Film Stories with Simon Brew

In a special episode of Film Stories, Simon chats to writer/director James Gray. The pair met around the time of the release of his film Armageddon Time, and they chat about the complexities of getting such a movie through the studio system.It's a really candid chat this, as Gray explores opening up his family life for a film, and his feelings on the current state of cinema. Plus, isn't it about time they brought back curtains in cinemas? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that hardy set the box office alight - although the fallout from one was a lot, lot louder than the other!Ed Wood was a movie Tim Burton decided to make when he walked away from a higher profile project. However, the studio paying for the movie panicked a month before production and tried to box Burton into a deal. He wasn't playing ball, though.The Last Duel was a movie project that took over a decade to reach the screen, with the source book optioned three different times (Martin Scorsese circled the project for a while). But then in came Ridley Scott, in come disappointing box office, and in came quite the aftermath...Stories of both are told in this episode.Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a sequel that was a beast to make, and a British book adaptation that Tom Hanks sort-of-unlocked.Aliens remains the template for how to make an excellent sequel - but heck, was it beset by problems. Not least that writer/director James Cameron and the crew at Pinewood Studios making the film were not exactly on each other's Christmas card lists.Starter For Ten was a bit more straightforward, but even then, it took American money to bring a very British book to the screen. All in a film that had a hand in launching a lot of big name careers...Stories of both are told in this episode.Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two hit films come under the microscope - but one of them nearly fell apart days before filming was due to begin.Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would become for a long time the most successful independent film of all time in terms of box office returns. Yet none of the major studio would commit to the film, and it'd take a late deal to save the movie.Timecop had a much clearer path the big screen, and this was Jean-Claude Van Damme trying to emulate the success of Arnold Schwarzenegger and cross over into the mainstream. Just don't ask him about the plans for a sequel...Stories of both are told in this episode.Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two very successful films - one of which nearly lost the confidence of its parent studioThe tale behind Hidden Figures had seemingly been all but lost to history. That was until one writer went digging, and then a producer won a bidding war for movie rights in which barely anyone else was interested. A late release date change also would prove inspired.The LEGO Movie meanwhile would take some negotiating to even get off the ground. And when it did? Warner Bros brought in two funding partners and sold off a sizeable percentage of its box office receipts too. It was not the studio's wisest move...Stories of both are told in this episode.Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Feig is a busy man. He's got a new film (The School For Good And Evil) and a new cocktail book too. But he squeezed some time into his schedule for a special podcast recording, where he chats to Simon about his directorial career.Recorded in front of a live audience in London, the pair chat about Paul Feig's early stand-up and acting work, the films that landed him in movie jail, and then the run of Freaks & Geeks, Bridesmaids, The Heat, Spy, Ghostbusters: Answer The Call, A Simple Favour, Last Christmas and, of course, The School For Good And Evil.It was quite an evening, and the audio is presented in full here. Right down to the Ski Patrol chat... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of films that faced their challenges, but one came out of it all better than the other.A third Blade film was announced even before Blade II had arrived in cinemas. David S Goyer took on the director's chair, but to say the production had a few problems would be quite the understatement. Gulp.Things were a little smoother with 1992's Candyman, although writer/director Bernard Rose was first approached about a different Clive Barker story to adapt. But three different financiers meant there were differing opinions about the film behind the scenes - and distribution wasn't entirely straightforward either.Stories of both are told in this episode.Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After building a strong career as an actor over the past few decades, Frances O'Connor has now taken the jump into feature writing and directing. In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, she chats to Simon about why she's decided to take the plunge now, and what was it that unlocked her film, Emily.She takes us into the writing process of the film, the battle to get funding, and making the move into directing. Plus, there's time for a little bit of A.I.: Artificial Intelligence chatter in there too... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that hit much bigger than expected - each of which changed a lot in post-production.Horror hit Paranormal Activity actually first debuted on screen in 2007. But it'd be two years before it got a full wide release in cinemas, and by then the ending would have undergone changes (and a planned remake abandoned).20th Century Fox was having doubts about 1985's Cocoon, meanwhile, to the point where Robert Zemeckis was fired as its director (making Back To The Future instead!). In came Ron Howard though, and changes would get underway...Stories of both are told in this episode.Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Decade after decade, director Stephen Frears has maintained an enviable output of movies and TV shows, and his latest film - The Lost King - is now playing in UK cinemas. He joins Simon for a podcast special, where they chat about his work, from breaking through with My Beautiful Laundrette, to the ultra-fast turnaround of Dangerous Liaisons. They also talk about the perils of making studio films in Hollywood, why The Queen went to cinemas rather than TV (and legal advice was involved!), and the assorted challenges of The Lost King... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices