Film Stories with Simon Brew

332 Episodes

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Outbreak (1995) and Predestination (2014)

2024-09-2354:56

An article published back in 1992 would spark a bidding war in Hollywood. Nothing unusual there. That article would lead to Ridley Scott, Jodie Foster and Robert Redford signing up for a big, expensive movie - a movie that never got made. And it never got made because of 1995's Outbreak. Three movies meanwhile had failed to come together in a row for filmmakers the Spierig brothers after they scored a hit with Daybreakers. But they had a project in mind, based on a Robert A Heinlein (Starship Troopers) short story. It'd lead to Predestination - but there was the small matter of starting work without securing the rights to the story... The stories of both are told in this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with director James Watkins: Speak No Evil, Eden Lake and more

2024-09-1835:39

Headlined by James McAvoy, Speak No Evil is a taut suspence film that's the latest from director James Watkins. Previously responsible for Eden Lake and The Woman In Black, amongst others, he joins Simon for a special episode of Film Stories. They chat about Speak No Evil, and the confidence of holding tension. Plus, editing with Jon Harris, a bit of Rolling Thunder, and a whole lot more... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American Gangster (2007) and Piranha II: The Spawning (1982)

2024-09-1654:10

It's not uncommon for films to get through a director or two on their way to the screen. In this episode, that's certainly the case. American Gangster might have ended up on the slate of Ridley Scott, but he was the third or fourth name involved. At one stage, Universal was said to have spent $30m on the film in fact, with no hope of getting a single frame of footage shot. Shooting footage wasn't a problem with the low budget Piranha II: The Spawning, nominally the directorial debut of James Cameron. But Cameron was ejected from the film a week or two into shooting - even if the story goes he managed to sneak into the edit suite... Stories of both are told in this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with director Anand Tucker

2024-09-1346:29

Director Anand Tucker began in the world of documentaries, before switching into dramatic features. His most recent film, The Critic, is arriving in UK cinemas with Ian McKellen in its lead, having had to change casts following the pandemic. Before that, Tucker had briefly been attached to The Golden Compass, had worked on films such as Girl With A Pearl Earring and Shopgirl, and has no shortage too of stories to tell. Which he does on this very podcast... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Flash (2023) and 24: The Movie (unmade so far)

2024-09-0901:03:27

Two films looooong in the making in this episode of Film Stories: one's been made at the time of recording, one hasn't. Talk first surfaced of The Flash movie back in the 1980s, but it wasn't until 2023 that a film was finally released. By then, an under-fire Warner Bros was hoping for great things from the film, and confidence appeared to be high: but there were problems, and no shortage of them. The idea of taking the smash-hit TV show 24 and turning it into a movie seemed fairly logical, and the production budget was going to be on the modest side. Yet delay after delay hit the project - but not before an audacious Die Hard spin-off had been proposed... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with producer Tommy Harper: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Mission: Impossible, Star Trek, Star Wars, Showgirls and more

2024-09-0601:02:50

Producer Tommy Harper joins Simon for a Film Stories podcast special, to talk through a career that's taken him from not being allowed on the set of Showgirls, to producing Star Wars, Mission: Impossible and Star Trek films. Oh, and the brand new release, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. It's quite a story, with the likes of JJ Abrams, Paul Verhoeven, Tim Burton and more popping up. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is in cinemas now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Avengers (1998) and Step Brothers (2008)

2024-08-2554:15

Ah, The Avengers. The 1998 big screen adaptation of the much-loved TV series is a bit of an odd movie, but as Simon discusses in this episode, things weren't quite going to plan at studio level. Not that Warner Bros handled the film particularly well come release time - an infamously late decisiont to avoid a review screening soon backfired. In the case of Step Brothers, the third film together for Adam McKay and Will Ferrell is often cited as their best. Still, the hit comedy has a bit of a story to it - plus the pub quiz fact that McKay shot more footage for Step Brothers than Francis Ford Coppola shot for Apocalypse Now... Stories of both are told in this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jackpot! (2024) and more, with director Paul Feig

2024-08-1538:30

In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, we're delighted to welcome back Paul Feig for his third appearance. This time the starting point is Feig's new film Jackpot!, that's on Prime Video now. They also talk about the already-shot A Simple Favor 2, as well as legal stuff, Naked Gun 33 1/3, and if there's any chance on this planet of getting Spy 2.... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with Rob Delaney

2024-08-0741:47

In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by actor, producer, writer and fine human being Rob Delaney. The pair talk about Delaney's role in the smash hit Deadpool And Wolverine, while also touching on a moment in a restaurant, writing, movies, and the TV hit Catastrophe. Plus they natter too about Delaney's book A Heart That Works, and his amazing-sounding late son, Henry. --- Deadpool And Wolverine is now in cinemas. This podcast has fruity language in it. Not usually, but this episode does. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Film Stories episode 400 - The Terminator, and producer Gale Anne Hurd

2024-07-2201:15:45

Episode 400! Crikey. And I'm thrilled to say that producer Gale Anne Hurd is helping with the celebrations, thanks to a huge chat about her life, her work, and The Terminator at 40. The first part of the episode, Simon goes through the story of The Terminator, and quite how its rights ended up so muddled going forward. But the bulk of episode 400 is over to Gale Anne Hurd, in a long conversation - set against noisy background sounds! - that took place in London in June 2024. Thanks for all your support everyone. Hope you enjoy the episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Twisters (2024), with director Lee Isaac Chung

