DESIGNERS ON FILM

Jason Tselentis
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Design
  • Weekly

Every episode, host Jason Tselentis speaks with a phenomenal guest, usually a designer, about their favorite movie. It might be worth watching over and over, and over again. Maybe it left them with more questions than answers, or a lingering feeling. Learn about art direction and set design, cinematography and performance, casting and screenwriting, acting and costume design, makeup and music, as well as advertising, marketing, media, technology, unforgettable quotes, and so much more. Whether or not you are a designer, you will enjoy every revealing conversation that explores creativity and strategy, perseverance and leadership, craft and style.

  1. 5d ago

    The Thing (1982) with Joshua Graves

    In John Carpenter's The Thing, one victim after another is overtaken, consumed, appropriated, and impersonated by an alien, a shape-shifting thing that shows no mercy. Starring Kurt Russell, Keith David, Wilford Brimley, and T.K. Carter, the movie has been praised for its special effects. Designer, creator, and writer Joshua Graves talks about what makes 1982's The Thing so memorable. We also discuss trigger warnings, dogs in movies, and The Thing's ending. Are Mac and Childs both creatures? See this episode's notes with links to an award-winning short story about the thing, as well as a revolving door audio commentary on Vimeo, edited by Jonathan Keogh and featuring analysis and background by The Third Channel Podcast, Brainbuster Video, Patton Oswalt and Meredith Salenger, Sam Reid, Luke Pajowski, Annalisa D.H., Jonathan Keogh, and Azzura Nox, it also includes excerpts from "Who Goes There" by John Campbell Jr. narrated by Peter Coates. Plus, Keogh's special cut has archival interviews with John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, Keith David, Larry Franco, special effects wizard Rob Bottin, and also Quentin Tarantino. - Joshua Graves is a human-centered designer, leader, and builder who's spent the last 20 years creating award-winning products, systems, and teams from the ground up. He got his start making websites for bands and has since designed award-winning mobile apps and software. Joshua is the author of We Need to Talk: A Survival Guide for Tough Conversations (Rosenfeld, 2025), and wrote it because too few people, teams, and companies embrace the key to unlocking successful outcomes: having hard conversations. The book is grounded in psychology and non-violent communication and teaches people at every level how to successfully navigate those uncomfortable moments. Joshua is a curious person and has built his own software and typefaces, and he is working on an anthology of horror stories. All the work and projects he has completed throughout the years have kept him invested in the art of creating, and it's how he stays sharp. https://joshuagraves.me/professional/about/ https://joshuagraves.me/professional/we-need-to-talk https://joshuagraves.me/making/projects/mytunes https://joshuagraves.me/making/projects/cosmata https://joshuagraves.me/making/projects - John Carpenter's The Thing (1982) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084787/ - Short story from the perspective of the creature https://gizmodo.com/an-incredible-short-story-told-from-the-perspective-of-5849758 - The Thing Revolving Door Audio Commentary https://vimeo.com/1117163245 - Rob Bottin's Special Effects Work on The Thing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jOpG--0EbE Rob Bottin: His Career and Disappearance https://youtu.be/JeIDGJkScSQ?si=W9-eSKRUPcdINUEp Rob Bottin TV interview (1982) https://youtu.be/enEsSr4hGpw?si=GbX8FVsTtjpVtF1L - Other movies discussed: Alien (1979) The Blob (1958, 1988) The Devils (1971) Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) The Thing from Another World (1951)

