I started my podcast The Commentary Track five years ago. It was created to feature in-depth conversations with film historians and archivists as well as actors, composers and filmmakers who have a deep knowledge and love for films of the past. Until February, 2016, I did just that. The Commentary Track’s guests have included many top film historians – Kevin Brownlow, David Shepard, Sam Gill, Bob Birchard, Rudy Behlmer, Leonard Maltin, Richard M. Roberts, Jordan R. Young, Jerry Beck, John Bengtson and many others. Actors such as Jim Beaver, Trace Beaulieu and George Chakiris; filmmakers Joe Dante, Craig Barron and Ben Burtt; authors James Curtis, Steve Bingen, Marilyn Moss, Tracey Goessel and Matthew Kennedy – in fact, too many guests to list them all here.
In late 2015, a perfect storm of technical issues combined with a series of financial reversals made it impossible to continue. I had already recorded several new episodes but was unable to finish and post them.
So, in the spring of 2017, I determined to bring The Commentary Track back and started a fund-raising campaign on GoFundMe to do so.
In bringing the podcast back, I wanted to invest in new equipment so that I can begin doing phone interviews at an acceptable sound quality (boy, I hate the sound of phone interviews). And if there’s any money left over, I want to explore ways to more aggressively advertise the podcast. So far it has been a labor of love. I can’t afford labors of love anymore, so I want to find a way to make the podcast sustainable.
Of course, I also wanted to bring back my other podcast, “Radio Movies with Frank Thompson.” I love doing that one -- providing in-depth film history introductions to these radio adaptations of classic movies is one of the most enjoyable things I do.
After many months, I’ve never reached the financial goal I set. But I decided to take a leap into the darkness and bring both podcasts back, hoping that listeners will continue to send in donations
So please consider supporting this project. Any contribution is welcome. And if you can’t toss any money this way – believe me, I understand – please at least spread the word to your friends who might want to be a part of my podcasts’ resurgence.
Just click on this link, and away we go.