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The Filmumentaries Podcast

Jamie Benning
Star Wars
Visual Effects
Return Of the Jedi
Jaws
Hollywood
George Lucas
The Empire Strikes Back
Industrial Light & Magic
Stanley Kubrick
Animation
Filmmaking
Lucasfilm
Colin Cantwell
Jurassic Park
Christopher Lee
Steven Spielberg
Joe Alves
2001: A Space Odyssey
John Hughes
Hayao Miyazaki

The Filmumentaries Podcast - deep dives into practical effects, model making, matte painting, creature creation and prosthetics, animatronics, puppetry, prop restoration and VFX. Hosted by filmmaker, author, and film historian Jamie Benning, The Filmumentaries Podcast features long-form interviews with the unsung heroes of cinema - the production designers, editors, composers, cinematographers, di... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes159Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Film InterviewsTV & FilmFilm History

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Artwork for The Filmumentaries Podcast

Latest Episodes

Ian Hunter has spent four decades building miniatures, supervising visual effects and thinking like a filmmaker on some of the most demanding productions in Hollywood. In this episode, he traces a career that began in a garden shed with a punched-up ... more

YouTube

In this episode I chat with visual effects supervisor, second unit director and digital pre-visualisation pioneer David Dozoretz about a career that traces the entire arc of how modern filmmaking shifted from analogue to digital — and how, somewhere ... more

YouTube

In this episode, I chat with creature effects artist, puppeteer and digital pioneer Craig Caton-Largent about a career that arguably traces the entire arc of modern visual effects — from foam latex and animatronics to motion control, performance capt... more

YouTube

In this episode, I chat with model maker Jim Davidson about his journey from a dinosaur-obsessed kid in the 1970s to working on some of the most memorable practical effects sequences in modern cinema. Jim talks about discovering the work of Ray Harry... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Ian Hunter
Model maker and VFX supervisor
Various: Boss Film, Wonderworks, Rick Baker connections
Episode: Ep 151 | Ian Hunter - VFX Supervisor on Cameron, Burton and more
David Dozoretz
Visual effects supervisor and pre-visualization pioneer
Episode: Ep 150 | David Dozoretz - Pre-vis Pioneer, VFX Supervisor and Director
Craig Caton-Largent
Creature effects artist, puppeteer, Digital Domain co-founder
Digital Domain; New York Film Academy (3D Animation and VFX)
Episode: Ep 149 | Craig Caton-Largent — Jurassic Park Raptors, ET & Digital Domain
Jim Davidson
Model maker with a career spanning Terminator 2, Batman Returns, Titanic and beyond
Episode: Ep 148 | Jim Davidson — Model Maker on Terminator 2 & Batman Returns
John Duncan
Model maker with ILM credits across Star Wars, Star Trek, Galaxy Quest, Pirates of the Caribbean, and more
Visual effects industry
Episode: Ep 147 | John Duncan — ILM Model Maker (Star Wars, Star Trek, Pirates)
Don Bies
Former Lucasfilm archivist and special effects artist
Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic
Episode: Ep 146 | Don Bies — Inside the Lucasfilm Archives (R2-D2 Operator)
Alec Gillis
Creature effects designer and filmmaker, founder of Studio Gillis; former ADI partner
Studio Gillis; Pro Machina (production company)
Episode: Ep 145 | Alec Gillis — Creature FX Artist (Aliens, Predator, Tremors)
Randy Thom
Director of Sound at Skywalker Sound
Skywalker Sound
Episode: Ep 144 | Randy Thom — Oscar-Winning Director of Sound at Skywalker Sound
Jim Beller
Producer with extensive experience in documentary filmmaking.
Episode: Ep 143 | The Farmer and the Shark — John Campopiano & Jim Beller (Jaws Doc)

Host

Jamie Benning
Host of The Filmumentaries Podcast; filmmaker, author and film historian focused on practical effects, VFX and film craftsmanship.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 218 ratings
  • An Essential Listen for Anyone Curious About How Films Are Made a

    I started listening to the Filmumentaries Podcast after ILM VFX artist Tod Vaziri mentioned it on Mastodon. I immediately knew it was my sort of thing and ended up devouring 100+ back episodes. I enjoyed it so much that I didn’t hesitate to subscribe to the Patreon as well.

