Film Stories with Simon Brew

In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by Restless Natives, Soapdish and One Fine Day director Michael Hoffman for a special episode. They talk through his film career, from his unconventional start, to stopping in Robert Redford's house, a George Clooney basketball accident and the joy of films such as Soapdish. Plus: the pressures of having made the Royal Film in 1995 - that also happened to be picked as part of the 100 years of cinema celebration! Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. 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, two films at either end of the budget scale! Superman Returns took over a decade to come together, with over $50m spent even by the time it was greenlit. But after the successful Batman reboot landed the year before it, the pressure was on. Blinded By The Light took a long time to come together too - but then how do you make a wonderful British coming of age film, whilst also weaving in the music of Bruce Springsteen? 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 one half of the BBC's flagship film programme, Simon Mayo. The pair chat about Kermode & Mayo's Film Review (Wittertainment to its chums) and the absence of Kermode & Mayo's Home Entertainment Service from BBC iPlayer.  And they talk too about Simon's books, including his latest thriller Knife Edge, and the screen adaptations of his work. Plus a bit of radio too... Find Simon (Brew) on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. 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, two films where the actors had to get used to a whole load of takes. The Social Network came with a 161-page script from Aaron Sorkin to fit into a two hour movie. And director David Fincher came up with a simple idea to make sure it'd fit. For The Naked Gun 2 1/2, director David Zucker had to make sure his actors stuck very much to the script - and he also wanted to make sure an environmental message snuck into the film. 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, a film that took time to find its audience - and one that never got to find one at all. Tony Scott had to choose between directing Reservoir Dogs or True Romance by a young, upcoming talent called Quentin Tarantino. He picked the latter - and by the time filming began, big names were queuing up for a role. After the collapse of the planned Halo movie, a deal was struck to ensure Bioshock didn't suffer a similar fate. But it didn't go to plan. 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, an attempt to breathe new life into the Alien saga, and a role that changed Michael Douglas' career. Alien Resurrection went through at least five possible endings, and wasn't originally to feature the character of Ripley. The plan for it to be a lower budget spin-off soon changed. Michael Douglas was known for safe roles before 1987 came along, and Oliver Stone was warned about casting him too. One Oscar later... 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, nipples on the Batsuit, and a franchise-starting spoof. Warner Bros wanted Batman & Robin quickly, it wanted it family-friendly, it wanted lots of merchandise. Director Joel Schumacher? He wanted to do the Batman: Year One story. After Scream hit big in 1996, a couple of comedy projects bubbled up - but it was the Wayans brothers who hit gold with Scary Movie (although they weren't invited back for the third film). 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, the 2002 sci-fi blockbuster that wasn't Star Wars, and Harrison Ford's haircut. Minority Report was originally set to be made as a Total Recall sequel - then found itself delayed by nearly two years due to commitments from Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise. Harrison Ford was after a less showy role when he took on Presumed Innocent meanwhile - but the hit book would be changed notably for its screen version. 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, a pair of movies that left their respective directors working 16 hours a day - sometimes more - to get them finished. Team America: World Police was made by Trey Parker and Matt Stone in the six month gap between seasons of their TV show South Park.  Which still included time for a battle with the MPAA. Pearl Harbor had the biggest starting budget ever when it was greenlit by Disney - yet director Michael Bay would quit the film at least twice, and the studio reportedly tried to shut it down 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 the UK's most prominent film critic, Mark Kermode. They chat about the new series of Mark Kermode's Secrets Of Cinema, as well as the current state of film criticism, Wittertainment, and a film that Simon thinks Mark should never have chosen for worst of the week... Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. 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