Film Stories with Simon Brew

Simon Brew
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Aug 15, 2022 • 55min

Gone Girl (2014) and A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood (2019)

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, David Fincher's last movie for over five years, and the challenge in bringing a much-loved man to the big screen.Gillian Flynn's novel Gone Girl was an absolute publishing sensation. But even before it was released, Reese Witherspoon had snapped it up. Gillian Flynn meanwhile was able to strike an unusual deal for her book, that left her in charge of its adaptation.The script approach for the story of Fred Rogers, A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, went through some fairly dramatic changes. In the end, it'd take nearly a decade to bring to the screen...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
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Aug 5, 2022 • 40min

In conversation with director John Madden: Operation Mincemeat, Mrs Brown, Miss Sloane and more

In a Film Stories special episode, Oscar-nominated director John Madden reflects with Simon on the release of his latest film, Operation Mincemeat. The pair look at its changing release plans, and its eventual success. Plus the perils of bringing a true story to the screen. They also touch on the release of Madden's 2016 film Miss Sloane, and go back to investigate the casting of his breakthrough movie, Mrs Brown. All this and more in our latest special episode... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Jul 25, 2022 • 59min

The Living Daylights (1987) and Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that delayed production to get their star of choice on board. The Living Daylights - the 15th James Bond film - ended up with around 18 months start to finish to get made. And it was complicated by the fact that the search for a new 007 wasn't going entirely to plan. With Crazy Rich Asians, the core of behind the camera creatives would have never had to work again had they sold the film to Netflix. But they accepted a much lower offer from Warner Bros for the film - and they certainly had their reasons for doing so. 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
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Jul 18, 2022 • 56min

Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer (2007) and Jaws 3-D (1983)

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of sequels that both did well at the box office, but faced other problems. Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer should have been fan gold, and was planned to set up a couple more movies. But the Fantastic Four sequel found itself looking a little out of time - and even promoting it, the cracks were showing. Jaws 3-D meanwhile nearly ended up a very different film: an official Jaws comedy movie called Jaws 3 People 0. When the decision was made to go 3-D instead? Well, again, let's just say there were problems. 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
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Jul 11, 2022 • 54min

Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) and Revenge (1990)

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a high budget sequel, and Kevin Costner's first box office disappointment. The original Speed movie was lean, relatively modestly costed and a big, surprise hit. Speed 2 was pretty much the opposite - and its story ended up being reverse-engineered from a dream its director had. Revenge meanwhile brought together director Tony Scott and star Kevin Costner, but neither would quite get the film they wanted. And Scott didn't have final cut... 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
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Jul 4, 2022 • 54min

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and Beethoven (1992)

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a deeper look at a sequel that took a while to happen, and a film that spawned no shortage of sequels itself. The wheels of Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) started moving nearly a year before the 2009 reboot of the franchise hit the big screen. Yet it'd have to wait, not least for a definite yet from director JJ Abrams. And there'd be a bit of a post-mortem too. Beethoven meanwhile generated no shortage of follow-ups - but the story goes its original director wasn't, er, overly keen on dogs. Quite the tail (chortle) this one... 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
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Jul 1, 2022 • 29min

The Black Phone (2021) with director Scott Derrickson (spoilers)

This episode contains spoilers. In a Film Stories special episode, director Scott Derrickson joins Simon to chat about his new film, The Black Phone. They talk about adapting and changing the source short story, one or two moments within the film itself, right through to overseeing the release of the film. Note that the discussion does veer into spoiler territory, hence we're releasing this after the film has landed in cinemas. Nothing major, just things you'd likely rather not know until you've seen the movie!   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Jun 27, 2022 • 52min

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) and American Pie 2 (2001)

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of comedy sequels, that each managed to financially outperform their predecessors. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) proved to be a masterclass in how to market a movie. But even ahead of production, all concerned were determined to make it a much bigger film that the original.  Things weren't quite as straightforward on 2001's American Pie 2, a film that originally Universal wasn't in a rush to make, then suddenly was very much in a rush to make. What's more, it underwent quite significant changes in post-production too... 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
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Jun 24, 2022 • 48min

In conversation with director Dexter Fletcher: The Offer, Rocketman, Bohemian Rhapsody, Wild Bill, Sherlock Holmes 3, The Saint and more

In a Film Stories special episode, director Dexter Fletcher returns to the podcast. He chats to Simon about his latest project, the Paramount+ series The Offer, about the making of The Godfather (it's streaming on Paramount+ now). They also find time to chat about projects as varied as Sherlock Holmes 3, Wild Bill, The Saint, Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman and his upcoming film Ghosted. And we try and land Dexter the Bond job as well... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Jun 20, 2022 • 55min

Episode 250: RoboCop (1987) and Ace Ventura When Nature Calls (1995)

In the 250th episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, an all-time science fiction classic, and a very difficult comedy sequel.  1987's RoboCop needs little introduction. Yet the ultra-violent crime-battler was the result of two diffierent film ideas being brought into one. And a bit of a battle with the American ratings board was involved too. Jim Carrey was contractually obliged to make 1995's Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, and it'd put him off sequels for the bulk of his career. Not surprisingly: it proved to be a very, very difficult production. 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

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