  2. Oct 31

    Scream (1996) with Matthew Manos

    What's your favorite scary movie? For Matthew Manos, there's only one answer to that question: 1996's Scream. Written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven, it takes place in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California and was filmed in real-life towns throughout Northern California's Sonoma County. A series of brutal knifings by a masked, ghost-faced assailant turn the town upside down. Sidney, played by Neve Campbell, becomes the center of attention and everybody becomes a suspect but the only way to survive is by following the horror movie rules, explained by Jamie Kennedy's character Randy. In the end, almost everyone gets killed. Released in December 1996 and turning 30 this year, Scream is not your typical winter holiday movie fare but it is the perfect scary movie for October, and a film that Matthew enjoys. - In 2008, Matthew Manos founded verynice, a design social enterprise with a unique "give-half" pro-bono model that offset over $60,000,000 in professional service fees for 1,500+ organizations across the globe. He was once called "crazy or genius" by Forbes magazine and is a visionary entrepreneur, educator, and strategist in ideation, foresight, and planning. Matthew has worked with the American Heart Association, Apple, the City of Los Angeles, Disney Imagineering, Google, Mattel, and UNICEF. His latest endeavor, Fuzzy Dice, is a collection of frameworks, methodologies, and resources dedicated to leveling up human capacity for ideation. As Associate Professor and Associate Dean at the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre "Dr. Dre" Young Academy, he co-leads curriculum design and teaches design-driven innovation, having helped codify the school's model. Matthew helped launch the Iovine and Young Center, a U.S.-wide high school model, and advises the Iovine and Young Education Group on K-12 curriculum, instructional design, and teacher training. With Apple Education, he led creativity and futures-thinking training for educators from 690 schools across 36 countries. His prior teaching in design and entrepreneurship spans ArtCenter, CCA's Design Strategy MBA, CalArts, the Strelka Institute, and UCLA, and he has presented at over 350 events in 20 countries including two TEDx talks, with partners like AIGA, the NEA, Singularity University, and SXSW EDU. His work appears in Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Forbes, GOOD, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired. He authored two books and over 35 design and strategy toolkits, including Models of Impact and the Give All series. His latest endeavor, Fuzzy Dice, is a collection of frameworks, methodologies, and resources dedicated to leveling up human capacity for ideation. https://mattmanos.com https://verynice.co/about https://matthewmanos.gumroad.com/ https://www.instagram.com/veryniceinstagram/ https://iovine-young.usc.edu/people/matthew-manos - Scream (1996) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117571/ - Other movies and shows discussed: Halloween (1978) Hello, Dolly! (1969) I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) Knives Out (2019) Minions & Monsters (2026) Scary Movie (2000, 2026) Scream 2 (1997) Scream 7 (2026) Stranger Things (2016-2025) The Thing from Another World (1951) Wall-E (2008)

  3. Oct 29

    The Substance (2024) with Miriam Schulman

    Whether you call The Substance (2024) high-art horror, or a seemingly-real story of self-harm that turns into a horror show, one thing is certain: the tragedy that unfolds will leave a mark on you. Demi Moore stars as Elisabeth, an actor, fitness icon, and influencer who faces an abrupt end to her career, until she becomes Sue, played by Margaret Qualley. Has Elisabeth been liberated by this newer, younger version of herself? Because there are rules to living this double life, she soon learns about its limitations, and when rules are broken, a zany nightmare ensues. Guest Miriam Schulman talks about the movie's depiction of violence against oneself, women under a microscope, treatment of older women, and the Oscar that never went to Demi Moore. - Miriam Schulman is author of best-selling art business book, Artpreneur and host of The Inspiration Place podcast. She has provided structured guidance to artists who feel stuck, helping them push beyond a trickle of sales and the limitations of “being practical.” Miriam's own road to entrepreneurship wasn't always smooth or easy, but after over twenty years of making a sustainable living as a watercolor portrait artist, The Inspiration Place podcast was born, featuring world-class experts who discuss mindset, marketing, pricing, and more. Her Artist Incubator Coaching Program helps give artists the time and freedom to create art and do what they love. Miriam's art and story have been featured in major publications including The New York Times, Where Women Create, Creative Women, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Art of Man, and Art Journaling magazine by Stampington, as well as seen on NBC's Parenthood and the Amazon series Hunters with Al Pacino. Her art has been sold around the world and included in New York museum gift shops. When she's not painting, writing, coaching other artists, or planning art world domination, you can find her in a museum or spending time with her husband, two adult kids, and a tuxedo cat named Luna. https://www.theinspirationplace.net/ http://www.schulmanart.com/book/ https://www.schulmanart.com/podcast/ - The Substance (2024) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17526714/ https://www.vogue.com/article/coralie-fargeat-the-substance-interview https://www.polygon.com/movies/455942/substance-director-interview-branding-design/ - Other movies discussed: Anora (2024) Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) The Last Showgirl (2024) Moonstruck (1987) My Cousin Vinny (1992) Night Shift (1982) Pretty Woman (1990)

