tremethic/
https://www.britishhorrorstudio.com/
 
 

Step behind the velvet ropes with Matthew "Matty" Greenberg — the mind behind Reign of Fire, 1408 and Pet Sematary — as he tells the story of a life lived inside Hollywood’s beautiful madness.
Kent and Matty trade outrageous set anecdotes, heartbreaking moments like Wilson drifting away, run-ins with legends, and the brutal, hilarious craft of rewrites, lost projects and improbable comebacks. It’s an intimate ride through the backstreets where ideas are abandoned, rediscovered and — if you’re lucky — reborn on the page.
Equal parts laugh-out-loud and hard-won wisdom, this episode is for anyone who wants to know what it takes to keep writing after the industry knocks you down — and why writers always find a way back to one more draft.
CHECK IT OUT:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0338557/
https://hill33kjw.podbean.com/e/writing-with-fire-a-screenwriters-journey/
https://podcastingthemsoftly.com/2017/01/13/writing-with-fire-an-interview-with-matthew-greenberg-by-kent-hill/