The Filmumentaries Podcast

The Filmumentaries Podcast

45 movie-matched episodes
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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, digital artists, puppeteers, model makers, sound designers and effects crews who actually bring our favourite films to life. Each episode dives into the real work of filmmaking, from practical, in-camera effects to cutting-edge digital techniques. You'll hear from art directors, production designers, VFX supervisors, model makers, matte painters, creature and animatronics experts, puppeteers, performance capture artists, motion control specialists, editors, sound designers, re-recording mixers, composers, animators, prop restoration experts and Propstore archivists who helped shape iconic films like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Blade Runner, Jaws, Ghostbusters and Alien. With a strong focus on practical effects, physical filmmaking, and the craft behind the illusion, the podcast preserves the knowledge and stories of the people who built, shot and brought these worlds to life long before pixels took over - and those still pushing the boundaries today through performance capture, motion control and modern visual effects. Jamie is also a writer for Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Skywalker Sound, and has close ties to the BFI's film restoration and archive teams. Whether you're a cinephile, filmmaker, prop collector or simply curious about how films are really made, this podcast is your all-access pass to film history. What You'll Discover: First-hand stories from the artists, craftspeople and technicians behind the films Deep dives into practical effects, model making, matte painting, prosthetics, animatronics, puppetry, performance capture and VFX Conversations

The Farmer and the Shark
Ep 143 | The Farmer and the Shark — John Campopiano & Jim Beller (Jaws Doc)
Get Carter
Ep 142 | Jon Spira — New Mike Hodges Book (Get Carter, Flash Gordon)
Get Carter (1971) · Jan 6, 2026
Flash Gordon
Ep 142 | Jon Spira — New Mike Hodges Book (Get Carter, Flash Gordon)
Flash Gordon (1980) · Jan 6, 2026
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
138 - Jay Glennie on "The Making of Quentin Tarantino's 'Once Upon A Time ...In Hollywood"
Jaws
136 - Martha's Vineyard - Special Report
Jaws (1975) · Oct 7, 2025
Poltergeist
134 - Inside the Movie Novelizations of the ’80s with James Kahn — Jedi, Goonies & Poltergeist
Poltergeist (1982) · Sep 9, 2025
Jaws
130 - Jaws @ 50 with Director Laurent Bouzereau
Jaws (1975) · Jul 8, 2025
Beneath London: The Story of Alien War
BONUS - Director Paul King on Beneath London - The Story of Alien War
Dune
127 – Max Evry on A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch’s Dune – An Oral History.
Dune (1984) · May 27, 2025
Return of the Jedi
BONUS EPISODE - Vickie Sampson on those stolen Return of the Jedi Tapes
Her Name Was Moviola
122 - "Her Name Was Moviola" - With Director Howard Berry
The Shining
118 - Director Paul King on his new film "Shine On"
The Shining (1980) · Jan 7, 2025
Jurassic Park
115 - John Bell - Concept Designer and Art Director - BTTF II, Jurassic Park, Antz etc
Jurassic Park (1993) · Nov 19, 2024
Music by John Williams
114 - Laurent Bouzereau - Director of "Music By John Williams"
The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee
112 - Jon Spira - Director of "The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee"
Star Wars
111 - TyRuben Ellingson - VFX Art Director and Educator - Star Wars and Avatar
Star Wars (1977) · Sep 24, 2024
Avatar
111 - TyRuben Ellingson - VFX Art Director and Educator - Star Wars and Avatar
Avatar (2009) · Sep 24, 2024
EX MACHINA
110 - Andrew Whitehurst - VFX Supervisor - Ex Machina, Indiana Jones
EX MACHINA (2023) · Sep 10, 2024
King Kong
109 - King Kong - 35mm BFI Screening - Doug Weir and Kieron Webb
King Kong (1933) · Aug 27, 2024
Willow
108 - Jett Green - Matte Painter / Artist - Labyrinth, Willow, Temple of Doom
Willow (1988) · Aug 20, 2024
Labyrinth
108 - Jett Green - Matte Painter / Artist - Labyrinth, Willow, Temple of Doom
Labyrinth (1986) · Aug 20, 2024
The Empire Strikes Back
98 - The Empire Strikes Back Commentary - With Giles Terera
The Creator
96 - The Creator - With Director Gareth Edwards and his Effects Team
The Creator (2023) · Feb 17, 2024
The Creator
86 - Charmaine Chan - ILM Supervisor on "The Creator"
The Creator (2023) · Sep 28, 2023
Return of the Jedi
77 - Co-Producer Jim Bloom - Return Jedi Unauthorized Timeline Book
STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie
76 - Michael Harte - Editor of "Still: A Michael J Fox Movie"
Return of the Jedi
73 - Mike Dawson - Special Effects (Supervisor) - Superman, Return of the Jedi, Indiana Jones
5-25-77
70 - Patrick Read Johnson - Director of 5-25-77
5-25-77 (2008) · Mar 21, 2023
The Shining
66 - Lee Unkrich - Author of "Stanley Kubrick's The Shining" Book from Taschen
The Shining (1980) · Jan 6, 2023
Jurassic Park
63 - Dennis Muren - ILM VFX Legend - Star Wars Trilogy, Jurassic Park, T2 etc
Jurassic Park (1993) · Nov 24, 2022
Interstellar
34 - Gabriel Hardman - Comic Book and Storyboard Artist - Logan, Interstellar, Inception, Aliens Dust to Dust
Interstellar (2014) · Sep 21, 2021
Logan
34 - Gabriel Hardman - Comic Book and Storyboard Artist - Logan, Interstellar, Inception, Aliens Dust to Dust
Logan (2017) · Sep 21, 2021
Moonstruck
32 - John Patrick Shanley - Writer / Director - Joe Vs The Volcano, Moonstruck, Doubt
Moonstruck (1987) · Aug 15, 2021
Doubt
32 - John Patrick Shanley - Writer / Director - Joe Vs The Volcano, Moonstruck, Doubt
Doubt (2008) · Aug 15, 2021
Return to Oz
31 - Walter Murch on Return to Oz
Return to Oz (1985) · Aug 11, 2021
Raging Bull
29 - Dan Perri - Titles Designer - Star Wars, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Exorcist
Raging Bull (1980) · Jul 1, 2021
Blade Runner
22 - Ivor Powell - Associate Producer of Alien and Blade Runner
Blade Runner (1982) · Mar 23, 2021
Ghostbusters
21 - Pat McClung - Visual Effects Supervisor - TESB, Aliens, Ghostbusters, The Abyss
Ghostbusters (1984) · Mar 16, 2021
Aliens
21 - Pat McClung - Visual Effects Supervisor - TESB, Aliens, Ghostbusters, The Abyss
Aliens (1986) · Mar 16, 2021
Jaws
19 - Joe Alves - Legendary Production Designer on Jaws and Close Encounters
Jaws (1975) · Feb 19, 2021
Blade Runner
18 - The Blade Runner Workprint Chat - With Charles de Lauzirika and Bruce Wright
Blade Runner (1982) · Feb 9, 2021
Return of the Jedi
7 - Team Jabba The Hutt - Dave Barclay, Toby Philpott and John Coppinger
Return of the Jedi
5 - Kevin Pike - Special Effects Supervisor - JAWS, Return of the Jedi, Back to the Future
Star Wars
4 - Paul Hirsch - Oscar Winning Film Editor of Star Wars, Empire, Ferris Bueller, Carrie
Star Wars (1977) · Jul 12, 2020
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
4 - Paul Hirsch - Oscar Winning Film Editor of Star Wars, Empire, Ferris Bueller, Carrie