  4. Oct 21

    Frankenstein (2025) with Jessica Barness

    In Guillermo del Toro's adaptation of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's Frankenstein, Oscar Isaac stars as Dr. Frankenstein who toils away in his lab to create life from inanimate objects, resulting in his creation, his creature portrayed by Jacob Elordi who becomes a victim hell-bent on revenge. Jessica Barness may not have worked on the movie, but she's a big fan and joins the show to talk about characters and production design, as well as magic, fantasy, mythology, and genre. Is Frankenstein a horror movie, tragedy, science fiction? Perhaps it's a genre mashup? And what about a sequel to this? What could happen, or would not happen, if there's a continuation of del Toro's movie? - Professor Jessica Barness studies how designers talk about the work they do, and makes work that reflects on it. She's written about design discourse, collage, flexi-disc vinyl records, and reader perceptions, while also making digital machines and offbeat low-res videos. She writes loudly, if less officially, at The Quiet Design Scholar. She is a Professor of Visual Communication Design at Kent State University, where she coordinates graduate studies and teaches design research and professional practices. https://www.jessicabarness.com/ https://jessicabarness.substack.com/ https://www.whatscholarshiplookslike.net/ https://www.kent.edu/vcd/profile/jessica-barness - Frankenstein (2025) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1312221/ https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/frankenstein-ending-explained - Mary Wollstonecraft: Britain's first feminist, via BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/articles/zkpk382 - Other movies discussed: The Bride! (2026) The Devil's Backbone (2001) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) Monty Python's Meaning of Life (1983) Nosferatu (2024) The Odyssey (2026) Pan's Labyrinth (2006) Prometheus (2012) The Shape of Water (2017) Until the End of the World (1991)

  5. Oct 15 ·  Bonus

    Strangeland (1998) with Debbie De Villa [bonus]

    In this bonus episode, production designer Debbie De Villa talks about her work on Strangeland (1998) and where it sits in relation to SE7EN (1995) and Saw (2004). Strangeland stars Dee Snider (of Twisted Sister), Elizabeth Peña, Robert Englund, and Linda Cardellini (from Scooby-Doo, Freaks and Geeks, as well as DTF St. Louis and the new series Crystal Lake based on Friday the 13th). In Strangeland, a stalker uses the internet to ensnare teenagers, who are kidnapped and put through painful rituals that bring the stalker pleasure. Actor Kevin Gage (who played Waingro in Heat) is the detective who will not stop until the stalker is apprehended. Debbie also talks about the notion of conformity in filmmaking, and movies that visually come from an emotional place. - As a teenager, when production designer Debbie De Villa saw an exhibition with work by set designers and production designers that was full of sketches, models, and works in progress, she knew she wanted to work in film. Studying set design for theatre gave her the hands-on experience she needed to embark on a career in movies. https://www.debbiedevilla.com/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0212139/ - Strangeland (1998) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124102/ - Other movies and shows discussed: Crystal Lake (2026-) Escape from New York (1981) Friday the 13th (1980, 2009) Heat (1995) The Last Laugh (1924) Love the Hard Way (2001) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984, 2010) Nostalgia (1983) Saw (2004) SE7EN (1995) Ulee's Gold (1997) Wings of Desire (1987)

  6. Oct 8

    Caddo Lake (2024) with Debbie De Villa

    Debbie De Villa has decades of experience as a production designer on dozens of films, including but not limited to Caddo Lake (2024) and Trap (2024). Caddo Lake tells a twisty story with a sprawling narrative that intertwines family members in ways they never imagined. In M. Night Shyamalan's Trap, a father and daughter attend a pop concert but as the evening goes on, the anxiety builds and things quickly unravel for everyone including the pop star. Debbie joins the show to talk about bringing words in the script to life, why being resourceful matters in filmmaking, and taking the audience for a ride. - As a teenager, when Debbie De Villa saw an exhibition with work by set designers and production designers that was full of sketches, models, and works in progress, she knew she wanted to work in film. Studying set design for theatre gave her the hands-on experience she needed to embark on a career in movies. https://www.debbiedevilla.com/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0212139/ - Caddo Lake (2024) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15552142/ - Other movies discussed: Backfire! (1995) The Burbs (1989) Lake Placid (1999) Love the Hard Way (2001) Strangeland (1998) Trap (2024) Ulee's Gold (1997)

