Media Carnivores: Recent Episodes
Brent Hartinger and Erik Hanberg: Writers and Media Entrepreneurs
Brent shares his newest project—being a digital nomad! He and his husband Michael are traveling the world as digital nomads. They do their normal writing work, except they get to do it from Miami, Italy,...
We haven’t checked in about our own writing and publishing. Brent talks about the possibility of a new Geography Club TV show and what it was like to be nominated for an Edgar Award for...
Writers exist on a sort of continuum: the best selling phenomenons at the top, and then a long tail of writers of various success as you go lower and lower on the continuum. What truly...
This special bonus episode of Media Carnivores is about Brent’s new book, The Otto Digmore Difference. Otto is a recurring character from the Russel Middlebrook series (he appears in both the original series and the...
Movies can make us fall in love all over again. But they also can show us terribly inaccurate stories about love. Brent and Erik talk about movie love stories—the good, the bad, and the fantasy. Brent and...
The Lord of the Rings was an important moment in recent cinema: the scope of its filmmaking and audacity in filming three movies at once, the elevation of the fantasy genre, its pioneering special effects,...
“Political correctness” is an unfortunately-named shorthand description for how we talk about gender, race, privilege, and more. As it applies to stories like movies and TV, questions can arise about how certain tropes, characters, or stereotypes...
How technology and science are portrayed in movies and TV is always changing. Science fiction writers have dealt with this for years, but what about non-science fiction stories. How are these things treated in stories...
Food is everywhere in movies, TV, and books. Why does the camera linger so much on a grilled cheese sandwich in the movie Chef? Why do meals create such good drama? In preparation for Thanksgiving, Brent...
In this episode, Brent and Erik talk about alien invasions—when are the aliens the monsters and when are we the monsters? We cover the fear alien invasions inspire, and the deeper issues about how aliens can force us to...
In this episode, Brent and Erik talk about how politics and power are portrayed in movies and TVs. How are US politics portrayed? How does Game of Thrones speak to our modern politics? We also talk...
In this episode, Brent and Erik talk about the choices writers face as they consider their future career. “Would you rather be a bestselling hack or a critical darling who never sells?” How writers approach...
In this episode, Brent offers up a theory about how to write something that will be successful over the long run: either write something perfect or write something with just one great thing that outweighs any...
Summer 2016 felt a little different, especially when it came to movies. Sequels bombed, and Netflix killed it with Stranger Things. So did something change? Was Summer 2016 a tipping point somehow? Brent and Erik...
Calvin and Hobbes ran for ten years from 1985 to 1995. Bill Watterson, its creator, is famously protective of his creation. He retired at the top of his career, he has never authorized any merchandising...
We’re talking about Brent’s new book, Three Truths and a Lie, published August 2, 2016, by Simon and Schuster. The YA/psychological thriller/horror is a new direction for Brent. Four teenagers go for a weekend vacation to...
Fandom brings artists and storytellers the opportunity to create art for a waiting and eager audience. Fans can be brought in to give feedback early, which helps both the fans and the creator. But sometimes fans...
It is easy to say that Steven Spielberg is the most successful American director. Just look at the box office of the movies he’s directed. But is he the best? That’s a much trickier question....
What is it about humanity that makes us enjoy watching scary movies? Why do we pay to go into a dark movie theater and watch terrible things? Brent and Erik delve into horror films and look at...
Since 2008, The Shawshank Redemption has been at the top of the IMDb Top 250 Films. It is a fixture on cable television. It is one of the most commonly cited “favorite films.” Why is...
It’s summertime, and that means it’s the season for a vacation to the beach (or the pool). We love reading on vacation—a good read that can just suck you in for hours at a time in...
We are continuing our two-part format for our episodes! First, Brent and Erik check-in about writing and publishing. Brent shares his experience selling a script to a film producer in China and Erik asks whether he’s confusing readers by...
We’re experimenting with a new segment on Media Carnivores. We start with a check-in about our writing and publishing. We talk about what we’re working on, ask for advice, and generally open up about the “behind the...
