The Plaza Classic Podcast is hosted by former KVIA news anchor and National Edward R. Murrow Award-winner Borderland Crimes podcaster Stephanie Valle and EPCC Mass Communication Professor Lisa Elliott. Valle and Elliott are members of the Plaza Classic Film Festival Program Advisory Committee. The podcast is produced in partnership with EPCC and the El Paso Community Foundation. Each episode features guests ranging from committee members to filmmakers who delve into a different aspect of the ...
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EPCC Podcasts
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From Papagayo and the Humanities Collaborative at EPCC-UTEP, this podcast dissects culturally-relevant literature: novels, memoirs, poetry, and short stories. We love reading and analyzing books, comparing their adaptations, and connecting their allusions. We interview authors too! #Ad-Free #ElPaso Español: este podcast disecciona literatura culturalmente relevante: novelas, memorias, poesía, y cuentos cortos. Nos encanta leer y analizar libros, comparando sus adaptaciones, y conectando sus ...
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Alex Hinojosa is a freelance Journalist in the Southwest Borderland. With this new experiment in podcasting she hopes to provide informative and entertaining stories about this region to listeners
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Is there a movie you enjoy watching in spite of mostly negative reviews? For Plaza Classic Film Festival Advisory Committee member Jaime Mendez, that movie is Xanadu, the 1980 rock musical starring Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly. As a matter of fact, Jaime enjoys this film so much, he can't help but sing the theme song. On this season finale of …
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Is there a movie that sets the tone for the "cozy" holiday season? For Plaza Classic Film Festival Advisory Committee member Erin Ritter, she picks her favorite holiday movies like she organizes her Thanksgiving meal, complete with an appetizer, the main course, savory sides, a dessert, and a post-gathering drink. Erin, Lisa Elliott, and Stephanie …
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While the weather outside is frightful(ly pleasant), the Holiday Movies at the Plaza Theatre are delightful! The movies are back as a part of WinterFest. We're showing six movies over three weekends starting on Nov. 30. Doug Pullen (the El Paso Community Foundation's Artistic Director and Program Director for the Plaza Classic Film Festival, and a.…
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The lives of American service members have often been depicted on film -- from 1998's Saving Private Ryan (shown in the 2025 Plaza Classic Film Festival) to 1979's Apocalypse Now (screened in 2016). But perception isn't always reality. Kristin Trick -- a member of the film festival's advisory committee, a licensed therapist, and a wife to an Army v…
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During the 2025 Plaza Classic Film Festival, a new take on the Western genre made its debut, complete with red carpet fanfare for the director, producer, and crew -- many of them with ties to the Borderland. Long Shadows is set in the Wild West, and follows one man's mission to avenge his parents' death, with lots of twists along the way. In his di…
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Get Scared with Your Favorite Actor's Favorite Actor
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Is Alien a sci-fi, a horror, or both? What about Invasion of the Body Snatchers? Whichever you choose, both are good options for rewatches on Halloween. Veronica Cartwright ("Lambert" in Alien and "Nancy" in Invasion of the Body Snatchers) joins podcast hosts Lisa Elliott and Stephanie Valle for a brand-new interview from her home in Los Angeles, w…
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Great films often begin as strong pitches. But oftentimes, those pitches are critiqued, revised, and refined before they truly shine. That was the process behind the 2025 Plaza Classic Film Festival's Pitch Fest. And out of the ten budding local screenwriters, one El Paso Community College English professor came out on top. Jorge Gomez joined Steph…
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It's back! It's growing! And it's even scarier than before! Horror is taking over the border once again for the 3rd annual Oculto Film Festival. Angel Benitez, the festival's co-deputy director, joins Lisa Elliott and Stephanie Valle to give a sneak peek at what audiences can expect here in El Paso on October 24th and 25th and in Ciudad Juárez, Chi…
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You don't have to wear stretchy pants to enjoy movies, nor must you believe in science to be a fan of a family-friendly outdoor arts festival. But if you like quoting the Jack Black comedy Nacho Libre (2006), then get that corn out of your face! Be ready to stake your spot outside the Mexican American Cultural Center for a special showing of 'Nacho…
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Scott McGee and the Classics You Must See
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Classic films are timeless and inspirational for both film fans and filmmakers. Scott McGee is somewhat of an expert on the classics. McGee has spent the last two decades curating movies that are shown during the film festival sponsored by Turner Classic Movies. And for almost as long, he's shared his insight with El Paso audiences as a special gue…
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One Battle After Another, the latest film by acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson, took over El Paso when the film crew shot parts of the movie here in 2024. The excitement was palpable as Downtown El Paso's historic buildings and unique facades became the backdrop for several scenes and Academy Award winning actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio De…
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This episode, Eduardo Martinez-Leyva, author of Cowboy Park, joins us for an interview on his debut poetry collection.
