38 episodes
Scene by Scene with Josh & Dean: American Splendor Josh Neufeld
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- Arts
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4.8 • 16 Ratings
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Josh Neufeld & Dean Haspiel break down Harvey Pekar's AMERICAN SPLENDOR the movie (2003) scene by scene, with insight, humor, and inside information. Neufeld & Haspiel were both illustrators for the American Splendor comic book. SCENE BY SCENE is geared toward fans of indy comics and movies, as well as the rapidly growing “movies-by-minute” podcast movement. You can find SCENE BY SCENE at http://www.scenebyscenepodcast.com Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scenebyscene/support
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AS Bonus: Live Event with Springer Berman, Pulcini, Friedlander, and Leib
A special live event held at New York City’s famed Society of Illustrators! After a screening of the film, Josh & Dean sat down with American Splendor writer/directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (via Skype), actor Judah Friedlander, and animator Gary Leib. Behind-the-scenes stories of the making of the film, the animation, influences from the comics, and much more, including questions from the audience.
Watch the accompanying video slideshow of comics sources for scenes in the film: https://youtu.be/MQSbPxTNpgE
Shout-outs to producer Ted Hope, Society of Illustrators director Anelle Miller, Fairway supermarkets, Art Spiegelman, R. Crumb, the 1970s film Don't Look Now, Elizabeth Brundage’s All Things Cease to Appear, ”Ain't It Peculiar," Chocolate Genius (Mark Anthony Thompson; Tessa Thompson's dad), John Kuramoto, Curt Swan, Hergé, Eli Ganias, and Eytan Mirsky.
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AS Bonus: Writer/Directors SHARI SPRINGER BERMAN and ROBERT PULCINI Interview
Josh & Dean sit down with American Splendor writer/directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini for a freewheeling discussion of the movie. Shari & Bob talk about meeting Harvey & Joyce, the writing & making of the film, their working method and creative choices, casting, memorable moments from the shoot, the film’s main themes, and Harvey’s legacy.
According to Bob, “Everything about the making of American Splendor was unorthodox and unusual.” For instance, the first day of casting was on September 11, 2001… Other tidbits include the surprising revelation that the film was heavily influenced by the Peanuts animated specials of the 1960s! Listen for that and so much more. As Shari says, "it was so important to Harvey to not be invisible, to not evaporate.” Well, thanks in large part to the American Splendor film, Harvey Pekar will live forever...
Shout-outs to producer Ted Hope, production designer Thérèse DePrez, Cole Porter's "Night & Day," Charlie Rose, script supervisor Michael Taylor, the Crumb documentary, the 1978 Superman movie, Twinkle's Gary Leib & John Kuromoto, Josh Hutcherson, Hitchcock's Rope, Seinfeld, Maud Nadler, HBO, the New York Times, Beef with Tomato, Twitter, Jeff Newelt, @RealHarveyPekarTweets, and Helen Mirren wearing a Harvey Pekar T-shirt!
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AS30: The End Credits
American Splendor scene #30 (1:37:31 to 1:41:08) — As the credits roll (on the film and the podcast), Josh & Dean reflect on all things Pekar/American Splendor. What should the film’s post-credit sequence have been? What would an American Splendor TV show look like? (Dino keeps coming back to Louis C.K.)
A tribute to DC/Vertigo/Paradox Press, as well as editor Jonathan Vankin. Other notable movies with the word “American” in the title. The next movies from each of the film’s actors. Who would you want to write, direct, and star in the movie of your life? Thoughts on Harvey's death and the film’s conclusion. A somber way to end the season. Thanks for listening!
SHOUT-OUTs to Doug Allen, R. Crumb. Greg Budgett, Gary Dumm, Gary Leib, Jason Gerstein, Joe Sacco, Gerry Shamray, Frank Stack, Joe Zabel, Bernt Capra, Vince Waldron, DC's Big Book of... series, Sandman, Swamp Thing, Hellblazer, Neil Gaiman, the comics' "British Invasion," Paradox Press, Andy Helfer, A History of Violence, Karen Berger, Hollywood Bob, Alden Ehrenreich (Han Solo), Harrison Ford, Seinfeld, Alan Alda, Alan Moore, HBO's Watchmen TV show, Pamela Adlon's Better Things, the U.S. State Dept. Speaker/Specialist program, Jerry Lewis, Woody Allen, France, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Deadpool, Chester Brown, the "Who is Harvey Pekar" scene, the Alamo Drafthouse, Chris Smith, Tom Cruise, Clint Eastwood, Kevin Costner, Bret Easton Ellis, Pierce Brosnan, Ted Hope, Good Machine, Josh Hutcherson (Robin), The Hunger Games, M*A*S*H, Hawkeye Pierce, Radar O'Reilly, Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round," Charlie Kaufman, Spike Jonze, Ryan O’Neal, Seth Rogan, Paddy Cheyefsky, Budd Schulberg, Network, The Hospital, George C. Scott, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, the Coen Brothers, Sergio Leone, the Russian Turkish Baths, John Ritter, the Fonz, Captain Kirk, Jason Wright, Doug Latino, Evan Wilson, Jen Ferguson, Sari Wilson, and all you listeners.
