Welcome to Podcast Portal: a spontaneous column that will highlight podcasts of all genres that are lesser known or new shows that are worth giving a listen. With the medium continuing to grow, it is hard to acknowledge all of them. However, I am going to try and find as many noteworthy titles as possible to share and hopefully expand your mind to the greatest growing medium out there. If you have any podcast that you feel is worth adding to the Podcast Portal, please make sure to inform me whether through the comments or through an e-mail (information in sidebar).
SHOW: Inside Jaws
HOSTS: Mark Ramsey
NETWORK: Wondery
HOSTS: Mark Ramsey
NETWORK: Wondery
EPISODE BEING DISCUSSED: "Becoming Spielberg"
In the world of film history podcasts, there are few networks that are doing work nearly as thorough and impressive as Mark Ramsey of Wondery. Having completed the Inside Psycho and Inside The Exorcist series, he returns with Inside Jaws - a look at the iconic Steven Spielberg film that helped to jumpstart the summer blockbuster. There's a lot to love about Jaws as a movie, and its mythology has since become some of film making's greatest stories. Considering that summer season is quickly approaching, it makes sense then that the show dedicated to the making of horror movies would tackle everyone's favorite shark movie, which has a lot more going on that isn't seen. It isn't just what's below the water, underneath the iconic John Williams score. It's in the history of the people who influenced the film.
In the opening episode (there are currently two available), there is already an interesting establishment of what to expect. Unlike the previous two seasons, there isn't as much focus yet on the book, written by Peter Benchley. His name hasn't even been brought up yet. What has been covered is two dual stories, with one taking place in the 1910's and the other giving a detailed backstory to Spielberg's childhood. He was a nerd who got bullied, but found a passion in film that drew people to love his work. Even at an early age, it's interesting to see the formation of the artist that he would become.
The 1910's story definitely sounds like it would fit into the realm of Jaws. It's a story about a series of infamous shark murders. The details are grueling, and Ramsey manages to mix his narration in with expert sound effects that give a depth to the audio. The appeal of Inside Jaws isn't that it present a fascinating story (which it is), but that it does so in a way that elevates history to the form of theater. There's even a young Spielberg who talks through his parts to add character that would be missing in blandly written narration. Much like the previous two series, there's an immediate immersion in both stories that makes them equally fascinating and horrifying, especially in the 1910's story, where the sound of flailing water and gasping audiences create a sense of place to the entire story. While the context isn't entirely there yet, it's already creating a sense of unease.
Inside Jaws has a strong chance of joining Inside Psycho and Inside The Exorcist as quintessential podcast miniseries. It proves that there's value in the medium for those wanting to explore and create worlds that are imagined. The only thing that separates most worlds from this is that the story is real and that some of the sound effects, even faint and distant, have a disturbing twinge to them. It has a power that serves as one of the most entertaining history lessons out there. Considering that Spielberg is one of the most successful living film makers, it's interesting to demystify the man and show his career from its early stages, as an aspiring teenager who made films with his friends for fun. There's a sense of optimism and a way of making even the most mundane exchanges in the episode feel powerful.
By the second episode, Jaws is still a ways off. With that said, this series seems to focus more on how Spielberg came to be who he was. The identity seems to play into his aspirations to create an icon. From the first episode, it seems to be focusing more on the director than either past choices Alfred Hitchcock (Psycho) or Willian Friedkin (The Exorcist). It makes one wonder how the book will tie into the overall narrative, and if the series will also include Benchley's shift into activism because of his guilt. Still, for those wanting a narrative about film making as an art, this is one of the best series yet. It's a story that's only going to get more massive and interesting, so hop on board now.
OVERALL RATING: 5 out of 5
WORTH A SECOND GO?: Yes
In the world of film history podcasts, there are few networks that are doing work nearly as thorough and impressive as Mark Ramsey of Wondery. Having completed the Inside Psycho and Inside The Exorcist series, he returns with Inside Jaws - a look at the iconic Steven Spielberg film that helped to jumpstart the summer blockbuster. There's a lot to love about Jaws as a movie, and its mythology has since become some of film making's greatest stories. Considering that summer season is quickly approaching, it makes sense then that the show dedicated to the making of horror movies would tackle everyone's favorite shark movie, which has a lot more going on that isn't seen. It isn't just what's below the water, underneath the iconic John Williams score. It's in the history of the people who influenced the film.
In the opening episode (there are currently two available), there is already an interesting establishment of what to expect. Unlike the previous two seasons, there isn't as much focus yet on the book, written by Peter Benchley. His name hasn't even been brought up yet. What has been covered is two dual stories, with one taking place in the 1910's and the other giving a detailed backstory to Spielberg's childhood. He was a nerd who got bullied, but found a passion in film that drew people to love his work. Even at an early age, it's interesting to see the formation of the artist that he would become.
The 1910's story definitely sounds like it would fit into the realm of Jaws. It's a story about a series of infamous shark murders. The details are grueling, and Ramsey manages to mix his narration in with expert sound effects that give a depth to the audio. The appeal of Inside Jaws isn't that it present a fascinating story (which it is), but that it does so in a way that elevates history to the form of theater. There's even a young Spielberg who talks through his parts to add character that would be missing in blandly written narration. Much like the previous two series, there's an immediate immersion in both stories that makes them equally fascinating and horrifying, especially in the 1910's story, where the sound of flailing water and gasping audiences create a sense of place to the entire story. While the context isn't entirely there yet, it's already creating a sense of unease.
Inside Jaws has a strong chance of joining Inside Psycho and Inside The Exorcist as quintessential podcast miniseries. It proves that there's value in the medium for those wanting to explore and create worlds that are imagined. The only thing that separates most worlds from this is that the story is real and that some of the sound effects, even faint and distant, have a disturbing twinge to them. It has a power that serves as one of the most entertaining history lessons out there. Considering that Spielberg is one of the most successful living film makers, it's interesting to demystify the man and show his career from its early stages, as an aspiring teenager who made films with his friends for fun. There's a sense of optimism and a way of making even the most mundane exchanges in the episode feel powerful.
By the second episode, Jaws is still a ways off. With that said, this series seems to focus more on how Spielberg came to be who he was. The identity seems to play into his aspirations to create an icon. From the first episode, it seems to be focusing more on the director than either past choices Alfred Hitchcock (Psycho) or Willian Friedkin (The Exorcist). It makes one wonder how the book will tie into the overall narrative, and if the series will also include Benchley's shift into activism because of his guilt. Still, for those wanting a narrative about film making as an art, this is one of the best series yet. It's a story that's only going to get more massive and interesting, so hop on board now.
OVERALL RATING: 5 out of 5
WORTH A SECOND GO?: Yes
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