Welcome to the first edition of the ATRM Newsletter! Each month, we'll be landing in your inbox with all the latest ATRM updates, film news, and exclusive content from the ATRM Community.

Don't miss our monthly highlight features: the "ATRM Patron of the Month" where we celebrate one of our amazing supporters, and our popular "Spotlight" section, where a member of the ATRM crew recommends an overlooked cinematic treasure you might have missed. 

So grab your popcorn and settle in - your monthly dose of the ATRM Community starts here...

The latest releases from our flagship show, ATRM Classic...

There's tension in the borderlands as we tackle Denis Villeneuve's gripping thriller. Join Luke, Westy, and Matt as they explore the drug war, discuss the standout performances, and dive into the film's masterful tension-building, stunning cinematography, and complex moral landscape.

Available anywhere you get your podcasts!

Listen with John, Westy, and Matt as they revisit Pixar's groundbreaking classic, unpacking an animation milestone with signature insight and laughs. We explore the buddy comedy dynamic between Woody and Buzz, and discuss how the film forever changed animated cinema. 

On every major podcast streaming service.

Our inaugural POTM is a globe-trotting pastor with a passion for film and creativity.In our first newsletter, we're excited to spotlight Kim Jackson - a patron whose life story reads like an adventure film script. From growing up as a Foreign Service child to serving churches across seven states, Kim brings a unique perspective shaped by travels across five continents and a deep appreciation for the art of cinema.

Kim and her beloved pooch, Jedi.

I am technically from the United States but I am actually from everywhere else. I am a Foreign Service kid, born and raised overseas, who grew up to do many things but eventually answered the call to become a pastor. It has been a wild ride the last 12.5 years, serving nine churches in seven states. I am also a creative soul, most often expressed in my writing, photography, print and digital graphic design, and web site production.

In my spare time, I take care of my body, mind, and spirit, by walking miles upon miles, working out, listening to podcasts, traveling, reading, and watching movies, especially those covered by the ATRM gang. I have had a couple of beloved dogs to keep me company along the way, and look forward to inviting another one into my life in the near future.

Fun fact: I have lived in/visited five continents. 

This is an impossible question. There are far too many answers. But, given my background, it would have to be Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). I come from a globe-trotting, adventure-seeking family, my undergraduate degree was in History, and I believe artifacts should be in museums, doggone it!

I first ran across the blokes behind ATRM during COVID lockdown, I think 2021, becoming a patron soon after. I was serving yet another new church in yet another new state, and, with everything shut down, really needed some friendly voices to help me survive. Enter John, Westy, Luke, and Matt. I don't recall how I found out about the podcast, but as far as I am concerned, it was a miracle of God. Every episode was pure gift of laughter and discovery. They still are. 

Star Wars (1977). When Star Wars came out, we were living overseas. At that time, new films from the United States took a year or more to arrive at post or in local cinemas. That meant I would have to wait till we returned to the US on vacation the summer of 1978 to see it. When the day finally arrived, we headed to the theater as if we were on a mission. I remember how long the lines were, how every seat was taken, the excitement when the lights went out, and then, the music and the title and the scrolling intro and the vastness of space and the utterly unbelievable shot of the starships traveling over our heads. I had never seen anything like it. I suddenly understood the importance of film and art and creativity. It was as if my life started that day. Changed everything.

The Bad News Bears (1976). As a third culture kid living far away from the US, even the trailer for this film was a bit of a glimpse into what it meant to be an American kid. A scandalous kid, but American nonetheless. Given everything about it, there was no way my parents would let me see it, particularly since I was in the same age range. But, years later, when I finally sat down to watch it, I wished I had had the chance to belong to a group of kids like that. To live in that world for a day, with that team, would help this very straitlaced kid perhaps loosen up a little. And truly learn how to have a good laugh.

The Cornetto Trilogy…a prequel exploring the early days/friendship of our beloved main 'characters' set against yet another hilarious and terrifying backdrop.

Right now, the only creative venture I have is church-related, but if folks would like a good word or two, and some liturgical art thrown in for good measure, they can check out my blog: jacksonvisualmedia.blogspot.comYou can also keep an eye out for Kim's contribution in this month's Double Feature episode - she'll be putting up two films for discussion into our poll alongside Luke, Westy, and Matt's choices.

Each month, one of the ATRM members will shine a light on a lesser-known film that deserves a spot on your watchlist. This month, John kicks off our spotlight series with a mind-bending indie thriller that proves big ideas don't always need big budgets.

Reviewed by: John

I'll be honest - I almost scrolled past this one when I first came across it. The premise seemed simple enough: eight friends are at a dinner party during a cosmic event, and things take a turn for the weird. But sometimes the most unassuming films pack the biggest punch, and Coherence blindsided me with its low-budget excellence.

The cast of Coherence (2013) - a dinner party that takes an unexpected turn into parallel universe territory.

Director James Ward Byrkit crafted something special here - a SF thriller that takes place almost entirely in one suburban house yet manages to explore self-identity, parallel universes and quantum mechanics in ways that had me pausing the film on one occasion to wrap my head around what I was seeing. When strange things start happening around the neighborhood during a comet's passage overhead, the dinner party guests begin to question the very nature of their reality.

The cast is hardly A-list - the only actor I'd seen before was Nicholas Brendon (best known as Xander in Buffy the Vampire Slayer) but each person brings some dramatic weight. Emily Baldoni is a standout as Em, but the whole cast handle things well, making you believe regular people could navigate extraordinary confusion (and there's a lot of confusion).

What impressed me most, though, was maybe how the film pulls off ambitious concepts without relying on huge effects set pieces or obvious exposition dumps. I understand the movie was largely improvised from Byrkit's detailed outline, which gives every conversation authenticity - and there is brilliance in the details. A power outage becomes sinister. A cracked phone screen becomes crucial evidence. A house number scribbled on paper becomes a key to understanding everything. Byrkit builds tension through these mundane elements, creating a puzzle that slowly  reveals itself while trusting you to keep up.I won't spoil the mechanics of what's happening, but I will say Coherence proves that smart, independent filmmaking can be as thrilling as any blockbuster. Fair warning though - you may find yourself in some epic discussions afterward about what the hell's going on.Where to stream: In the UK, Coherence is available on Apple TV. US viewers can stream on Prime Video.

For early access, bonus content, and the chance to shape our episodes and support us, become an ATRM Patron and join our film-loving inner circle!