What movies (do and don't) show us about places before we travel there
Summary
Host Rolf Potts interviews film critic Jason Bailey about how cinema shapes perceptions of place, contrasting New York’s diverse film history with Kansas’s singular association with *The Wizard of Oz*. They discuss why early New York films were shot in Los Angeles, how location shooting creates accidental documentaries, and the tendency of young filmmakers to imitate urban styles rather than depict their local realities. The conversation concludes with hopes that accessible technology will foster more authentic, region-specific storytelling.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Cinema, place, and guest Jason Bailey
Kansas identity and the Wizard of Oz monoculture
Jason Bailey's background as a filmmaker and critic
Early Wichita films and the struggle for local voice
Fun City Cinema: Movies as accidental documentaries
Why Hollywood moved west and lost New York's vibe
The loss of authentic place in studio filmmaking
The bifurcation of film: Blockbusters vs. indie
Technology, AI, and the future of feature films
Conclusion: Independent film and the return of place
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