An Invitation Productions

About An Invitation Productions

An Invitation Productions sprung to life when storyboard artist Jim Penola began exploring Karyn Kusama’s 2015 masterpiece THE INVITATION with the podcast titled––what else?––“An Invitation to THE INVITATION.” 🟣 The limited series remains a unique narrative/critical hybrid that is as meticulously scripted as it is produced, using Kusama's film as a means of highlighting cinematic craft alongside rigorous self-inquiry. Jim’s passion for other films blooms further in an eclectic selection of “one-off” episodes that excavate movies like COOL RUNNINGS and JUPITER ASCENDING. 🟣 However, his fascination with audio drama married to the aural essay format continues with the series “An Invitation to DESTROYER” – centered on Kusama’s 2018 neo-noir, originally starring Nicole Kidman. 🟣 Consider yourself invited. RSVP now.

Publisher

Jim Penola

Category

tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

24 Sept 2020

Latest episode

5 Aug 2025

Latest episodes

53 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Aug 2025

   Lanterns #06 with Blake Howard

   Lanterns is a miniseries celebrating 10 years of Karyn Kusama's THE INVITATION (2015) with some of the brightest lights in contemporary film criticism and podcasting. Through a hybrid of personal essay and long form interview, host/creator Jim Penola weaves a narrative conversation around the persistent merits and prescient lessons of Kusama's cult masterpiece. Episode #06, the finale, welcomes none other than Blake Howard—who Michael Mann once called "insane" (for good reason). Blake is the ...

2. 

   15 Jul 2025

   Lanterns #05 with Jon Gabrus

   Lanterns is a miniseries celebrating 10 years of Karyn Kusama's THE INVITATION (2015) with some of the brightest lights in contemporary film criticism and podcasting. Through a hybrid of personal essay and long form interview, host/creator Jim Penola weaves a narrative conversation around the persistent merits and prescient lessons of Kusama's cult masterpiece. Episode #05 welcomes the illustrious, the insightful—the hilarious!—Jon Gabrus. Gabrus is a comedian, an actor, and an extremely prol...

3. 

   24 Jun 2025

   Lanterns #04 with Philip Gawthorne

   Jim Penola interviews Philip Gawthorne about the enduring appeal and relevant insights of Karyn Kusama's 2015 film *The Invitation*, exploring its impact on contemporary film criticism.

Who has been a guest on An Invitation Productions

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Philip Gawthorne
• Justin Khoo
• Laura Khoo

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

422

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

12 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

15 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 49 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

42

Social presence

0

YouTube

66

Engagement

77

Contact An Invitation Productions

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.