Journal Entry

A collection of 227 posts

Overstreet Archives

The 20th anniversary of the Looking Closer journal

Give Me Some Light

A personal update, a request, and a preview

In which Overstreet quickly summarizes the calamities of the last two weeks and the subsequent revision of his plans for the month of December.

Give Me Some Light

Stop Making Sense at 40, Overstreet at 53

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The Yowling: a reflection on a most annoying noise that's been troubling my home and screaming in my bones...

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Sinead O'Connor was right all along

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Recovery Report — Day Three: Surprise Package!

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Recovery Report 2: If you're not lucky enough to live in a bookstore, discover the joy of one who does.

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Recovery Report: My first surgery and Asteroid City!

I'm on drugs! Writing about Wes Anderson!

Animation

An unforgettable evening for fans of Watership Down

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Building a cathedral: how to begin

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Talking with students about Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life"

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The day has arrived: I can share my big news.

For you, friends and subscribers, here's a first look at the big turn my life is taking.

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Ken Priebe gives us some light

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Live from Professor Overstreet's Office: 1/27/23

Journal

A conversation with Frederick Buechner in my quiet, snowbound house

Wondrous things can happen at Christmastime. And so it was that I found myself in deep conversation with the late Frederick Buechner just before Christmas. I wrote it down, and as it's probably relevant for many of us, I'm sharing it.

On Movies & Media

Looking Closer All-Stars: Sarah Welch-Larson on The Rings of Power

Star-gazing, I'm highlighting Sarah Welch-Larson as the first Looking Closer "all-star" — a writer whose wisdom and wit set her apart as exceptional in guiding us to the best in art and culture. Here, she finds her way to insight about why Amazon's The Rings of Power is such a fascinating and frustr

On Movies & Media

Twenty years ago this weekend, a fellowship formed in Rivendell...

Twenty years ago this weekend, I joined a fellowship at the local cineplex to witness an event that would change the art of movies — for better and for worse — for decades to come.

On Movies & Media

If you had to pick five movies that were "formational," what would they be?

If you were asked to name five films that have been influential in shaping your faith in some way, what five films would you choose? I found this question extremely challenging. I am thrilled to share this video of my conversation with film scholar Catherine Barsotti, Renovaré president Chris Hall,

Podcast

Animator and author Ken Priebe talks about his three fantastic children's books in the latest Looking Closer podcast episode

In this "Master Shot" episode of the Looking Closer podcast, Overstreet interviews animator, illustrator, and children's storybook author Ken Priebe about his three wild and whimsical books of wild, wacky, and scary characters.

Podcast

The secrets of Cartoon Saloon's success: a talk with Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey

In the latest episode of Looking Closer with Jeffrey Overstreet: The Podcast, Dr. Lindsay Marshall and I talk with the world-class animators and storytellers Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey, makers of The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, The Breadwinner, and Wolfwalkers. You can listen to it here:

On Books & Writing

Whale Writer: Peter Wayne Moe on his passion for whales, writing, and teaching

If you are on the hunt for great books about writing, great books about teaching, great books about faith, or great books about whales — yes, whales — have I got a recommendation for you!

Podcast

So Much Love: a conversation with Lowland Hum about their reinvention of a Peter Gabriel album

In which I talk with Daniel and Lauren Goans of the band Lowland Hum about how and why they made the most of their pandemic lockdown by re-recording a classic Peter Gabriel album.

Give Me Some Light

This Is Chad Hartigan: a conversation with the director of "Little Fish"

In this episode of the Looking Closer podcast, filmmaker Chad Hartigan talks about his new sci-fi love story "Little Fish," its focus on the power of memory, and what it was like to make a pandemic-focused movie just in time for a real pandemic.

Journal

November 7, 2020: Relief, Elation, and Gratitude

I share this as the first in a series of more personal posts, in hopes of expanding the range of subjects I explore at Looking Closer. I hope you enjoy this glimpse of the glory that played out in front of me at the close of this beautiful day.

Journal

SPU Voices: Overstreet on meeting movie stars, storytelling, teaching, and faith

This week on the Seattle Pacific University podcast Voices, host Amanda Stubbert interviews me about my experiences in film criticism, my encounters with movie stars, my life of storytelling, and my new adventures in teaching. We had a great conversation, and I'm happy that I can now share