Inside the Mind of a Music Supervisor: A Conversation with Matthew Hearon-Smith – IP 157

If you’ve ever admired the soundtrack to a film or TV show and wondered who was behind the music, we’ve got you covered! Sean sat down with Music Supervisor Matthew Hearon-Smith, who has selected songs for the award winning films Tangerine and The Florida Project and also has curated the soundtracks for various television shows including Viceland’s My House. We discuss his process for finding the right song for the right moment and how he collaborates with directors and showrunners to create the mood for specific scenes.

Then, we share some of our top picks for popular songs that have been featured in films and TV programs and have indelibly changed the memory of that song for us.

Plus, Amita gives her rating and review of Sean’s Big Sell- Fantastic Negrito’s latest album, Please Don’t Be Dead and big sells an honest and revealing interview from The Good Place actress Jameela Jamil about the standard of beauty that women have been held up to and how she’s trying to rise above to help women love themselves for who they are, as they are.

Links:

Matthew Hearon-Smith- IMDb | Website | Twitter

Sense8‘s use of the song- “What’s Up?

Blue Velvet’s use of the song – “In Dreams

Blue Velvet’s use of the song – “Blue Velvet

Captain Fantastic‘s use of the song- “Sweet Child o’Mine

Little Miss Sunshine‘s use of the song- “Super Freak

Jameela Jamil Channel 4 Interview

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The Best Television & Music of 2018 – IP 141

Inside Pop presents our year end special highlighting the very best Television and Music of 2018! That’s right – this one episode brings you our picks for  the most binge-worthy TV shows ( including Atlanta, Dear White People, Barry, The Haunting of Hill House, Killing Eve, Queer Eye, Sense8) and most addictive music (including Janelle Monae, Cardi B, Meek Mill, Florence and the Machine, Ella Mai, Jacob Banks, Chloe X Halle) of the past 12 months. Listen to hear new insights into the shows that sit on top of the TV peak, plus we’ll celebrate our favorite albums and each declare our Song of the Year!

Sean’s Top TV

black-ish

Dear White People

Castle Rock

Daredevil

Glow

The Haunting of Hill House

Killing Eve

Sense8 (Series Finale)

Amita’s Top TV

Atlanta

Barry

The Handmaid’s Tale

Killing Eve

Murphy Brown

Queer Eye

Amita’s Top Albums

A Star is Born (Soundtrack) – Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper

Championships – Meek Mill

Dirty Computer – Janelle Monae

Invasion of Privacy – Cardi B

Ventriloquism – Meshell Ndegeocello

Sean’s Top Albums

Dirty Computer – Janelle Monae

High as Hope – Florence and the Machine

Lean on Me – Jose James

Piano & a Microphone – Prince

Remain in Light – Angelique Kidjo (Remain in Light X 2 playlist)

Ventriloquism – Meshell Ndegeocello

Village – Jacob Banks

Sean’s Song of the Year

Happy Without Me – Chloe X Halle

Amita’s Song of the Year

Boo’d Up – Ella Mai

 

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Strong Black Lead, Sense8 Series Finale – IP 129

Please note that this episode of Inside Pop is NOT sponsored by Netflix despite the fact that we’re celebrating the network’s content throughout the half hour!

First up – we examine the Strong Black Lead promo Netflix released at the beginning of the week. We discuss its impact, what iconic photo inspired it, who created it and yes – how it caused some controversy.

Then, Sean says good-bye to one of his favorite series of all time in a completely non-objective review of the Sense8 series finale. Sean will answer the following questions:

Did the cluster’s final synchronized bow meet all of his expectations? Did the finale provide a sense of closure? When is an orgy more than an orgy?

Plus Amita reviews Sean’s Big Sell from last week and sells him on a (say it like Oprah) MOOOVIE MOOOONTAGE!!!!