Media Carnivores has asked this question before, but a lot has changed since we recorded Part I and Part II of “Should You Self-Publish?” in 2014. Brent and Erik check in on how publishing (both...
Why do some classic movies hold up to a modern audience, but others just don’t work? We talk about why some work and some don’t, and also name our favorite classic films that still work as...
Sex is becoming more and more prevalent in books, especially self-published ebooks. Is it necessary to sell a book? How much sex should writers be putting into their books? Brent and Erik check out this steamy...
Brent’s third book in his The Futon Years trilogy is finally out and we’re talking about not only this book but the entire trilogy. What is “Amazing?” What is happening with Russel Middlebrook now that he’s an adult? And what...
Remakes, reboots, new seasons after a long break, spin-offs, and franchise shows are pouring into TV—in a very similar way that blockbuster films have become dominated by the same things. So: is what’s happening on TV the...
If you could go back and meet your younger self, what advice would you give? Brent and Erik give advice to their younger writing selves about the craft of writing, publishing, ego, seizing the brass ring...
Hollywood might be marketing to adolescents and teenagers more than ever before, but that doesn’t mean they are making more “teen movies.” Some movies targeted toward teenagers have been classics for decades (American Graffiti and The...
Guess what? Erik’s new book, The Iron Harvest is out! We talk about the world of the trilogy he’s created, how writing a second book in a planned trilogy differs from writing the first or the third, and...
[Caution: Here there be spoilers.] How is Episode VII? After asking only a few episodes ago whether Star Wars had “gone to the Dark Side” we decided we needed to follow up once we’d seen the movie....
Brent and Erik rank their top ten books, movies, TV shows, and even podcasts of 2015 (as well as a few big disappointments). You will almost certainly find something you’ll want to bookmark and check out on one...
Whether a hero or a villain, we all love great characters. And they often stay with us longer than the story they helped create. We look at what drives a great character and more. Brent and Erik explore the...
A long time ago, and in a galaxy far, far away… Luke and his band of rebels became cinema and cultural legends. And forty years later, they are coming back to the big screen. Is...
Can a writer make their living anywhere? Or should they move to one of the two entertainment capitals of the United States (if not the world) ? Are the tools of the Internet enough to fuel your...
Brent and Erik went on a field trip to the new Amazon retail bookstore in Seattle today. The store is called simply “Amazon Books” and it’s already the subject of furious commentary around the country (though by...
Is Anne Hathaway more “authentic” than Jennifer Lawrence? Do we have any way of knowing for sure? (And why do we care?) Why do we want our artists (and our politicians and everyone else with a...
Disney is re-releasing many of its animated films as live action. They are investing in sequels and franchises to what many think is a startling degree. So, has Disney lost its magic? Have they sold...
With the rise of ebook subscription models like Kindle Unlimited and the question of how authors should price their books, we decided to take a look at this thorny question with our guest: bestselling author Annie Bellet. Check...
Are you caught up on Game of Thrones? What about Orange is the New Black? The Americans? The Good Wife? Oh, and The Wire was so good, you should go back and watch that too. Can...
How do you write a book? How do you get from Chapter 1 to those magical two words … The End? (Not to mention writing 80,000 words or so in the middle.) Brent and Erik tackle the...
Tom Cruise has been a movie star for more than thirty years. We have to figure that’s not an accident. How has he done it (often in the face of some pretty bad personal publicity)?...
Guess what? Brent’s new book is out. It’s called “Barefoot in the City of Broken Dreams” and it’s the second book in “The Futon Years” series that follows Russel into adulthood. Brent and Erik talk...
It’s never been easier to create and distribute your own movie. But should you? Are you crazy to produce your own movie? Brent and Erik bring on movie producers Julia Verdin and Matt Dean—our first guests!—to...
When is it good to be bad? When do you root for the villain, and when you root against? When does evil come from within and when does it come from without? Brent and Erik look at...
