Adam Friedrich

Lake Mills

Executive Producer at Wisconsin Today

Executive Producer of @wprBETA | Formerly of @WYK

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Articles

Film critic Ian Nathan looks at the legacy of the 'Mad Max' cinematic universe

Nov 29, 2024 | wpr.org | Adam Friedrich

When Ian Nathan was young, he wore out a VHS copy of "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior." He claims when watching it, he "was knocked sideways by it." That movie was known only as "The Road Warrior" in the U.S. because Mad Max was not a known entity here in the states. Now, the Mad Max universe is one of cinema's most enduring franchises and Nathan is currently one of the U.K.'s most notable film critics and writers. He's written about Guillermo del Toro, Ridley Scott and Christopher Nolan.
Comedian Sarah Silverman faces her grief in 'Postmortem'

Oct 24, 2024 | wpr.org | Adam Friedrich

Two-time Emmy award-winning comedian Sarah Silverman has always been fearless. No subject matter seems to be out-of-bounds for her silly and iconoclastic brand of comedy. Even her own grief. Last spring, she tragically lost her father and stepmother in the span of 10 days.
Author Yael van der Wouden gets to the heart of the home in her debut, 'The Safekeep'

Oct 3, 2024 | wpr.org | Adam Friedrich

At first glance, Yael van der Wouden's stunning and critically acclaimed debut novel, "The Safekeep," appears to be about displacement. She notes that nearly every character in the novel faces a different form of displacement. However, dig a bit deeper and van der Wouden believes that - as cliché as it may sound - the novel is about hope. Set in the post-war Netherlands of 1961, the story studies the rigid and restrained Isabel as she quietly and meticulously cares for her family home.
Author Chris Nashawaty on the sci-fi summer spectacular of 1982

Sep 20, 2024 | wpr.org | Adam Friedrich

After the surprise hit of Star Wars in 1977, every movie studio quickly rushed to get a foot in the sci-fi game. Projects were greenlit, budgets were increased - and the result was that in the summer of 1982, eight seminal movies of the genre hit the general public.
Author Chris Nashwatay on the sci-fi summer spectacular of 1982

Sep 14, 2024 | wpr.org | Adam Friedrich

After the surprise hit of Star Wars in 1977, every movie studio quickly rushed to get a foot in the sci-fi game. Projects were greenlit, budgets were increased, and the result was that in the summer of 1982, eight seminal movies of the genre hit the general public.
Author Rachel Kushner on her novel, 'Creation Lake'

Sep 6, 2024 | wpr.org | Adam Friedrich

Rachel Kushner's latest novel, "Creation Lake" bears all the hallmarks of her literary legacy. It's big on ideas, fast on pacing and features her remarkable prose and another fascinating protagonist to take you through the journey. The book is set in rural France and is following Sadie Smith, a former government agent of disrepute turned mercenary spy who is attempting to infiltrate a revolutionary group, Le Moulin.
Director David Schurmann on the persistent earnestness of 'My Penguin Friend'

Aug 22, 2024 | wpr.org | Adam Friedrich

Brazilian director David Schurmann spent the bulk of his life living on or near the ocean. He is also the CEO of the Voice of the Oceans foundation, an organization dedicated to fighting pollution. When the time came to adapt the incredible true story of a penguin returning each year to the Ilha Grande beach near Rio de Janeiro, few directors were better suited.
For 'After Hours' star Griffin Dunne, family matters

Jul 11, 2024 | wpr.org | Adam Friedrich

It's hard to think of a better title or subtitle to actor Griffin Dunne's memoir, "The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir." Griffin - who starred in Martin Scorsese's 1985 dark comedy "After Hours" and John Landis' "American Werewolf in London" - grew up in what he dubs the "land of make-believe" with high society parties throughout his childhood. His father, Dominick, was the scribe behind the landmark film, "The Panic in Needle Park," and enjoyed a second act as a writer for Vanity Fair.
Episode 705: Demetri Martin, Priyanka Mattoo, Alexandra Tanner

Jun 7, 2024 | wpr.org | Adam Friedrich

This week on BETA, comedian Demetri Martin deconstructs his Netflix special. Also, filmmaker Priyanka Mattoo tells all in her memoir, “Bird Milk & Mosquito Bones.” And Alexandra Tanner on her Seinfeldian debut novel, “Worry.”Demetri Martin creates a new kind of comedy special with ‘Demetri Deconstructed’Priyanka Mattoo revisits her incredible journey in memoir, ‘Bird Milk & Mosquito Bones’Alexandra Tanner’s debut novel is a ‘Seinfeldian’ take on sibling rivalry
Alexandra Tanner's debut novel is a 'Seinfeldian' take on sibling rivalry

Jun 6, 2024 | wpr.org | Adam Friedrich

Novelist Alexandra Tanner has written a funny, tender and frank novel, "Worry," about two sisters - Jules and Poppy - who spend an eventful year living together in 2019. They push and sometimes eliminate boundaries with each other, but ultimately surface from the wreckage with a newfound perspective, ready to face the world. In 2020. Tanner caught up with WPR's " BETA " host Doug Gordon to chat about "Worry," her real-life sibling relationship and her "Seinfeldian" inspirations.