  7. Oct 1 ·  Bonus

    Coming in October (2026)

    Sharing October updates, so you can learn about each guest and their movie, and watch or re-watch their movie of choice before you hear upcoming episodes. NOTE: there may be a Spooky Movie Theme here, we are near Halloween after all. - SCREAM (1996) with Matt Manos, who may not have worked on the movie but knows it backwards & forwards and has a lot to say about how masks are not only very necessary for each SCREAM killer but we discuss how masks also play a role in what designers do. https://www.mattmanos.com/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117571 - THE SUBSTANCE (2024) with Miriam Schulman who loves the movie and the dark take on what it means to be an artist. Miriam is author of "Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living From Your Creativity" and Host of The Inspiration Place. https://www.theinspirationplace.net/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17526714/ - CADDO LAKE (2024) with production designer Debbie De Villa who talks about what makes working in film fun, and we also discuss her earlier work on movies like STRANGELAND (1998), plus we touch on the M. Night Shyamalan movie TRAP (2024) and her contributions that shaped TRAP's look & feel. https://www.debbiedevilla.com/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15552142 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124102/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26753003/ - FRANKENSTEIN (2025) with professor, designer, and horror fan Jessica Barness who returns to the show having already dissected (sorry for the slashing suggestion, I mean she analyzed) NOSFERATU (2024) on a prior season of the show. https://jessicabarness.com/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1312221/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5040012/

  8. Sep 24

    Starstruck (2026) with Dr. George Ellis

    Dr. George Ellis, who in addition to being a urologist is a producer making movies, has won plenty of awards in the film festival circuit. For his second time visiting the show, Dr. George talks about filmmaking as equal parts design thinking and social experimentation, and why as a producer it's important to have a methodical approach. Plus, learn about his film Starstruck, and what movies have impacted him, such as A Clockwork Orange with its modern take on violence fused with classical music. - Dr. George Ellis, MD is an award-winning filmmaker who has won multiple awards through his production company Coronado Beach Productions at several film festivals. Most recently, his film Starstruck was selected to be shown at the Central Florida Film Festival. He also won awards at the Tampa Bay Underground film festival and won the award for best Indie Short Film at the New York Movie Awards for his film The Eden Trials. George is an American Physician and Urologic Surgeon, and has been published numerous times in the scientific literature and now dedicates his medical skills to the under-insured as a volunteer. https://www.CoronadoBeachProductions.com https://www.imdb.com/name/nm15501484/ - Starstruck (2026) https://youtu.be/ha0N2HRNcyg - Mortal Sin (2025) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EeFd3cDDA/ https://youtu.be/FH36AiDPNnE?si=WcfuL48wb-plUw7s - Dr. George's first guest spot (2025) from Season 2 https://www.designersonfilm.com/podcast/mortal-sin-2025-dr-george-ellis - Other movies and shows discussed: A Clockwork Orange (1971) Coma (1978) The Great Train Robbery (1978) M*A*S*H (1970) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) The Verdict (1982)

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Every episode, host Jason Tselentis speaks with a phenomenal guest, usually a designer, about their favorite movie. It might be worth watching over and over, and over again. Maybe it left them with more questions than answers, or a lingering feeling. Learn about art direction and set design, cinematography and performance, casting and screenwriting, acting and costume design, makeup and music, as well as advertising, marketing, media, technology, unforgettable quotes, and so much more. Whether or not you are a designer, you will enjoy every revealing conversation that explores creativity and strategy, perseverance and leadership, craft and style.

Information

  • Creator
    Jason Tselentis
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    123
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    DESIGNERS ON FILM

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