Enrico Banson

What Being a Musician Taught Me About Film and Filmmaking What if thinking like a musician could change the way you watch and make movies? If music is how we learn rhythm, space, and feeling, maybe it’s the missing link in how we approach film.

I knew I wanted to be a filmmaker before I ever touched a piano. But music got there first and gave me the foundation. It didn’t just sharpen my instincts as a director. It taught me how to watch. How to listen. How to appreciate all kinds of films.

Wow, Andor Season 2. I’ve always admired Tony Gilroy and Beau Willimon. I performed Willimon’s Farragut North and stole from Gilroy’s Michael Clayton. Watching them take Star Wars in this direction is a gift. It depicts the rise of fascism in a way that cuts too close to home. Bravo.

The Accidental Gatekeeper What if the people fighting to 'save cinema' are also the ones deciding which cultures are worth saving? Whose narrative are we really trying to save and who gets to tell them?

Started with a colleague, ended up in a full-on reckoning. What began as a frustrating exchange with someone who should’ve known better led me to bigger questions: Are we actually trying to “save cinema” or just preserve it for the comfort of the anointed few?

Props to Jerrica Long and Greenlight Yourself. Every time I hear someone say they want to ‘save cinema,’ I have to ask, from who? BIPOC audiences and creators never left. What’s dying isn’t cinema. It’s the illusion that one class, one culture, one aesthetic gets to define it.

Disney’s Most Chaotic Mascot Might Be Its Most Significant What if Stitch, the loudest, messiest Disney character is the one who speaks most clearly to the kids who feel misunderstood? And what does it say about us if we’re too quick to write him off?

Before you dismiss Stitch, hear me out. As a filmmaker, and educator, I’ve seen how this chaotic blue alien continues to speak to immigrant families, neurodivergent kids, and anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t quite belong.This isn’t just about IP. It’s about identity, empathy, and ohana.

Wait a Minute... Am I a Film Bro? Can a working director accidentally become the guy he never hired? Can you love cinema without becoming a cliché? Am I being silly and maudlin?

It’s been a minute since I posted. Partly because I was sick. Mostly because I needed time to spiral. New post’s up. It might have feelings. It might be a think piece. It might be both.

What Would We Do If We Ran A Major Studio? Even though it's not the same thing as running a tiny production company, the question has already lurked in my head. What if I was lucky/unlucky enough to be Matt Remick in AppleTV's The Studio?

Been watching The Studio on Apple TV and couldn’t help thinking… what if we ran the place on purpose? Wrote a piece on how I’d run a film studio.

He’ll always be Iceman, but he’s my favorite Batman. Rest in peace, #ValKilmer

Curating the Frame: The Specificity of Vision in Cinema Do we still appreciate the power of the curated frame in a world of endless content? Can filmmakers still create moments that linger, or are we lost in the noise?

Ever wonder if we lost the magic of cinema in a world of endless scrolling and fast food content? In my latest newsletter, I dive into the power of the curated frame, how filmmakers create memorable moments, and why we need to slow down and truly see the art in front of us.

The Misfit Toys of Disney's Live-Action Legacy Are these films really just soulless cash grabs, or is there a beautiful kind of chaos hidden in them? From nostalgic gems to ambitious misfires, let’s take a moment to appreciate this storied legacy.

I’m a sucker for a Disney live-action flop—and no, I’m not talking about the remakes. Give me The Rocketeer, Dick Tracy, and both Parent Traps any day. These movies are bold, weird, and way more fascinating than they get credit for —a deep dive on the beautiful mess of Disney’s live-action legacy.

Gene Hackman and the Work That Lasts Gene Hackman’s relentless dedication to his craft not only shaped my love for movies but also reminded me that great storytelling is about showing up and doing the work.

Someone once told me not to get too personal on Substack—but when it comes to Gene Hackman, I can’t help it. His work shaped my love for cinema, and this is my tribute to him. #GeneHackman #Film

Thanks, @FilmRunner! So glad there's new social media platforms like Bluesky and of course, Substack!

Directing: Orchestrating Chaos into Greatness Can a director go full Chalamet in the pursuit of 'Greatness,' or is true directorial mastery found in something beyond just personal ambition? Something I'm pondering on as we approach Oscar Sunday.

Timothée Chalamet’s SAG speech triggered my imposter syndrome—but also made me ask: what does greatness look like in my own field? As a director, is it control, collaboration, or something else? I explored that question on my latest post pre-Oscars: How do directors define their own ‘greatness?’

From Bangers to Ballads: 10 Original Movie Songs That Deserved Oscar Love Oscars may have snubbed these songs, but that doesn’t mean we have to. From fake Bond themes to Disney bangers, here's an alternate 10 that deserved more love (and maybe a little gold statue.)

My take on songs snubbed for an Original Songs Oscar. I listen to everything, but I love me my soundtracks. Take a gander and let me know your favorite original song from a movie last year!

Michael Mann: The Filmmaker Who Taught Me How to See the Night From Miami Vice, Heat to The Insider and beyond, Michael Mann’s meticulous craftsmanship, atmospheric storytelling, and neon-lit nightscapes have shaped the way I see and create films.

Everyone gives me crap for being the biggest Miami Vice fan. To this day a t-shirt/blazer combo is my go to attire. Hear me out on my love for this Mann.

"The Brutalist" is a Terrible Movie, and Here's Why Coming from Brady Corbet, a white American director who smugly touts his film as an exploration of 'otherness' in awards season interviews, it feels painfully self-congratulatory and tone-deaf.

I’m gonna go out on a limb and have a hold my beer moment to anyone who thinks #TheBrutalist is the next cinematic Second Coming. Here goes.

Overlooked and Underloved: The Most Underrated Movies of 2024 A Year of Hidden Gems: 10 Great Movies That Deserved More Spotlight.

Some movies are instant classics. Others get buried by bad marketing, bad timing, or plain bad luck. 2024 had no shortage of ‘prestige cosplay’ films (looking at you, The Brutalist), but some of the best movies of the year never got the spotlight they deserved. Read my take on my Substack!

Steven Soderbergh: How My Biggest Influence Still Shapes My Work From the French New Wave to Hollywood reinvention—how filmmaker Steven Soderbergh shaped my filmmaking lens.

I’m finally on #Substack as well where I’ll be writing about film, theatre, filmmaking and everything in between.

Director's Notes | Enrico Banson | Substack Where film, TV, and theatre get dissected from the inside out—straight from a working director’s perspective. Expect sharp insights, industry truths, and the occasional contrarian take, all with a lov...

Here we go. I started a #Substack. Check out my first article. open.substack.com/pub/filmguy78