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UMassterclass

The official, award-winning podcast of the Film Studies program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst! Your go-to show for students, filmmakers, and film faculty getting educated together, on all things film, television, and screened media. Our podcast is written and produced by students in the Film Studies program at UMass Amherst. Hosts Chloe Mills & Conrad Johnson. Production crew Elle Decatur & Joane Nzikoba.

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S4E8: Resurrection (2025)

Today, the UMassterclass team discusses Bi Gan's 2025 film, Resurrection . Resurrection follows the journey of a "deliriant," in a future where humanity has given up dreaming, as he relives one hundred years across multiple dreams, aided by a woman using the lost techniques of cinema. The six segments of the film each corresponds to one of the six senses recognized in Buddhist thought: sight,…

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S4E7: Sirāt with Conrad Johnson

Today, co-host Conrad Johnson takes us through his thoughts on Sirāt (2025) in his last solo episode of the UMassterclass podcast. Conrad is graduating in a few weeks, and he was very passionate that the listeners of UMassterclass hear about this film; take a listen and enjoy! Hosted/Produced by Conrad Johnson // Edited by Conrad Johnson // Team: Chloe Mills, Elle Decatur, Joane Nzikoba Theme by…

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S4E6: 33rd Annual Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival

UMass Amherst is hosting the 33rd rendition of the Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival this month, and the UMassterclass podcast dove into the inner workings of this year's programming. Hosted/Produced by Chloe Mills and Conrad Johnson // Edited by Chloe Mills // Team: Elle Decatur, Joane Nzikoba Interviewees: Barbara Zecchi, Ayanna Dozier, Dex Veitch Theme by Conrad Johnson

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S4E5: Oscars Review (Sentimental Value, Hamnet, One Battle After Another, Sinners)

It's Oscars day!! Today, the UMassterclass team along with special guest Paola Delmaschio give you their thoughts on some of this year's nominations for Best Picture. Take a listen and enjoy! Segments: Chloe Mills - Sentimental Value Elle Decatur - Hamnet Joanne Nzikoba - One Battle After Another (dictated by Chloe Mills) Paola Delmaschio - Sinners Hosted/Produced by Chloe Mills // Edited by Chloe…

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S4E4: Lee Chang-dong & Historical Context

Today, UMassterclass is featuring the second episode in a two-part series by Bella Livoti as her final project for Film Auteurs. In this episode, Bella dives into South Korean history to give historical and cultural context to what informs Lee Chang Dong's choices to do with representation. She talks about women’s place in South Korean society, and historical events contemporary with Lee Chang…

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S4E3: Lee Chang-dong & Representations of Trauma

Today, UMassterclass is featuring an episode by Bella Livoti as her final project for Film Auteurs last fall. This first episode of two begins to highlight emotional representation of trauma in film by Lee Chang-dong. Take a listen and enjoy! Hosted/Produced by Conrad Johnson and Chloe Mills // Edited by Conrad Johnson // Team: Maggie Belanger, Ev Fuss Theme by Conrad Johnson

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S4E2: Queering Culture, the Desire Trilogy

Today, UMassterclass is featuring an episode by former UMass students, Ceeb Kennedy and Brian Licata! Both students graduated in the spring of 2025, having participated in the Film Studies program. In this episode, Ceeb and Brian take a closer look into the works of Luca Guadagnino, specifically "I Am Love (2009)," "A Bigger Splash (2015)," and "Call Me by Your Name (2017)." Take a listen!…

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S4E1: Monty Python

Today, UMassterclass is featuring an episode by the team's new co-host, Conrad Johnson! This episode looks at interviews with the cast and production team of the Monty Python series, reviewing techniques and unique stylistic choices in order to maintain a certain comedic style while keeping a low budget. Take a listen! Hosted/Produced by Chloe Mills // Edited by Conrad Johnson Theme by Conrad…

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Special Episode: Bridget Jones’s Diary / Easy A / But I’m a Cheerleader

Today, UMassterclass is featuring a special episode with the team's own Gabby Mosher! The Romantic Comedy: a movie that appeals mostly to women. Exploring love and romance by utilizing humor, this genre is often overlooked by the film industry. Gabby talks about this overlooked genre from a feminist perspective, exploring how the romantic comedy can both adhere to gender norms as well as empower…

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S3E2: 30th Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the MMFF with UMassterclass! In this episode, host Rianna Jakson talks to Co-Director Daniel Pope on the meaning of this year's theme, "Before After" and each transformative film of the program! Listen to Rianna speak with director Ishtar Yasin Gutiérrez ( My Lost Country / Baladi Aldaia , 2022) and award-winning director/cinematographer David Siev (dir. Bad Axe ,…

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