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AS29: Part of the Story (with Alex Robinson)
American Splendor scene #29 (1:31:12 to 1:37:31) — Alex Robinson of Star Wars Minute joins Josh & Dean for the final scene of the film! (Well, actually, six little “scenelets.”) It's one year later, and Harvey & Joyce sign Our Cancer Year. Harvey is declared cancer-free! They adopt Danielle, and Harvey adjusts to being a parent (of a sort). The real Harvey retires from the VA hospital, and the movie ends with a group hug.
For Alex, discovering American Splendor was "like LSD in reverse.” An ode to Alex’s work, particularly Box Office Poison and the characters Jane Pekar and Irving Flavor. We learn that “Pekar” means “baker” (in Czech)! The idea of a Harvey Pekar walking tour of Cleveland. “On the money": all the books Harvey published between 2003 and 2010 (his death). Which Star Wars character would Harvey play?
Shout-outs to Star Wars Minute (of course), Frank Stack, the Harvey Award, Harvey Comics, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Hot Stuff, Richie Rich, Godfather Minute, Gary Dumm, Lakewood, Collector's Warehouse, Gene Colan, Siegel & Shuster, Nightstalker, Jack Kirby, the School of Visual Arts, Will Eisner, Carmine Infantino, Gahan Wilson, Love & Rockets, Madylin Sweeten, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Everybody Loves Raymond, cold pizza, ice skating, getting older, Portland, the Cleveland Halloran Ice Rink, re-reading your own comics, deadline art, The Little Mermaid, the Comics Code vs. the Hays Code, Matrix: Revolutions and crappy sequels, manga like Akira & Crying Freeman, Mike Hueston, Van Halen & green M&Ms, brown M&Ms?, reversed vasectomies, Wo Hop, La Caridad, the Russian & Turkish Baths, Mark Zingarelli, Robert McNeill, American Splendor: Unsung Hero, Dark Horse Comics, chess boxing, Alex Toth, Our Expanding Universe, the iPad Pro, Rutger Hauer, Blade Runner, C-3PO, and My Dinner with André. Ingy Wamba!
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AS Bonus: Animator GARY LEIB Interview
Josh sits down with Gary Leib to discuss his work on the film, specifically on key scenes like the title sequence, "Old Jewish Ladies," and "Who is Harvey Pekar?" Gary's background as an alternative cartoonist (Idiotland) and musician, and his long-standing partnership with Doug Allen. How Gary got into animation and initially hooked up with Ted Hope and Good Machine. John Kuramoto's vital contributions to the animation. Getting to know Harvey at Sundance, and what it was like when American Splendor won the Grand Jury Prize. Why Gary can't toot his own horn in the age of Trump.
Shout-outs to Rubber Radio, John Linnell from They Might Be Giants, Dan Clowes, Chris Ware, Fantagraphics, Denis Kitchen, Spain, Zap Comix, Love God, Tim Streeto, Fellini's Amarcord, and HBO's Maud Nadler.
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AS28: Who is Harvey Pekar?
American Splendor scene #28 (1:28:12 to 1:31:12) — In one continuous take, Harvey wanders through a dreamscape, musing about his name, the phone book, and the other Harvey Pekars out there. An existential meditation is brought to life in a tour-de-force combination of framing, acting, and animation. A comparison with the original comic, “The Harvey Pekar Name Story,” a masterpiece of subtlety and quiet moments, illustrated by R. Crumb. The origin of the Haspiels/Haspels in America, and the other Josh Neufelds.
Shout-outs to Gina Haspel, Haspel clothing, Tom King & Clay Mann’s Heroes in Crisis, Lenny Bruce, Marc Maron, Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, Star Wars' R2-D2 & C-3PO, Crockett Johnson’s Harold and the Purple Crayon, True Detective, The Matrix, Gary Leib, John Kuromoto, Josh’s ”Tribal Rituals" story from A Few Perfect Hours, Ivan Brunetti, Crumb’s ”Stoned Again,” Prince’s “Controversy,” Dan Castellaneta, the stage version of the “Harvey Pekar Name Story,” Billy Dogma, The Red Hook, and Dean’s playwriting.
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Customer Reviews
Love this podcast!
Really enjoying this podcast; a must-listen if you’re a fan of “American Splendor” (comic and/or movie)!
Scene by Scene excels at giving us an important story...
What a find. Insightful, personal and so important. Once again bringing us back to the importance of Harvey. Superhero comics are just that sweeping splash pages of action that are far from a personal experiences that more people need today to develop the resilience needed to get through the day to day. This podcast by two people who have worked with the most important man to be in “comics” tells that story...I admire their work as well as the inspiration they drew maybe a pun intended her from the great Mr Pekar. Thanks.
Great podcast for comix lovers
This is a fascinating & entertaining insider look at the lives and inspiration of professional cartoonists and comics writers. Using a film about a seminal comix figure as a jumping off point, this podcast goes far and wide into comics arcana, history, and the personalities behind the art. Revelatory, and often LOL funny.