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Onstage with "The Birds" star Veronica Cartwright
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Veronica Cartwright is one of Hollywood's busiest character actors. As a child, she started off as a model, then a commercial actor, and even landed a recurring role in Leave It to Beaver. Cartwright's big screen break came at age 14, when she was cast as Cathy Brennan in The Birds (1963), directed by Alfred Hitchcock. She later worked alongside Ri…
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Luis Valdez influenced a generation of Latinos and Latinas when he showcased their stories on the big screen in the 1980s. The director was the special guest during the first weekend of the 2025 Plaza Classic Film Festival, appearing before the screenings of La Bamba on Friday, July 18 and Zoot Suit on Saturday, July 19. The following interview wit…
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Location matters when it comes to setting up a business, buying a house, and filming a movie. Jacob Cena knows El Paso like the back of his hand. It's one of his most prized assets as the Borderland's trusted location scout. Cena will delve deeper into his craft during the Filmmaker's Brunch, which takes place on the last day of the Plaza Classic F…
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Not all the movies shown during the Plaza Classic Film Festival are classics in the traditional sense of the word. Some are making their debut on the big screen during the festival. Local filmmaker Diego Munoz Holguin has the honor of screening several of his short films at the Plaza. Munoz talks to podcast hosts Stephanie Valle and Lisa Elliott ab…
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Luis Valdez and Veronica Cartwright may not be household names, but they have both played large roles in some memorable films you surely have seen. Valdez directed "Zoot Suit" with Edward James Olmos and "La Bamba" with Lou Diamond Phillips; Cartwright portrayed both Cathy, the teen girl in "The Birds," and Lambert in "Alien." And both stars will b…
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If you're a fan of "Notting Hill" starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, then you're in luck. The 1999 rom-com is the star of the newest date night event held during the Plaza Classic Film Festival. The "I'm Just a Girl" Dinner is on Monday, July 21 with a screening of "Notting Hill" to follow. In this episode, podcast hosts Lisa Elliott and Stepha…
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Do you know the story behind the most famous pitch in film history? It was for 1979's Alien. Legend has it, the screenwriters told the studio heads three words: "Jaws in space." The power of the pitch is clear, and there will be a workshop during the Plaza Classic Film Festival to help writers finesse that much-needed skill. El Paso Film Commission…
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This episode, we wrap up our platica on the winner of the 2024 Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry, Cowboy Park, covering parts 2 and 3 of the poetry collection by Eduardo Martinez-Leyva. What did you think of the book? Stay tuned for our interview with Eduardo!
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2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. As part of a massive collaborative effort, the Plaza Classic Film Festival is teaming up with FIVE of El Paso's museums to showcase "Hollywood Goes to War," the festival's major theme commemorating the anniversary. Podcast hosts Stephanie Valle and Lisa Elliott are joined in studio by repr…
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Join us as we begin Part 1 of Cowboy Park, the debut poetry collection from Eduardo Martinez-Leyva. Have you picked up a copy? Drop a comment and let us know what you think about it!
