The Side Track

The trailer for Paul Davidson's brand new podcast, What Are We Talking About? Now available everywhere.

You know him as the host of The Side Track, but Paul Davidson is now joined by co-hosts Benjamin Raab (co-EP of NBC's Quantum Leap) and Mitch Graham (head of Unscripted for a major television network) for What Are We Talking About? It's a new weekly comedy podcast where they don't know what they're talking about until you do -- that is, until they pull a new mysterious idea out from the popcorn bowl. It's like the Seinfeld of podcasts -- and we hope if you liked The Side Track, you'll try this one out. Available now everywhere your favorite podcasts live!

Follow What Are We Talking About (@wawtacast) across X, Instagram, Threads, BlueSky and more, and find the new podcast on Apple, Spotify, Audible, iHeartRadio and more.

Screenwriter/Producers Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio (Despicable Me trilogy, Secret Life of Pets 1 & 2, The Lorax, Horton Hears a Who) discuss the art of screenwriting for feature length animated movies, their first cult-favorite bomb Bubble Boy, their upcoming Apple TV+ series Schmigadoon and all about that Pixar vs. Illumination feud that's still currently in motion. Plus, Cinco's experience working with Sacha Baron Cohen on Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm, Ken's crappy-watch run-in with Jeffrey Katzenberg and the answer to the ultimate Mormon question, "Who broke my window?"

In 1999, über Writer/Director John Hughes recorded his first and only commentary for the 1986 classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It would appear on that year's DVD release, then per Hughes would be removed going forward. Hard to find, this commentary treasure is our gift to you on this Christmas Eve, and hope that all fans of the genius filmmaker enjoy the experience. The film stars Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, Alan Ruck, Jeffrey Jones and more.

Writer, Producer and Actor Jay Duplass (Transparent, Room 104, Togetherness) delivers a passionate feature length audio commentary for the 1976 Academy Award Best Picture winner, Rocky. Starring Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire and Directed by John G. Avildsen (The Karate Kid).

Writer, Producer and Actor Jay Duplass (Transparent, Room 104, Togetherness) discusses guerrilla filmmaking on a budget, his partnership with brother Mark Duplass (The Morning Show), why he hates writing, abhors producing, yet can't stop the creative train for the life of him. Plus, the four stages of the Duplassian Way, why he hasn't worked with assholes for a decade, and why Sylvester Stallone's Rocky remains a masterpiece of indie filmmaking that even Mr. T's Clubber Lang couldn't take away from him.

Writer and Producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Lost, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, The Middleman) travels through time with Director Terry Gilliam to revisit one of two movies that inspired his career in Hollywood -- Time Bandits. The 1981 film was produced by Beatle George Harrison and co-stars such legends as Sean Connery, Michael Palin, John Cleese and many more.

Writer/Producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Lost, The Dark Crystal: Resistance, The Middleman) talks about that Star Wars moment when he knew he wanted to write, how his first gig as an NBC Development Executive turned into his first job on Seaquest DSV, and how being at his lowest point in his career opened up the doors to land him in a Think Tank for a strange new J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof ABC show that would eventually be called Lost. Then, he'll discuss the classic 1981 film Time Bandits by Terry Gilliam, and why he chose it for the feature-length audio commentary All-Star treatment.

Writer, Producer & Actor Sarah Megan Thomas delivers her feature-length audio commentary for the 2010 David Fincher masterclass The Social Network. Written by Aaron Sorkin and starring Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake, Rashida Jones and The Side Track podcast acquaintance Max Minghella.

Writer, Producer & Actor Sarah Megan Thomas (Equity, A Call To Spy) discusses her Philly origins, her aspirations to become the female M. Night, how a cold call to Sundance put her Wall Street Anna Gunn-starring Equity in a solid position for a sweet distribution deal, and the years of research that went into her WW II spy drama A Call to Spy. Plus, why the male testosterone-fueled The Social Network is the film she chose to record a feature length audio commentary for.

Producer, Writer and Showrunner Moisés Zamora (Netflix's Selena) delves into the spooky afterlife as he delivers his feature-length audio commentary for the Alejandro Amenábar, Nicole Kidman-starring The Others.

Writer and Producer Moisés Zamora (American Crime, Star) joins the 'cast to discuss his newest creation, the Netflix limited drama series, Selena. We discuss how a transplant from Guadalajara, Mexico turned a passion for writing into an actual, money-making career; what it takes to break into the industry when you have zero connections, and why a re-telling of the Selena story is impactful for audiences today. Plus, we dig into the 2001 Nicole Kidman-starring The Others, to find out why Moisés selected the Alejandro Amenábar film for his feature-length audio commentary.

Director Kevin Phillips and screenwriter Ben Collins (Super Dark Times) join forces to deliver their feature-length audio commentary for the Paul Thomas Anderson 2012 film The Master, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams.

Director Kevin Phillips (Super Dark Times, Hulu's Monsterland) and screenwriter Ben Collins (Super Dark Times, The Night House) discuss their own origin story, how the nostalgic 90's era thriller Super Dark Times came to be, why napping is the ultimate weapon of the professional screenwriter and just when a Director deserves the infamous "A Film By" credit. Plus, forcing Ben to spill the beans on just how much of that $12 million dollar Sundance payday he might see, what's happening with the new Hellraiser film and why Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master is their film of choice for this week's feature-length audio commentary.

Director Frank Oz (Bowfinger, What About Bob?, The Dark Crystal) delivers a feature-length audio commentary for the Orson Welle's classic film noir Touch of Evil.

