In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins presents two riveting conversations that push boundaries and challenge cultural taboos. First, she interviews Michael Taylor Jackson, writer, director, and star of the radically inventive film Orange Underground (Bajo Naranja), a satirical, punk-infused narrative born out of the Argentine quarantine. Then, she speaks with Kate Downey, creator and host of the podcast CRAMPED, which explores the hidden pain and social invisibility surrounding menstruation. Together, these conversations highlight how bold, personal storytelling can become an act of protest and empowerment.
In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guests discuss...
How Orange Underground merges satire, street art, and protest cinema to confront U.S. neocolonialism
The creative process of blending real-life social media storytelling with scripted filmmaking
How Argentina's unique film funding system and underground economy supported an international indie film
Kate Downey’s journey from theater to podcasting, and how CRAMPED sheds light on the mystery of period pain
Why menstruation remains a cultural and cinematic taboo, and how media can normalize it through better representation
The power of representation in shaping societal understanding of women's health and lived experiences
Memorable Quotes:
“We were able to develop a virtual community because we couldn’t obviously live together.”
“When half the population experiences something regularly, shouldn’t they be reflected honestly in our storytelling?”
“There is no word other than an ignorant word to describe ourselves.”
“Is there any more common experience that has not been hit to death, right?”
Guests:
Michael Taylor Jackson
Kate Downey
Resources:
Bajo Naranja on Instagram
CRAMPED: Why Doesn't Media Talk About Period Pain?
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