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El Pasoan Ron Stallworth had an eventful career in law enforcement. He helped sabotage KKK activities in Colorado Springs as an undercover member of the Klan, and he also uncovered Bloods and Crips activity in Salt Lake City's Mormon Country. His true life stories are more fascinating than fiction, prompting screenwriters to bring his published mem…
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The sequel to the Star Wars, the 1977 sci-fi film that defined the genre and shaped a generation, is blasting its way onto the Plaza Classic Film Festival schedule this summer. Jaime Mendez, a member of the film festival's advisory committee and an avid Star Wars fan, joins Lisa Elliott and Stephanie Valle to convince them -- and all of you -- that…
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Do you remember when the Mighty Wurlitzer organ was encased in glass near the food court in Sunland Park Mall? That was just one unlikely stop before the classic instrument returned to its home in the Plaza Theatre. Gary L. Williams, the Vice President of Programs for the El Paso Community Foundation, and Richard Garven, Organist-Choirmaster Emerit…
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The Master of Suspense is making his mark on the Plaza Classic Film Festival once again. Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious (1946), featuring Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant, will screen during the festival, which takes over Downtown El Paso July 17-27, 2025. The festival Advisory Committee's Hitchcock expert, Leanne von Mittenwald, joins podcast hosts Lis…
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A silent film that partly takes place in the Borderland is making its Plaza Classic Film Festival debut this summer. When "Her Husband's Trademark" lights up the Plaza Theatre screen on July 27, it will feature something it didn't have when it premiered in 1922: an original score. You could say this moment was over 100 years in the making. But in a…
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Borderlands and the Mexican American Story: Part 3 (Author Interview)
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For Part 3 of our platica on Borderlands and the Mexican American Story, we are joined by the author himself, David Dorado Romo for an interview. We hope you enjoy, pick a copy of his book, and follow him online to keep track of his work in the community!
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2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and as more and more Americans who witnessed the tragedies firsthand are lost to time, it's more important than ever to study this moment in history. A wartime movie doesn't always depict violence on the battlefield. They can also capture the mood of a nation at a time when its soldiers ar…
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El Pasoan Terri Rutter grew up around horses. She rides them, trains them, and trains people how to behave around them. Now, she's sharing her horse sense with Lisa and Stephanie. She's talking about her favorite films featuring fillies (and mares, colts, and stallions) that have been featured at the Plaza Classic Film Festival, and the ones she'd …
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This Women's History Month, the Plaza Classic Podcast wants to take a moment to spotlight a showcase focused on local female filmmakers. Femme Frontera is both a Borderland-based organization of Latine women and gender-expansive filmmakers and a curated film selection featured during the classic film fest since 2019. Filmmakers Jackie Barragan and …
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Borderlands and the Mexican American Story: Part 2
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Join us as we wrap up our platica on the second half of Borderlands and the Mexican American Story by historian David Dorado Romo. What were your thoughts on the book? Anything you didn't know about history you wish you had known?
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Borderlands and the Mexican American Story: Part 1
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Join us as we begin to uncover the many untold stories in the first half of Borderlands and the Mexican American Story (2024), the book by historian David Dorado Romo that is part of the Race to the Truth Series from Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
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Each award season, the dedicated cinephiles on the Plaza Classic Film Festival Advisory Committee try to guess who the voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will pick to win Oscars. This contest isn't just for bragging rights. The winner of the Oscar Ballot Contest gets to select one movie to screen during that year's Pl…
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Whether he knew too much, shot the bad guy, or arrived to Earth from space, a man sure can accomplish a lot on the big screen. Film critic Felipa Solis joins Plaza Classic Podcast hosts Lisa Elliott and Stephanie Valle to talk about the various takes on "The Man Who..." -- specifically, Alfred Hitchcock's two renditions of The Man Who Knew Too Much…
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Attention local filmmakers: for the eighth consecutive year, the Plaza Classic Film Festival is accepting entries for its Local Flavor showcase and awards. More than $3,500 in cash prizes will be awarded. PCFF Artistic Director Doug Pullen, AKA "Friend of the Pod," is back in the studio with Stephanie and Lisa to talk about the showcase, which is s…
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If you've ever watched a building renovation show, you know there's a whole lot of work to rehabilitate an old structure to its original glory. That same labor intensive effort went into the restoration of the Plaza Theatre in Downtown El Paso. Gary Williams, the Vice President of Programs for the El Paso Community Foundation, and Neal Vogel, the P…
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She's the "Star Whisperer of El Paso!" For the last decade or so, Kathrin Berg has taken on the task of touring El Paso with the Plaza Classic Film Festival's special guests -- from Sam Elliott, to Kathleen Turner, to Al Pacino. Now, Kathrin is in the spotlight and getting the red carpet treatment she deserves! Hosts Stephanie Valle and Lisa Elliot…
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Join us for a conversation on the second half of The Witches of El Paso by Luis Jaramillo!
