Hand Me the Mike
Hand Me the Mike
Podcast Description
Michael Shannon: A true Midwesterner with over 100 acting credits to his name; a fan of The Smiths and REM; a man who remains dedicated to the stage; General Zod. Shannon may be remembered as a character actor to many, but there’s no doubt that the gravity of a scene shifts in his direction whenever he is on screen or the stage. While his roles range in size and screen time, genre, legacy, collaborators, and quality, a look through Shannon’s filmography reveals a fascinatingly comprehensive snapshot of America. The country’s paranoia and crookedness... its diseased capitalism... the American nuclear family... the U.S.’s possibility of resilience and community... our worst superhero movie impulses... our valiant depictions of war... our adoration of Rock n’ Roll... it all exists within the Mike Shannon Canon.
Host Daniella Mazzio will be joined by a rotation of Michael Shannon fans, film critics, and Chicagoans, to discuss how Shannon’s filmography and what makes him such an illuminating performer, with special reported episodes that look at his work across other mediums, including music and theatre.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into themes such as the complexities of American identity through cinematic storytelling, exploring Michael Shannon's roles that reflect societal anxieties, moral dilemmas, and the American experience, with episodes discussing films like Man of Steel and Take Shelter, highlighting philosophical and political undertones.
Michael Shannon: A true Midwesterner with over 100 acting credits to his name; a fan of The Smiths and REM; a man who remains dedicated to the stage; General Zod. Shannon may be remembered as a character actor to many, but there’s no doubt that the gravity of a scene shifts in his direction whenever he is on screen or the stage. While his roles range in size and screen time, genre, legacy, collaborators, and quality, a look through Shannon’s filmography reveals a fascinatingly comprehensive snapshot of America. The country’s paranoia and crookedness… its diseased capitalism… the American nuclear family… the U.S.’s possibility of resilience and community… our worst superhero movie impulses… our valiant depictions of war… our adoration of Rock n’ Roll… it all exists within the Mike Shannon Canon.
Host Daniella Mazzio will be joined by a rotation of Michael Shannon fans, film critics, and Chicagoans, to discuss how Shannon’s filmography and what makes him such an illuminating performer, with special reported episodes that look at his work across other mediums, including music and theatre.
Hey, you.
Host Daniella Mazzio has finally emerged from the bunker (aka a month of depression) to bring you the latest Hand Me the Mike! Writer and musician Ross W. Berman IV joins to talk about Joshua Oppenheimer’s first narrative feature (and a musical, too!) The End. We discuss how Oppenheimer’s film is in conversation with his seminal documentary The Act of Killing, varied perspective on the filmmaker’s humanistic lens, and Michael Shannon’s work playing a character that challenges what we expect from his performances.
Ross W. Berman IV is a Chicago-based folksinger and comedian, as well as a writer/editor at Wrestling Inc. His music is available at rossberman.bandcamp.com.
Follow Ross on Twitter, Bluesky, Letterboxd, Instagram, and Substack.
This is a completely free, DIY project; support is optional, but greatly appreciated.
Follow Daniella on Twitter and Instagram at @DaniellaMazzio and on Bluesky at @daniellamazzio.bsky.social.
The Hand Me the Mike theme song samples R.E.M.’s ”Nightswimming.”
This episode also includes an introductory song based on ”Big Blue Sky,” originally sung by Michael Shannon for The End; alternative lyrics sung (unfortunately) by Daniella; music composed by Joshua Schmidt with lyrics by director Joshua Oppenheimer.
This episode’s closing song is Ross W. Berman IV’s ”In the Way” from the 2021 album Where the Light Don't Reach.
Hand Me the Mike cover art features an illustration from Daniella and fonts designed by Steve Shanabruch as part of The Chicago Neighborhoods.
Additional audio snippets are from The End and (unfortunately) Hamilton.
This episode of Hand Me the Mike was produced by Joe Engleman and Daniella Mazzio, and edited by Daniella Mazzio.
Reviews, profiles, and interviews featured in the episode:
Michael Shannon interview for Vanity Fair: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/michael-shannon-interview-the-end
For further reading:
Daniella’s coverage on NEA/NEH funding cuts: https://chicagoreader.com/music/music-feature/neh-nea-imls-arts-grant-clawback-funding-nonprofit/
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.