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In the 1980s, there were only 63 Black films by, for, or about Black Americans. But in the 1990s, that number quadrupled, with 220 Black films making their way to cinema screens nationwide. What sparked this “Black New Wave?” Who blazed this path for contemporaries like Ava DuVernay, Kasi Lemmons and Jordan Peele? And how did these films transform American culture as a whole? Presenting The Class of 1989, a new limited-run series from pop culture critics Len Webb and Vincent Williams, hosts ...
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Speed has one of the cleanest high-concept premises in movie history: A bomb on a bus that can’t drop below 50 MPH. And somehow, that one idea gave us 116 minutes of nonstop tension, character chemistry, and genre-defining moments.
In this episode, Tray Epps breaks down why Speed is more than a 90s action movie — it’s required watching for anyone learning to write or direct films.
We talk about:
- Why a simple, focused concept is the key to tension
- What makes Keanu & Sandra’s dynamic work without leaning on romance
- Dennis Hopper’s villain as a case study in controlled chaos
- Editing that mirrors the heartbeat of the film
- The emotional weight behind every action beat
- Speed’s influence on everything from Die Hard 3 to Bullet Train
Filmmaker Takeaways:
- Simplicity sells — and sustains story
- Use pacing as a structural device
- Write action that’s character-first
- Less exposition, more stakes
- Make your villain a pressure cooker, not a monologuer
Related Episodes:
- Die Hard
- Ek Tha Tiger
- Godzilla Minus One
- Mission: Impossible (coming soon)
QUESTION:
What’s your favorite Speed moment — and what did it teach you about storytelling?
Subscribe to Required Watching for weekly cinematic deep dives with lessons filmmakers can actually use.
Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller.
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