2024-07-1733:50

In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Lee Isaac Chung, as they discuss the brand new blockbuster movie, Twisters. Lee talks about how he got the job in the first place, and just what time contrainsts he was up against. Plus, the depth of the casting in the film, the scale of the movie, and his work with filmmakers in Rwanda. A bit of Minari, too. Twisters is in UK cinemas now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Never Say Never Again (1983) and Analyze This (1999)

2024-07-1553:23

Sean Connery had vowed he was never going to return as James Bond after 1971's Diamonds Are Forever. Meanwhile, a man called Kevin McClory had agreed not to exercise his screen rights to the story of Thunderball until 1975. Yet the highest profile 'unofficial' Bond project would bring them both together, as Never Say Never Again did battle with the official 007 film Octopussy at the 1983 box office. A different battle played out in 1999, as Robert De Niro took the plunge into comedy with Analyze This. It'd be an early hit in a year that was awash with them - yet the idea of a mob boss seeing a shrink, that seemed original when the film was conceived - was about to slam head-first into a brand new TV show... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with Neil Jordan

2024-07-1201:00:42

In this very special episode of Film Stories, Neil Jordan is the guest, talking about his brand new memoir, Amnesiac, along with tales of his movie life. He and Simon chat about movies as varied as Angel, The Crying Game, Michael Collins, High Spirits, We're No Angels and Mona Lisa, in a far-reaching chat. Plus: Neil Jordan talks through approaching telling his own story, and why he chose to do it now... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Babylon (2022) and Everybody's Talking About Jamie (2021)

2024-07-0853:54

Damien Chazelle first started seriously considering a film about old Hollywood back in 2009, long before he made La La Land. And even when the writer/director had channelled his energies into that film, he still had Babylon in mind: a hugely ambitious, expensive, three hour film that needed an R-rating! In the case of Everybody's Talking About Jamie, the challenge with the hit stage show was bringing it to the big screen at some scale - in spite of a truncated budget. Then there was the small matter of a pandemic getting in the way too... Stories of both are told in this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with Baroness Beeban Kidron

2024-07-0501:02:28

In a very special episode of Film Stories, Baroness Beeban Kidron joins Simon for a chat about her career, her films, and her move to politics. They go from her early film Carry Greenham Home, from being one of the first British women to direct a movie with Vroom. Then a big turning point: Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit, an acclaimed adaptation of Jeanette Winterson's book. The chat covers Kidron's move to Hollywood, and then the documentary that launched what effectively became her second career... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RoboCop 3 (1993) and Boxing Helena (1993)

2024-07-0158:23

Two movies from 1993 and the stories behind them here: both of which had their fair share of off-set drama. RoboCop 3 was supposed to be quickly followed by RoboCop 4, yet financial problems with parent company Orion Pictures led to a change of plan - not least when Orion went bankrupt. In the midst of this was an idea to make a RoboCop film with a PG-13 rating too. Boxing Helena originally attracted Madonna to the title role, but this micro-budget independent movie gained infamy not for the film itself, but for the court case that ensued when potential star Kim Basinger then dropped the project. Stories of both are told in this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beetlejuice (1988) and Rye Lane (2023)

2024-06-2454:10

When Tim Burton's first film, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, proved a surprise hit for Warner Bros, the studio was keen to get a second picture off him. Yet Burton wasn't enamoured with the scripts he was being offered - until an unusual one landed on his desk. Just lacking a bit of an ending. Enter: Beetlejuice. Rye Lane was a much smaller production, a directorial debut for Raine Allen Miller. A British romcom, it had to negotiate Covid restrictions - but then, after strong reviews, there was its release strategy to negotiate. Stories of both are told in this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Bikeriders (2023), with writer/director Jeff Nichols

2024-06-1739:26

Originally set to be released by Disney in 2023, Jeff Nichols' new film - The Bikeriders - was dropped by the studio at the last minute, before finally landing a new home with Focus Features and Universal. Nichols joins us for a special podcast to discuss the film, with the conversation also taking in Take Shelter, Michael Shannon, and making a movie without too much money... The Bikeriders finally arrives in cinemas on 21st June 2024. --- EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/filmstories Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Morbius (2022) and The Gift (2015)

2024-06-1057:42

On the one hand in this episode, we've got a comic book movie that should in theory have launched further films. 2022's Morbius was designed to follow Venom into Sony's universe of Spider-Man spin-off characters. Yet so keen was the studio to join it up to the ongoing Spider-Man films, that problems ensued. And Jared Leto, in the lead role, was going method again. The Gift, the directorial debut of Joel Edgerton, was originally called Weirdo. He designed it to be a slim film, that he knew would be up against some tough competition at the box office. Yet he had quite a special film up his sleeve... — EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/filmstories Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with Ishana Night Shyamalan

2024-06-0734:32

After enjoying success with the TV series Servant, for which she wrote and directed several episodes, Ishana Night Shyamalan was on the lookout for a story to turn into her feature directorial debut. The tale she found involved a pet store, a creepy forest, a trip to Ireland and some people watching. And in this Film Stories podcast special, she tells us about why she made The Watched (or The Watcher in the US) and tells us more of her story. The Watched is in UK cinemas now... — EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/filmstories Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Dave B.