Film Stories with Simon Brew

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that in their own ways changed the course of a few things. Even though Pierce Brosnan was keen to return, the James Bond producers went for a reboot with Casino Royale. It would be a decision not shy of sizeable challenges, not least thanks to some financial troubles. The aftermath of DreamWorks Animation's Rise Of The Guardians tends to dominate its story, but there were plenty of hurdles to get it to the screen in the first place too. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at 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 a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by writer and director Kevin Reynolds. They talk about his high profile films (Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, Waterworld), his indie breakthrough with Fandango, Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, and One Eight Seven. Plus, the shoot from hell with Rapa Nui, heading to the small screen with Hatfield & McCoys, finding the sweet spot with The Count Of Monte Cristo and his most recent film, Risen. It's quite a career, and a very candid chat... Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Find Michael at @mcatonjones. You can find the Film Stories website here.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, one film that overperformed its box office expectations, and one that didn't. Kevin Costner had won an Oscar for his first directorial outing, but his second - The Postman - had been widely criticised. His third, Open Range, would be a very tricky film to get off the ground. Off the back of Airplane!, comedy team Zucker/Abrahams/Zuckler had less of a struggle to get the glorious Top Secret! made. But the problems came a little further down the road... Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at 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 the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that both interested the Oscars, albeit taking very different paths. Martin Scorsese may finally have won his Oscar for The Departed, but he saw this one as a B movie, and editing delays meant he only saw the very final print for the first time at its premiere. With La La Land meanwhile, it was seen as a very risky film by Hollywood, and at one stage: but in the end, it was that rare movie where a studio would suggest increasing the budget! Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at 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 a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by writer, producer and director Bob Gale. They talk about various elements of the Back To The Future trilogy, not least the pressures of the back-to-back filming of Part II and Part III. And, of course, of bringing Back To The Future to the stage in a brand new West End musical. They find time too to discuss Bob's venture into movie directing, Interstate 60, and his work and friendship with Robert Zemeckis. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Find Michael at @mcatonjones. You can find the Film Stories website here.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a Steven Spielberg film that took a long time to make, and a 1980s romcom with a casting challenge. Ready Player One (2018) was subject of a sizeable bidding war. When Steven Spielberg finally came to the film, he'd be able to complete and release a different film from scratch during its post-production. Working Girl (1988) had a parent studio that wanted big star names - not without problems - and the production had to be shut down for 24 hours too... Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at 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 the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, an action favourite with a lot of writers, and a war movie hit that ended up criticised in UK Parliament. The Rock (1996) utilised lots of writers, and its stars - Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris - all had significant input. Director Michael Bay meanwhile would do a bit of battle with Disney over the film. Jonathan Mostow first had the inspiration for U-571 when he was developing The Game. But as he lost control of that film, his submarine movie bubbled up - and hit some controversial waters. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at 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 the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of films that each came together quickly, and each topped the US box office  Hollywood was keen at the start of the 2000s to lure Eminem to a movie project. Thus, 8 Mile came together - a film where he was in pretty much every scene. Problem? He'd never acted before. To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar had no shortage of people wanting to act in it, meanwhile. The problem? Getting insurance for the film, due to its director being pregnant. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at 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 a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by writer, producer and director Uberto Pasolini. Uberto talks about his new film, the acclaimed Nowhere Special. And the pair go through his career, from buying his own ticket to the set of The Killing Fields, his work alongside David Puttnam, through to his time in Hollywood. Then, they chat about his jump into producing that sparked Palookaville and The Full Monty into life. And finally, Uberto's move towards writing and directing his own films. It's an extraordinary career, even if he doesn't think so! Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Find Michael at @mcatonjones. You can find the Film Stories website here.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a film that took some rescuing from a Hollywood studio, and another that required one hell of a deal to even get going. A Few Good Men started off as a Broadway hit: but come the movie version, executives were really rather keen to cram a sex scene in the middle of it. And its first-time screenwriter was powerless to stop it. As for The Simpsons Movie, it was a project mooted for well over a decade - and when it finally went ahead, it was a top secret race to the finish. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices