Q+A: Adam Kempenaar, Filmspotting

Research indicates that we make judgments about people in just a fraction of a second. And movies? Well, sometimes I only have to read the title to know exactly how much I'm going to hate it (Yes, that means you, Paul Blart, Mall Cop). Still, many films should get a fairer shake than I give them. And that's why I turn my brain over to Filmspotting every Saturday morning—the show keeps me from deciding my opinion about a film based solely on its poster.

If you're tired of judging movies by 30-second trailers, 2-minute television reviews, and 100-word newspaper capsules, check out Filmspotting, where the smart and eloquent hosts, Adam Kempenaar and Matty Robinson, share their takes on the newest releases (among other things). You can read my review of their show here.

Adam Kempenaar, one of Filmspotting's co-hosts, agreed to answer a few questions for Atomic Podcasts. He shared his thoughts on iPod radio stars, the celebs who listen to the show, and his best advice for podcasters.

When and why did you start the podcast?

The show started back in March 2005. Believe it or not, at first it was just an excuse to watch more movies. Prior to moving to Chicago in 2002 I was living in Iowa City and pretty active on the movie front—as active as you can be in Iowa City, anyway. I was taking film classes and finishing my Master's in Journalism, writing reviews for The Daily Iowan, doing a weekly radio show called "Burn Hollywood Burn" and later writing a blog (back before EVERYBODY had one). But with the move, new job and new kids (the first born in 2002; the second in 2004), I wasn't getting out to the theater much at all. Sam Hallgren was a friend who also lived in Chicago and had contributed occasionally to my blog. We would talk regularly about starting another blog, looking for some outlet to watch movies and talk about them, but it would never lead anywhere. It was hard to get excited about doing something that we didn't think would have a shot at developing much of an audience.

Then in February 2005 Wired magazine did a big feature on podcasting with Adam Curry on the cover. The headline was, "Adam Curry Wants to Make You An iPod Radio Star." I read the article and knew a podcast was what Sam and I had to do. We both had radio experience—I had done shows as an undergrad at Grinnell College before Iowa—and enjoyed it, and since the medium was just taking off, we had a chance to get in early and hopefully stand out from the crowd before everyone else jumped in. I called Sam and jokingly asked him if he wanted to be a radio star. About three weeks later we recorded our first episode. My far-too-understanding wife, Sarah, still reminds me how I told her it would only take up a couple hours of my life each week -- two hours to see one movie and then the recording and uploading. That plan lasted all of about three weeks before the show started consuming a lot more of my time.

In general, you don't give thumbs up/thumbs down movie assessments. Why not?

Because I generally loathe the idea of critics being box office or consumer guides. I think we serve that purpose for some people, and that's great. I love knowing that we can steer some listeners to a certain film or away from another when they don't get out to the theater much and have to make a choice. But ultimately any kind of criticism should be about an exchange of ideas. My goal is to give listeners something to chew on that hopefully they can't get anywhere else. I'm sure I don't always succeed, but that's the goal. I think it's telling that we hear from a lot of people around the world who acknowledge they'll likely never get to see a good percentage of the films we're discussing, but they still enjoy the conversation.

I don't want to lump "comic book fans" or "soccer moms" or anybody else into one big group and make assumptions about what they may or may not find enjoyable in a movie and advise them on how to spend their money. The best thing a critic can do is focus on expressing the experience he or she had with the film and not worry about how the movie might play with anybody else.

There's no shortage of podcasts where a couple of guys sit down and offer their take on a movie. Why do you think that your podcast has connected with listeners in a way that others haven't? Any advice for those aspiring podcasters?

I think part of our success was timing certainly. We came out before iTunes launched podcasting; at the time there were only 25 or so movie-related podcasts and none with a format like ours. But I think the biggest reasons are that Sam and I decided early on to approach the show like it was a job, and the same is true now with my current co-host Matty Robinson. We were determined to post a new show every week no matter what. Our thinking was miss a week and those listeners will find some other show to listen to. So that's definitely my first piece of advice—don't take yourselves too seriously, but take the show seriously. Be consistent and professional. If you're flaky, people will search elsewhere for good content. We also wanted to make sure the show had a clear structure with segments people could look forward to each week, such as the Top 5 and Massacre Theatre. We didn't want to be one of those shows where two people just babbled without any production behind it. I definitely encourage aspiring podcasters to develop a format for their show. Just don't steal the Top 5 idea like everyone else has. :)

What's the best way to enjoy a movie, in your opinion?

This is going to destroy any chance I have of being thought of as a man of the people, but I really enjoy attending critics screenings. I'm easily distracted by cell phones going off, people texting, talking, snacking, etc. At home, even when the kids are in bed, it's easy to think about all the things I can be getting done. I love sitting in a totally quiet, totally dark theater with only the movie to focus on.

You've got some very dedicated (and passionate!) listeners. Do you they ever send you things that surprise you—or that you'd never put on air? Any examples you're willing to share?

We have a Filmspotting Stuff page with various creative listener submissions. Sam and I used to get quite a few, and I have to say it's pretty funny to see our faces Photoshopped into movie posters like Glengarry Glen Ross and The 40 Year-Old Virgin.

Plus, a listener once wrote a screenplay called Haitian Divorce based on a pitch Sam gave when we were doing the Top 5 Actors We'd Cast In Our Movie. Sam had the entire story planned out along with the cast, and this guy liked it so much he decided to put it on the page.

What other podcasts do you enjoy listening to?

Sadly, Filmspotting keeps me from listening to many other shows. But when I have the time I enjoy KCRW's The Treatment and the IFC News podcast.

Anything else you think listeners should know about your show?
I'm still blown away whenever I find out a director is a regular listener of the show. Some of them include: Ed Burns (The Brothers McMullen), John Badham (Saturday Night Fever), Rian Johnson (Brick) and David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer).

The show is broadcast weekly on WBEZ/Chicago Public Radio, and for the second year in a row we will be teaching a film course at the University of Chicago's Graham School. I was also very proud to write the foreword for Jon J. Muth's great graphic novel adaptation of Fritz Lang "M" that was published last spring.