NEWEST EPISODES!

OUT OF THE PAST: INVESTIGATING FILM NOIR
EPISODE 47: IN A LONELY PLACE (WITH SPECIAL GUEST, MEGAN ABBOTT)

Clute and Edwards welcome guest investigator Megan Abbott , the reigning Dark Dame of Noir. Megan is the author of a superb nonfiction study of hardboiled and noir protagonists entitled THE STREET WAS MINE, and three gut-wrenching throwback crime novels: DIE A LITTLE, THE SONG IS YOU, and QUEENPIN. The first title is scheduled to be released as a United Artists feature film in 2010, with Jessica Biel in the lead role. Megan's choice for this episode is the 1950 Nicholas Ray film IN A LONELY PLACE, starring Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame. To learn more about Megan's work, visit www.meganabbott.com.

"BEHIND THE BLACK MASK: MYSTERY WRITERS REVEALED " October 2008:

EPISODE 28:
MICHAEL CONNELLY REVEALED

THE BRASS VERDICT, the nineteenth novel from #1 New York Times Bestselling author Michael Connelly, gives definitive proof that Connelly is the most gifted crime writer since Raymond Chandler. Those with a debt to Chandler typically lack either the research skills, the knowledge of Los Angeles, or the soul for the job. Connelly has it all. Utilizing his skills as a former journalist, he not only nails the facts of legal and police business, he captures the complex psychology of his characters. Defense lawyer Mickey Haller and detective Harry Bosch are not pure heroes, they are men: they are not lovable, but they are competent and often admirable. To paraphrase Chandler, they have a range of awareness that startles you, but it belongs to them by right, because it belongs to the world they live in. It is above all in this melding of characters and setting that Connelly excels. Los Angeles is not a scenic backdrop, it is the master force that shapes all else, and we could not imagine Haller or Bosch being a part of any other world. But what is most remarkable about THE BRASS VERDICT is the way Connelly is able to recompose these sonorous echoes of Chandler into his own composition, settle them into his own score—with this world.

OTHER NEWS:

CLUTE AND EDWARDS PAY HOMAGE TO FEMALE NOIR IN A HELL OF A WOMAN

A Hell of a Woman is the hottest anthology of female noir you can lay your hands on. Published by Busted Flush Press and edited by former "Behind the Black Mask" guest Megan Abbott, it is a killer collection of original noir stories from some of the best contemporary writers. Included are pieces by former "Behind the Black Mask" guest Allan Guthrie and upcoming guest Ken Bruen, and two short appreciations by Clute and Edwards. Find out more about A Hell of Woman at http://www.ahellofawoman.com/

LISTEN (AND WATCH) NOIRCON PODCASTS

Clute and Edwards are the official podcasters for Noircon 2008. In April 2008, noir writers, filmmakers, scholars and fans gathered in Philadelphia. Clute and Edwards created a series of podcasts around the event. To listen to the Noircon podcasts, please go either of our podcasting portals, Out of the Past or Behind the Black Mask, and have a listen. Also, our Day 3 panel on Cybernoir is available as an enhanced podcast. You can watch Clute, Edwards, and author Seth Harwood as they discuss the future of noir on the web and the new publishing logics of the Internet era. Find out more about NoirCon at www.noircon.com

"OUT OF THE PAST" NOW FEATURED AT APPLE'S iTUNES STORE

The "Out of the Past" Podcast is now featured at the iTunes Music Store. Go to the Podcast section of the store, and under "Topics in Focus," click on "At the Movies." While there, enjoy this new feature of iTunes that groups podcasts by subject matter. Many thanks to iTunes for featuring the podcast.

READ CLUTE'S ESSAY IN SPINETINGLER MAGAZINE

The latest issue of Spinetingler Magazine features Shannon Clute's article "Crime Fiction Podcasting: A Profile of 'Out of the Past' and 'Behind the Black Mask.'" It covers the origins and development of the two podcasts Clute and Edwards produce every month. You can read the entire essay online by clicking here, or by visiting the magazine at Spinetinglermag.com

THE PODCASTS AND DISCUSSION FORUM:

NEW!!! The Out of the Past Discussion Board @ Back Alley Noir:
A big thanks to Steve-O at Back Alley Noir. The best place to discuss Out of the Past is at our forum at Back Alley Noir. Go to http://filmnoirtalk.com now and start discussing your favorite noir films and joining in discussions with other members of the Out of the Past community.

"Out of the Past: Investigating Film Noir":
Each film noir weaves its own yarn of longing, corruption, and fateful decisions. On the first of every month, Clute and Edwards investigate one noir or neo-noir in detail. Following various threads of inquiry, they attempt to unravel the vast canvas of noir. Click on the program title above to view all available episodes.

"Behind the Black Mask: Mystery Writers Revealed":
Writers of hard-boiled, pulp, mystery, and suspense reveal secrets about their fiction, and the writing life. All interviews are conducted by Clute and Edwards, and new episodes post on the fifteenth of each month. Click on the program title above to view all available interviews.

RECENT FAVORITES:

NOIRCON DAY 3: CYBERNOIR PANEL

WATCH THIS EPISODE NOW -
NEED QUICKTIME VIEWER IN YOUR BROWSER INSTALLED TO VIEW

GET OTHER EPISODES HERE

Shannon Clute, Seth Harwood, and Richard Edwards presented this Cybernoir panel on April 5th, 2008, as part of the Noircon Conference in Philadelphia. Clute and Edwards kick things off with a discussion of how noir style and pulp publishing models seem to provide the fundamental structuring logics of emerging digital media—from blogs to podcasts, mashups to video games. Seth Harwood then relates his own experience of podcasting his first novel, JACK WAKES UP—from producing the initial audio, to embracing various new media in order to cultivate an audience and tap their enthusiasm and skills to promote his work. Finally, all three panelists consider how pulp-logic productions in these various media are likely to change the ways books are published and marketed. This special edition podcast includes all Power Point slides from the panel, synchronized with the audio, for your viewing pleasure. Moreover, there are embedded links at the bottom of the images, which allow you to surf related links while listening. The podcast is optimized for iTunes, and will run on any machine that has iTunes installed.

NOIR WEBSITE OF THE MONTH:

Sure you big palooka! You can put on a pair of brass knuckles and paste some patsy in the pan. Or you can do the work of a real tough guy: roll up your sleeves, open your checkbook, and donate your time--like Eddie Muller and his posse at THE FILM NOIR FOUNDATION. They're doing the hard work of saving one of America's greatest contributions to the world--Film Noir--and they're making it look easy.

Few are as passionate and lucid as Muller when writing and talking about noir. Fewer still go beyond writing and talking, and actually do something to preserve these great films. There may be no one who has done more to educate the public, rescue the films, and make them accessible than Muller has. To learn more about the FILM NOIR FOUNDATION, and help in its efforts, click on the icon above or visit http://www.filmnoirfoundation.org