MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" YouTube Channel for "Cruella"

It's dogfight time as Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel and podcast and I spare over the live-action Disney prequel, Cruella! Emma Stone stars as the titular villainess-in-the-making, whose rise from 1960s street urchin to ruthless mid-70s fashion magnate is portrayed with all the glam and intrigue of a superhero origin story. But is that a good thing? In this wide-ranging and VERY spoilery debate, we look at the character's origins in 101 Dalmatians, examine the bizarre narrative traps that the movie must dodge, and question the messages lurking beneath the dresses, dogs, and de Vil-ish hijinks.

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanJune 16, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the SeatComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" Midweek Mischief for Episode 1 of "Loki"

New show alert! The hiatus of new Marvel content is over with the arrival of the new Loki series on Disney+. Adding to the well-built carnival act of “Earth’s Mightiest Critics,” Ian Simmons, the host of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel has another excellent weekly live show, this time called “Midweek Mischief.” To opne this exciting six-week appointment, I joined Ian, David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel, and Mike Crowley of YPA Reviews. Everyone loves Tom Hiddleston and everyone loves imitating Owen Wilson. Let’s put them together with superhero stakes. Every Wednesday, we will discuss them all live on YouTube!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanJune 11, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the Seat, WandaVisionComment

How Proxies are Helpful in Film Editing

Films are a beautiful part of human innovation. The ability to tell stories through a moving picture - an opportunity to share emotions and lessons. It takes many things to make a great film, writing, directing, acting, lighting, and editing. Editing films in post-production is often underrated. These are the final stages that turn a draft into a legitimate movie. The final touches before releasing a masterpiece. Due to the significance of editing, it is important to take note of the different tips to help in this process. Ensuring that you have the best opportunity to polish every scene to the best of your ability.

2021, Column, Editorial, SPECIALDon ShanahanJune 7, 2021Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "You'll Probably Agree" YouTube channel talking about the Snyder Cut

Recenty, I joined Mike Crowley’s You’ll Probably Agree YouTube show to talk about our lingering impressions from Zack Snyder’s Justice League from HBO Max. He and I were both fans of the lengthened and improved movie the director was granted to complete. We haven’t been able to let it go. Moreso, we’ve been weighing its impact on the matter of creator say, director’s cuts, and where that battle lies between filmmaker and studios. Enjoy this spirited conversation!

Social Media, SPECIAL, Podcast, Media Appearance, Editorial, Home Media, 2021Don ShanahanMay 28, 2021Zack Snyder, Justice League, Mike CrowleyComment

GUEST EDITORIAL: Songs And Dialogues In The Hollywood Films: The Creative Writing As The Most Important Skill For This

by Anne Medina

Some filmmakers choose to start with creative writing which can be used both for filmmaking and for other types of writing. Hence, here’s how creative writing is a skill that can be used for creating songs and dialogues in Hollywood films.

2021, Column, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanMay 25, 2021Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" Mission Report for Episode 6 of "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier"

Season finale time! Ian Simmons, the host of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel coordinated an excellent weekly live show of “Mission Reports,” and I was a pleasure to be a part of the “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” rotation for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. To close this exciting first season, I joined Ian, David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel, Mike Crowley of YPA Reviews, and Mark Krawczyk of The Spoiler Room Podcast. Any rest from last week’s build-up was paid of nicely by an equal balance between action and concluding coda. This season opened many doors and turned many corners. We discuss them all here!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanApril 25, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the Seat, WandaVisionComment

SPECIAL: Now a member of the Critics Choice Association

BIG NEWS! Flying the 25YL flag, I’m stunned and proud altogether to be a newly accepted member of the Critics Choice Association, hosts of the annual Critics Choice Awards! Formerly the Broadcast Film Critics Association and founded in 1995, they are national-level organization of film and TV critics and a recognized awards-voting body. Their criteria for internet-based folks like me was "internet critics whose reviews are read by a large enough audience, are easily accessible on their site, and identified as the site's primary critic. That’s me alright.

2021, SPECIAL, Media AppearanceDon ShanahanApril 22, 2021Comment

SPECIAL: Now listed as one of "The Top 100 Movie Critics" on Screench

This week, I was approached by a representative from Screench, a movie recommendation engine website. They were impressed with Every Movie Has a Lesson and wanted to include me in their list of “The Top 100 Movie Critics” and sites to follow on their Critic Ratings page. I was happy to oblige and honored to be included among other top-shelf sites. Check Every Movie Has a Lesson out at #6 on the Top 100!

2021, SPECIAL, Social Media, Media AppearanceDon ShanahanApril 22, 2021Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Cinematic Underdogs" podcast talking "Slap Shot"

Through mutual social circles within the Facebook group of the Feelin’ Film Podcast, I was approached by Paul Keelan, one of the hosts of the Cinematic Underdogs podcast, to be a guest on their program. Joined by Jordan Puga, they’ve been targeting sports films for extended conversations. They pitched me to talk about Bennett Miller’s 2011 gem Moneyball, continuing a streak of behind-the-scenes sports movies. Talking with Paul as the “bonus episode” following the main show, our conversation went on to cover film criticism tropes, my hot take of The Tree of Life, and eventually, as planned, our impressions and musings on Moneyball.

2021, Home Media, Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanApril 21, 2021Quality ComixComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" Mission Report for Episode 5 of "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier"

Led by Ian Simmons, host of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel, I sit vitually alongside David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel, Mike Crowley of YPA Reviews, and Mark Krawczyk of The Spoiler Room Podcast. This past week was the penultimate episode of the first season of Marvel’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+. Rather than hitting the gas pedal, the episode pumped the brakes to really let the stakes build and sink in. The character work was very strong. Enjoy our drinks and a lively episode!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanApril 19, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the Seat, WandaVisionComment

INFOGRAPHIC: The most stunning buildings found in James Bond films

Few franchises have influenced American culture like “James Bond” has—and that includes architecture. Manicured estates, Prairie-style house plans and well-furnished lodges provide more than incredible film sets and backdrops for the movies. They have inspired millions of fans over the years and have served as travel inspiration for every corner of the world. To pay tribute to these structures, HomeAdvisor compiled a comprehensive list of beautiful architecture from every Bond film to create a series of posters – immortalized by artist Leonie Wharton. These minimalist posters explore Bond’s architectural history and remind viewers of key scenes ahead of the release of No Time to Die later in 2021.

2021, Infographic, Home Media, Column, Editorial, SPECIALDon ShanahanApril 16, 2021Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" Mission Report for Episode 4 of "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier"

Anyone who thought the third episode was sidebar or filler last week, they’re not saying it now. The stakes keep going up on Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Enjoy a group of “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” heading straight to spoilers to hash out Episode #4. Led by Ian Simmons, host of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel, I sit vitually alongside David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel, and Mark Krawczyk of The Spoiler Room Podcast. Enjoy our drinks and a lively episode!