The portrayal of gay and lesbian characters in movies and TV has changed over time—and quite dramatically over the last few years. With the recent Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality, we thought it was time to look...
With a slate of new programming and several Emmys, Netflix is taking TV by storm. Which leads to the question… Is Netflix the new black? Are they the model that everyone should be looking to...
Sometimes when books, TV shows, and movies kill key characters, fans get outraged. And sometimes a great death scene will make a character even more memorable. What’s the difference? Brent and Erik investigate. Your Hosts Brent Hartinger Erik...
Why are so many sequels so much worse than the original? Why do they retread the same group? Brent and Erik visit (revisit?) sequels and look at the “rules” that make the great ones great. Your Hosts...
Media Carnivores co-host Brent Hartinger recently sold his book Three Truths and a Lie to a traditional publisher, Simon Pulse. As a writer traditional and self-published books, Brent makes an interesting case study for this new...
What are your “guilty” pleasures? And who says you should you feel guilty about them? Brent and Erik look into shows and books commonly called guilty pleasures, as well as discuss their own. Your Hosts Brent Hartinger...
This year is the year of blockbuster (and sequels, reboots, and remakes). But don’t we say that every year? How have popcorn movies changed? And have market pressures made popcorn movies go stale? Your Hosts Brent...
Between 1997 (when the first Harry Potter book came out) and 2011 (when the last movie was released) Potter-mania swept the globe. How have the books and movies held up when they are no longer in...
Can an indie writer make it anymore? Is there gold in the hills? What caused the surge in self-publishing and how has it changed? Brent and Erik look at trends in publishing as well as...
What makes a comedy funny? Is there any joke or situation that is timeless? Has irony killed classic comedy? Brent and Erik look TV and film for answers (and laughs). Your Hosts Brent Hartinger Erik Hanberg Links...
The 2014 Hollywood box office was down over 2013 and as low as its been in three years. And so far this year, movies targeting women have outperformed movies targeting men. Can women revive a slumping box office?...
Never has a television show pushed the envelope of both content and production as Game of Thrones. Are shows with the epic scope of Game of Thrones the future? Or is this a high-water mark for TV?...
Computer generated images are in almost every major studio movie, especially the upcoming summer blockbuster season. Has it gone too far and stifled creativity? Or has CGI actually unleashed it? Your Hosts Brent Hartinger Erik Hanberg Links...
Especially after Tony Soprano, TV feels like it is full of stories about anti-heroes. How has their portrayal changed? And why are we so drawn to them? Brent and Erik explore. Your Hosts Brent Hartinger Erik Hanberg Links...
Writers often have more ideas for books and screenplays than they have time to write. So how does a writer choose one project over another? Brent and Erik delve into their own careers to share...
Technology has changed both the kinds of stories we tell and how we tell them. Brent and Erik talk about how technology has reshaped the media landscape. This episode also includes our official launch of...
Fan fiction is prevalent on the Internet, and some pieces—like Fifty Shades of Grey, Death Comes to Pemberley, and Amazon’s Kindle World program—have shown that there might be commercial success for certain projects. So is...
Writers don’t often talk about failure. But, almost by definition, writers will fail either artistically or commercially at some point. As Brent says, how we deal with failure determines whether we will be a successful artist. Your...
Academy Awards nominations just came out and the Oscar season has launched in full force. Is this award season meaningful, or just a bunch of nonsense? Brent and Erik look at the annual awards. Your Hosts...
Is Amazon evil? We tackled this question during the early days of the Hachette-Amazon dispute and enough has changed over recent months that we thought this question was worth revisiting again. Your Hosts Brent Hartinger...
Brent and Erik wrap year with a look at the TV, movies, books, and more that stood out in 2014. They discuss the best (and some of the worst) in media this year. Your Hosts Brent Hartinger...
What is “The Thing I Didn’t Know I Didn’t Know?” It’s Brent’s new book, the continuation of the story about Russell Middlebrook (from Geography Club) in his early twenties. Brent talks about how the book came to...
