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The Filmumentaries Podcast

Jamie Benning
Star Wars
Visual Effects
Return Of the Jedi
Jaws
Hollywood
George Lucas
Industrial Light & Magic
The Empire Strikes Back
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 monthlyEpisodes161Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Film InterviewsFilm HistoryTV & Film

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Artwork for The Filmumentaries Podcast

Latest Episodes

Brad Fiedel wrote one of the most recognisable pieces of music in film history, and he did it on a drum machine, a sequencer and a keyboard chained together with a computer ribbon cable, before MIDI was really a thing. The famous lurch in the rhythm ... more

YouTube

Episode 152: John Goodson (Part 1)

John Goodson is a model maker and digital artist who spent more than three decades at ILM. His credits span The Rocketeer, Star Trek: First Contact, the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Rogue One, and most recently The ... more

YouTube

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

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Recent Guests

Brad Fiedel
Composer of The Terminator, Terminator 2, True Lies
Independent/Film Composer
Episode: Ep 153 - Brad Fiedel - Film Composer - Terminator, T2 and more
John Goodson
Model maker and digital artist, longtime ILM veteran
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
Episode: Ep 152 John Goodson - Model Maker and Digital Artist
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)

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 222 ratings
  • Great Oral History of Behind the Scenes Magic

    I’m really grateful for this wonderful podcast. Benning is a thoughtful and informed interviewer of the many artistic and technical geniuses that have brought our most treasured films to life. He does such a great job of walking the line between being a fan of the art while not letting that get in the way of letting these artists tell their stories.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Edladdin
    United Statesa month ago
  • Sensational!

    As someone who is very sensitive to an interviewers attitude, overall intelligence level, and knowledge of the subject they’re interviewing, Jamie is sheer perfection. Not only that but he comes across as both kind and genuine. He lacks the overwhelmingly obnoxious pomposity of the Star Wars fan community…and we’re all grateful for it. I feel like if we knew one another irl, we’d get along well and, after all, there’s nothing one wants more from a podcast host. If you’re a fan of special effects... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Digitalfreaknyc
    United States2 months ago
  • Wonderful Podcast

    Jamie is a wonderful podcast host who has so many great episodes. I’m always entertained and enlightened by his chats with the amazing, behind the scenes, creative people who make the magic of movies possible. Give The Filmumentaries Podcast a listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MattDesigner24
    United States2 months ago
  • Essential film nerdiness!

    Like a warm blanket. The eps are super insightful and Jamie asks the right stuff. Also check out his Filmumentary ‘Inside Jaws’ a treat for FINatics!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TechNoir87
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • 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 Kingdom7 months 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 153 - Brad Fiedel - Film Composer - Terminator, T2 and more
Q: How did temp tracks influence the final score, and what was Brad's stance on imitation vs. originality?
Brad explains that temp tracks can trap a director and create an untenable situation for a composer; he favored musical originality and often asserted that the score should come from his own expression rather than mimicry of the temp, emphasizing the balance between director intent and authentic musical voice.
Ep 153 - Brad Fiedel - Film Composer - Terminator, T2 and more
Q: Was Brad a shoo-in for the Terminator sequel, or were there other composers considered?
Brad suggests he was seen as a strong fit by Jim Cameron due to the work he had proven on Aliens, and that his ongoing relationship with Cameron helped solidify him as the choice, though there was always a need to prove himself with each project.
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.

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. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
2. Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade
3. SmartLess
4. Staying Alive with Jon Gabrus & Adam Pally
5. The Rewatchables

How many episodes of The Filmumentaries Podcast are there?

The Filmumentaries Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 161 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. Brad Fiedel
2. John Goodson
3. Ian Hunter
4. David Dozoretz
5. Craig Caton-Largent
6. Jim Davidson
7. John Duncan
8. Don Bies

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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