    Jamie Benning asks exactly the questions I would want to ask, but more importantly he listens. He gives his guests the time and space to expand on their answers and lets the conversation run its natural course.

    If you’re a ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    davidnsteer
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Excellent

    Mandatory listening!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stakker
    Finland7 months ago
  • Treasure trove of knowledge and information

    How this amazing podcast isn’t more well known is a mystery to me. Every episode is a treasure trove of information about movies and movie making with so much depth and insight. Thanks for the outstanding podcast, Jamie!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FalconNest89
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Film fans treat!

    The weather is picking up and thus so are my podcast listening hours, and revisited this wonderful show. Film fans really can’t ask for anything more….fascinating details and insights into and from the films and filmmakers you know, and even better the ones you didn’t and are gifted wonderfully researched and produced information on. As films fans we all love to lead down an unexpected film related rabbit hole, and this is a treat for those of us that do.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dotstarss
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • If you love film, you need this podcast

    Choose any episode and start there, if you have more than a passing interest in film I’m sure you’ll be hooked. Jamie’s podcast is one of the few I support on Patreon - it’s that good. Two thumbs up, always a joy to find a new episode waiting to be played. 👍 👍

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    brandedPixels
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show is described as a must-listen for film history buffs and those curious about how iconic sequences were built.
Listeners praise the host's deep research, relaxed interviewing style, and ability to draw out long-form, behind-the-scenes stories.
Guests consistently highlight the show's access to industry legends and unique archival insights.
Fans appreciate the breadth of guest professions, from ILM veterans to archival specialists.
Patreon supporters cite thorough conversations and high production value as key reasons for continued support.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep 142 | Jon Spira — New Mike Hodges Book (Get Carter, Flash Gordon)
Q: Did the conversations you had with him change emotionally or editorially once he passed away?
No, the book was finished, and I didn't want to edit him; he would have hated to feel edited.
Ep 142 | Jon Spira — New Mike Hodges Book (Get Carter, Flash Gordon)
Q: Did Mike donate his archive to the BFI during the time that you were chatting?
Yes, he did know it was important but it was also stressful for him since he felt that the industry did not want him anymore.
135 - Inside the Carlton Cinema with historian Nigel Smith
Q: What do you think is the key to getting people to go to the cinema now?
Nigel suggests that repertory cinemas and creating unique experiences for film-viewing are key ways to attract audiences.
134 - Inside the Movie Novelizations of the ’80s with James Kahn — Jedi, Goonies & Poltergeist
Q: Did you feel that pressure when you were writing it?
James felt stunned and lucky to be part of 'Return of the Jedi' and described the intense secrecy around the project.
134 - Inside the Movie Novelizations of the ’80s with James Kahn — Jedi, Goonies & Poltergeist
Q: How did this transition of yours happen from one career to another, from being in the medical profession to being a novelist for movie books?
It was a very unique kind of entry where a call from someone at E.T. asked for help resuscitating an alien, leading to Kahn's involvement on the film's set.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Filmumentaries Podcast

What is The Filmumentaries Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show dives into the craft behind cinema, spotlighting the unsung heroes of film production—practical effects, model making, matte painting, creature design, puppetry, and the broader world of VFX. Guests tend to be veterans and practitioners from ILM, Lucasfilm, Skywalker Sound, Stan Winston Studio, Digital Domain, and other legendary studios, offering long-form, detail-rich conversations about how iconic sequences were built, the evolution from practical to digital techniques, and the people who kept the magic alive on-set. A standout throughline is the emphasis on hands-on skills, archival perspective, and a love for film history, with episodes often bridging classic era effects to today's hybrid approaches. The format is a deep-dive,... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Filmumentaries Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Filmumentaries Podcast:

1. The Movies That Made Me
2. Fat Man Beyond
3. WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk
4. Team Deakins
5. Film Stories with Simon Brew

How many episodes of The Filmumentaries Podcast are there?

The Filmumentaries Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 159 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Filmumentaries Podcast?

Recent guests on The Filmumentaries Podcast include:

1. Ian Hunter
2. David Dozoretz
3. Craig Caton-Largent
4. Jim Davidson
5. John Duncan
6. Don Bies
7. Alec Gillis
8. Randy Thom

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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