Director Frank Oz (Bowfinger, What About Bob?, In & Out, The Dark Crystal) discusses his over-50 year history as a Director and Performer working with the likes of Steve Martin, Bill Murray, Scott Rudin, Jim Henson, Nicole Kidman, George Lucas, Orson Welles, Marlon Brando and more. Plus, why he chose to record his feature-length audio commentary for Orson Welle's film noir classic, Touch of Evil.

Author and journalist Melissa Maerz (Alright, Alright, Alright) delivers her feature length audio commentary for the Richard Linklater classic; incorporating amazing easter eggs and dramatic details that came from hundreds of hours of interviews with the movie's cast.

Music journalist and author Melissa Maerz of Spin Magazine, Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly walks The Side Track through the Herculean effort necessary to interview hundreds of key cast and crew members from Richard Linklater's classic comedy film Dazed and Confused for her upcoming book Alright, Alright, Alright: The Oral History of Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused.

Entertainment journalist Piya Sinha-Roy (Reuters, Entertainment Weekly and THR) discusses how Mulder & Scully made her a good investigative reporter, what makes a good writer, best interviews, worst experiences and why How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is nothing like working at a real-life magazine (to our chagrin). Then, she delivers a feature-length audio commentary for the Marc Webb non-love story, 500 Days of Summer.

Actor/Director Max Minghella (The Handmaid's Tale, The Social Network) joins Actor/Producer Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot, Rocketman, Skin) to talk about partnering up on their 2018 Elle Fanning pop-drama Teen Spirit, who wears which pants in their screenwriting partnership, the fact that there are no mistakes on a David Fincher movie and why Billy Elliot continues to be the gift that keeps on giving. Then the two deliver a funny, engaging feature length commentary for the UK 1994 blockbuster Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Screenwriter/Producer Mike Makowsky (Bad Education, I Think We're Alone Now, Take Me) talks Lahng Island, how to turn a film short into a screenwriting success story, the glory of Pat Healy, filming a movie with Hugh Jackman in his childhood bedroom, and finally setting to rest one the most divisive topics among Hollywood's screenwriter population. Then buckle up for his feature-length audio commentary for the Jason Reitman award-winning film, Up in the Air.

Writer/director Hannah Fidell (A Teacher, 6 Years, The Long Dumb Road) and artist/radio host Jake Longstreth (Beats 1 Radio's Time Crisis) discuss McFlurries, the new FX series A Teacher, how to be creative in quarantine, how the two met and a stunning reveal never before shared on an audio podcast, ever. Then, sit back and enjoy their feature-length commentary for Brad Bird's Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.

Writer/Director/Actor Jim Cummings (Thunder Road, Wolf of Snow Hollow) discusses how a Sundance Jury Prize winning film short paved the way for his feature writing and directing career, his philosophy on crying on screen, how to distribute your indie film without a Hollywood bidding war, and his new werewolf genre film Wolf of Snow Hollow (10/9). Then he's joined by some fellow cast members to deliver a feature length commentary for Jonathan Demme's Academy Award Winning thriller The Silence of the Lambs.

Writer/director Patrick Brice (The Overnight, Creep, Creep 2, HBO's Room 104) discusses genre filmmaking, selling his first movie at Sundance, how he began his Duplassian partnership and the process around his new Netflix film There's Someone Inside Your House. Then, we dig deep into the world of David Lynch and discuss Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and how it forever changed Patrick's career trajectory as a filmmaker.

Co-creator of HBO's Animals, actor/writer/producer Phil Matarese talks Sundance, Snuggles the fabric softener bear, YouTube-assisted animation and why Dumb and Dumber is the greatest film on the face of the Earth. To him.

Writer/director Brett Haley (Hearts Beat Loud, The Hero, All Together Now) talks making movies for five-grand, getting into Sundance for the first time, how working with Netflix is different from the traditional theatrical distribution experience, and his upcoming Grease prequel Summer Lovin'. Oh, and there's that pesky Coen Brothers film he recorded a commentary for -- Inside Llewyn Davis.

Screenwriter Fabian Marquez (Better Luck Tomorrow, Johnny Flynton and Spides) takes The Side Track into the Danger Zone to discuss his Sundance experience, his short film's Oscar nomination and the ultimate blockbuster movie from the 80's, Top Gun.

Dylan Gelula (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Support the Girls, Flower) joins writer/director Kerem Sanga (First Girl I Loved, The Violent Heart) as they discuss their own filmic meet-cute, their worst best experiences in Hollywood and the 1997 film (and accompanying feature-length audio commentary of) Mike Leigh's Career Girls.

Emmy-nominated actor and co-founder of Upright Citizen's Brigade, Matt Walsh (VEEP, Old School, Ted) joins actor/producer Owen Burke (Drunk History) to talk about improv comedy, the Chicago scene, acting advice from Amy Poehler and the 1987 British comedy classic, Withnail and I.

Oscar-nominated filmmaker and producer Eddie Schmidt (This Film is Not Yet Rated, Chelsea Does, Ugly Delicious and Gilbert) talks unscripted production, documentary filmmaking and the ultimate Al Yankovic film from the 80's, UHF.

Writer/director Matt Spicer (Ingrid Goes West, Flower) joins The Side Track to talk about his films, experiences at Sundance, how many hours he's logged on Animal Crossing...and delivers his feature-length audio commentary of Brian DePalma's classic 1981 film, Blow Out.

The premiere episode of The Side Track begins with a feature-length commentary of the 1987 film Three o'Clock High by Side Track host, Paul Davidson. The film, directed by Phil Joanou, is an oft-forgotten gem of the teen genre films of the 80's.

Their obsession. Their words. Someone else's movie. Launching August 2020.