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Chance meetings, heartbreaking obstacles and big gestures of love are all crucial to the plots of our favorite romantic comedies. On the eve of this lover's holiday, podcast hosts Lisa Elliott and Stephanie Valle are joined by Erin Ritter, fellow Plaza Classic Film Festival advisory committee member and self-proclaimed Rom-Com guru, to discuss roma…
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Evan George Vourazeris broke into Hollywood when he was cast as Tuck on the hit Netflix show Ozark. Tuck became a fan favorite, and Vourazeris appeared on the show in its final season in 2022. Vourazeris, a Houstonian, now calls El Paso home. He joined Plaza Classic Podcast hosts Stephanie Valle and Lisa Elliott in studio to talk about his experien…
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Join us as we begin the first half of The Witches of El Paso, the debut novel by Luis Jaramillo!
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If you were old enough to see Jaws when it premiered in theaters in 1975, then you likely don't want to be reminded that happened 50 years ago. Sorry. But Jaws, which has been screened three times at the Plaza Classic Film Festival, is just one of many movies celebrating significant anniversaries of release in 2025. Festival advisory committee memb…
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Sequels can get a bad rap for not living up to the expectations set by the original. With that perspective front of mind, the Plaza Classic Podcast aims to make season 3 better than before! Hosts Stephanie Valle and Lisa Elliott are joined by fellow Plaza Classic Film Festival advisory committee member Craig Holden to talk about film sequels. Which…
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Will Wicked sweep the Oscars with a witch's broom? Could Demi Moore's substantive performance in The Substance earn her an Academy Award nomination for the first time? El Paso's favorite film critic, Felipa Solis, joins hosts Stephanie Valle and Lisa Elliott to talk all things Oscars. Solis is a member of the Critics Choice Association. Get your po…
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Holiday Movies at Winterfest are taking over Downtown El Paso until Jan. 5, and they're all free! The mini film fest is presented by the El Paso Community Foundation Plaza Classic Film Festival, El Paso Live, and the City of El Paso. What's your favorite holiday movie? Chances are, it features a lovable scamp, like Buddy the Elf or Kevin McAllister…
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The time between Spooky Season and the Holiday Season is the Serious Season - for movies, that is. November is when we typically see a roll-out of heavier films that go on to become contenders for Academy Awards (a.k.a., future classics to be screened at the Plaza Classic Film Festival). Nov. 27, 2024 marks the 48th anniversary of the release of Ne…
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This episode we cover the second half of the novel Street of Too Many Stories by Denise Chávez. What were your thoughts on the work? Did you make the UTEP event with her? Leave us a comment and we'll share it!
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Patrick Swayze became a heartthrob in the 1980s, and broke hearts when he died at age 57 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. The star of Dirty Dancing and Ghost has been gone for 15 years, but Stephanie Valle and Lisa Elliott are doing everything they can to preserve his legacy by advocating for the screening of as much of his filmography …
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Join us this episode as we open our discussion of Street of Too Many Stories by Denise Chávez, Chicana writer from our sister city of Las Cruces. Here, we focus on the first half of the novel.
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