How should an artist’s personal life, personal opinions—and possible crimes—affect our view of the artist’s work? Is it ethical to watch the work of an artist who has been alleged to have done terrible things? Your Hosts Brent...
It’s the time of year where we gather around the TV and watch our favorite Christmas specials. But why do we do this? And what makes these specials stick with us for decades? Your Hosts Brent...
It seems like a lot of movies and books with great potential fall apart in the final act or descend into cliche. Why is that so common? Brent and Erik look into this—unfortunately—all-too-common phenomenon. Your Hosts...
Do we expect (and maybe even encourage) artists to be depressed or otherwise eccentric? Does standing on the outside of society and holding up a mirror mean you will always be disappointed, frustrated, and (metaphorically) alone? Brent...
Should novelists also write for the stage? What can you learn from the act of writing a play, and from observing an audience watch it? We look at the benefits (and economics) of writing drama. Your...
Over time, the portrayal of men has changed substantially in movies and television, including sitcom dads, action heroes, character leads in cable dramas, and more. How are men portrayed and characterized? What direction is the going? Your Hosts...
Brent and Erik go into detail about the marketing steps they take to launch a book. This episode also contains an offer to be a beta reader from Brent for his next book! Your Hosts...
“Write what you know” is common advice to new writers. But is it always a good idea? Brent and Erik take different sides and look at what it means for writers and for the stories...
Paranormal romance has been the “it” genre in publishing for years now. How long can it last? And what comes next? We look at some of the biggest recent genres (paranormal romance, zombies, chicklit) and...
Is movie sex actually sexy? We ask the question, and look at why some scenes are sexy (and why some are terrible), why there is sex in movies at all, and why there are so few gay...
Is Nicholas Cage a good actor? This is the question that has haunted America (and Abed) for years. We delve into this important question from both sides (Erik thinks he’s great; Brent thinks he’s terrible)....
Should writers self-publish? Brent Hartinger and Erik Hanberg continue the discussion from Part I by talking about their decisions to traditionally publish or self-publish their books. Your Hosts Brent Hartinger Erik Hanberg Media Consumed This Episode Geography Club (book)...
“Should writers self-publish?” is the biggest question writers are facing today. Authors Brent Hartinger and Erik Hanberg talk about the trends affecting book publishing as authors weigh this big decision. (Discussion continued in Part II)...
Everyone seems to be talking about “Snowpiercer,” a smart dystopian sci-fi action film with a lot going for it. Directed by Bong Joon-ho and starting Chris Evans, it’s a great example of a summer “blockbuster” really...
With the rise of social media, computer recommendation algorithms, user reviews, and meta-review sites like Rotten Tomatoes that assemble “fresh ratings” for movies, we ask the question: “Are media critics even relevant anymore?” Subscribe! via iTunes...
Why is Raiders of the Lost Ark so good? And why are some of the Indiana Jones sequels so bad? We look at the story, character, and plot that all align to make Raiders such a classic film...
Since it was founded, Amazon has upended the publishing industry, first with online book sales and again with the launch of the Kindle. Many publishers are crying foul about their practices. So is Amazon evil?...
What’s it like to see your novel turned into a Hollywood movie (co-staring Scott Bakula, no less!)? Co-host Brent Hartinger gives the inside scoop on what it was like to have his first novel, Geography Club, adapted into...
HBO says: “It’s not TV. It’s HBO.” Is that true? Is HBO just plain better than regular TV? Media Carnivores takes on how HBO has transformed television. Subscribe! via iTunes on Stitcher Podcast Feed: https://mediacarnivores.com/feed/podcast/ (Can be cut...
Welcome to Episode 002 of Media Carnivores! In our second episode, it’s fitting that we take on Hollywood sequels, remakes, adaptations, and the summer blockbuster season. Subscribe! via iTunes on Stitcher Podcast Feed: https://mediacarnivores.com/feed/podcast/ (Can be cut...
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Media Carnivores! Who is Erik? Who is Brent? What is Media Carnivores? Get to know the hosts before you dive into later episodes about movies, TV, books, and making a living...