Links:

Find our more about A Great Day in Hollywood HERE

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Best of TV 2017 – IP 103

The time has come…we’ve watched countless hours of television and have narrowed them down to our top 10 favorite TV shows of the year! And to kick things up a notch- we’re sharing the scenes from the exceptional shows that inspired us, made us laugh out loud, brought us to tears and made our hearts flutter. From network to cable to streaming platforms, horror to comedy to sci-fi, this year has given us unique story lines, captivating visuals and incredible characters.

We also take time to mention the TV shows we wish we checked out and the ones we regret watching.

Check out our 10 Best TV of 2017 below along with links to some of the scenes we discuss in this episode.

SEAN’S TOP 10

10. Broad City

9. Godless

8. Twin Peaks

7. black-ish

6. Master of None

5. The Exorcist

Scene from ‘Help Me’

4. The Handmaid’s Tale

3. Queen Sugar

“He Ain’t Heavy, He’s Ralph Angel” scene

2. Fargo

Winnie and Gloria Scene

1. Sense8

Prison Break scene:

AMITA’S TOP 10
10. Will & Grace

9. This is Us

8. Fargo

Tree Stump Bloodbath:

7. Game of Thrones

Cuthroat Stark Sisters:

6. Insecure

5. Better Caul Saul

Chuck’s Monologue:

4. Big Little Lies

3. Queen Sugar

2. Master of None

1. The Handmaid’s Tale

Let us know which shows made it to the top of your list!

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Wonder Woman, Master of None, Tickling Giants, Sense8 – IP 78

This week- we dive into the world of pop culture with:

  • Wonder Woman – Amita gives her reaction and we discuss the film’s record breaking box office.
  • Master of None – We can’t get enough of the Season 2 and talk about Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang’s decision to hold off on Season 3…for now.
  • Sean pours some out for the final season of one of his favorite Netflix series, Sense8.
  • We share an excerpt of our interview with Sara Taksler, the writer/director/producer of the documentary, Tickling Giants.
  • And Sean rates and reviews last week’s Big Sell, the soul/funk/blues artist, Earl St. Clair and shares his Big Sell- a new single from Alabama Shakes.

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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Sense8, The Dark Tower, The Defenders, South Asians on TV & Film, Broadway, Game of Thrones – IP 74

The May pop culture hot streak continues so we discuss the release of the trailers for the highly anticipated film adaptation of the Stephen King series, The Dark Tower; and The Defenders on Netflix.

Then, Amita gives her immediate (and spoiler free) reaction to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and also shares her exciting experience winning a Broadway Lottery. Meanwhile Sean is incapable of containing his excitement over the premiere of the 2nd season of Sense8.

The Pop Insiders also share the details of the recently announced Game of Thrones spin-offs and share which GoT characters they’d most want to see Frasiered.

Plus, Amita celebrates the influx of South Asians on TV and Film and the joy and inspiration they have given her.

And Sean reviews  last’s week’s Hall & Oates big sell and sells Amita on a climate change focused Instagram feed.

Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram @popinsiders

Links:

The Defenders trailer

The Dark Tower trailer

Big Sell: Everyday Climate Change Instagram feed

Movie Awards Season update, Amita returns from the Motherland – IP 59

After a brief one week break, Inside Pop is back with a brand new episode! We have a comprehensive breakdown of the major awards nominations thus far leading up to the Oscar Noms that will be announced next week. We’ll discuss the PGA, DGA and SAG nominees for Best Picture and Best Actor/Actress and give you our thoughts on how the awards race is shaking out thus far.
PGA logo  DGASAG logo

 

 

 

AND Amita is finally back home from her 2 week vacation in India! She’s sharing all of the pop culture she experienced while overseas including a couple of shows she binge watched on her flights. Sean also shares his pop culture consumption over the last couple weeks and reveals how he really feels about the Sense 8 Christmas Special.

Plus, the Big Sell is back! Sean reviews and rates Amita’s last Big Sell, the Alicia Keys music video for “Blended Family” and then shares his next Big Sell.

Links:

Official Nominations lists:

PGA

DGA

SAG