Hyperfixed Episode Summary: "Parker’s Obsessed with this Movie (But She Cannot Find it Anywhere)"

Release Date: April 24, 2025
Host: Alex Goldman
Guest: Genevieve Adams (Parker)

1. Introduction to Parker's Obsession

In this episode of Hyperfixed, host Alex Goldman delves into the intriguing case of Parker—a dedicated immersive theater creator from Los Angeles—who becomes obsessed with locating an elusive indie film titled "I'm Obsessed with You, but You've Got to Leave Me Alone." Despite her relentless search efforts, Parker finds the movie inexplicably missing from all available platforms.

"This week, Parker's obsessed with this movie, but she cannot find it anywhere." – Alex Goldman [00:44]

2. Understanding Lost Media

Alex introduces the concept of lost media—films, TV shows, and other media that have vanished from public access due to various reasons like rights issues or poor distribution. He explains that while many lost media pieces belong to bygone eras, Parker's case is unique because the movie in question was released in the digital age (2014), making its disappearance even more perplexing.

"Lost media is exactly what it sounds like. Movies, TV shows, news broadcasts, music, things that were once publicly available but for any number of possible reasons, are now just gone." – Alex Goldman [03:49]

3. Parker's Comprehensive Search

Parker recounts her exhaustive attempts to locate the movie:

• Streaming Services: She scoured both U.S. and international platforms, engaging friends abroad to assist in the search.

  "I explored a couple different avenues... sometimes it's available, and I've got a friend in New Zealand." – Parker [07:15]

• Physical Media Experts: She consulted a friend who specializes in CDs, DVDs, and VHS tapes, but to no avail.

• Public Libraries: Attempts to find the movie through library systems like Hoopla and Canopy were unsuccessful.

• Torrenting Communities: Even seasoned torrent hunters couldn’t locate the film, only uncovering a brief smartphone-filmed segment.

  "It feels like this movie just blinked out of existence." – Alex Goldman [08:36]

4. The Missing Movies Initiative

Alex discusses his own interest in lost media, highlighting famous cases like Jerry Lewis's "The Day the Clown Cried" and missing episodes of Doctor Who. To gain deeper insights, he interviews Amy Heller and Dennis Naimi, co-founders of the nonprofit organization Missing Movies, which advocates for the preservation of cinema history.

"The idea for the project started about five years ago... filmmakers who recently realized they couldn't find their own films." – Alex Goldman [13:13]

Key Points from Amy and Dennis:

• Modern Missing Media: Films from the 80s onward are increasingly vulnerable due to complicated rights issues and the ephemeral nature of digital storage.

  "A lot of these films, the rights have expired and no one knows who owns the rights." – Dennis Naimi [14:59]

• Preservation Challenges: Independent filmmakers often lack the resources or knowledge to properly preserve their work, leading to inevitable loss.

  "Hard drives are only reliable for about five years... you need to be migrating it continuously." – Alex Goldman [18:58]

5. Connecting with Genevieve Adams

Determined to solve Parker's predicament, Alex reaches out to Genevieve Adams, the writer, producer, and star of the missing film. Genevieve shares her experience:

• Production Insights: The movie, based on a pivotal time in Genevieve's life, featured a memorable incident where a crew member was accidentally electrocuted on set.

  "We had a lovely grip who was standing in the pond... he got electrocuted." – Genevieve Adams [26:17]

• Distribution Struggles: After premiering at the Sonoma Film Festival and a Polish festival, the film secured limited distribution through a digital aggregator. However, due to inadequate publicity and financial constraints, the movie languished unnoticed, leading to its removal from platforms like Amazon and iTunes around 2021.

  "Once the movie got posted to those streamers, nobody really watched it because nobody really knew it existed." – Alex Goldman [28:00]

• Despair and Hope: Disheartened by the film's obscurity, Genevieve had considered it over. However, Alex's insistence and the evident demand reignited her commitment to making the movie accessible.

  "This movie exists in the world. It is available again pretty much solely because of your efforts." – Alex Goldman [32:54]

6. The Resolution: Movie Reappears on Amazon

After persistent efforts and collaboration with the Missing Movies team, Genevieve successfully reinstates her film on Amazon. The movie is now available for rent and purchase, bringing closure to Parker's long-standing quest.

"When? When did this appear?" – Genevieve Adams [32:23]
"Not only can you rent this now on Amazon for $3, you can own it if you want." – Alex Goldman [32:28]

7. Parker’s Viewing Experience

Parker finally watches "I'm Obsessed with You, but You've Got to Leave Me Alone," expressing her joy and appreciation for the film. She praises the performances of Rachel Brosnahan and Jason Ralph, noting their authentic chemistry and the movie's impact on her.

"I laughed out loud multiple times. I just had such a great time watching it." – Parker [34:13]
"I can't imagine that either Rachel or Jason is really anything like those characters in regular life." – Parker [34:23]

8. Final Thoughts

Alex reflects on the journey, emphasizing the importance of preservation and the role of communities like Missing Movies in safeguarding cinematic history. He celebrates the successful retrieval of Parker's sought-after film as a testament to collective effort and unwavering determination.

"Just because the thing you made wasn't noticed in its time, it doesn't mean that it'll always be that way." – Alex Goldman [19:31]

Notable Quotes

• "Why do you want to know? Why do you care about the origins of this weird old button you found or how many grams there are in an American cup of butter?" – Alex Goldman [01:32]

• "I have a very hard time with people. So I'm, like, truly impressed by your ability to, like, engage with the world in a way that I can't possibly do it." – Alex Goldman [02:51]

• "Movies to tell not only the directors from 30 years ago. You need to find out where your rights and materials are, but to all the directors making films today." – Dennis Naimi [15:57]

• "When a film is lost, not only is the work of the filmmaker lost, but the actors, the set dressers, the editors, the cinematographer, the costumers, everybody's work is lost." – Parker [20:29]

This episode of Hyperfixed masterfully navigates the complexities of lost media, showcasing the passion of individuals like Parker and the critical work of organizations dedicated to preserving cinematic treasures. Through persistence and community support, even the most obscure films can find their way back to eager audiences.