Brandon Lee: Hungry Ghosts, Cursed Movies, and a Goth Masterpiece
Brandon Lee: Hungry Ghosts, Cursed Movies, and a Goth MasterpieceDigest
This podcast delves into the life and legacy of Brandon Lee, the son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee. It begins by discussing the alleged curse that haunted the Lee family, stemming from the death of Bruce Lee's older brother. The episode then explores Bruce Lee's death and Brandon's early life and career, highlighting his acting aspirations and his engagement to Eliza Hutton. The podcast then focuses on the creation of the comic book "The Crow" by James O'Barr, inspired by his own personal tragedy. It discusses the comic's success and the film adaptation's troubled production, including the tragic accident that led to Brandon Lee's death on set. The episode details the fatal mistake involving a prop gun and the subsequent investigation. The podcast explores the impact of Brandon Lee's death on the film industry and the legacy of "The Crow," highlighting the film's soundtrack and the involvement of New Order. It also discusses the challenges faced in completing and releasing "The Crow" after Brandon Lee's death, including the studio's involvement, the use of CGI, and the film's eventual success. The episode concludes with a question of the week, asking listeners to share their thoughts on young artists who left us too soon. The host then thanks listeners for their support and promotes the show's membership program.
Outlines
The Legacy of Brandon Lee: A Tragic Tale
This episode explores the life and legacy of Brandon Lee, the son of Bruce Lee, focusing on the making of the film "The Crow" and the accident that took his life. It delves into the alleged curse that haunted the Lee family, Bruce Lee's death, and Brandon's early life and career.
The Creation of "The Crow"
This chapter focuses on the creation of the comic book "The Crow" by James O'Barr, inspired by his own personal tragedy. It discusses the comic's success and the film adaptation's troubled production, including the tragic accident that led to Brandon Lee's death on set.
The Impact of Brandon Lee's Death
This chapter explores the impact of Brandon Lee's death on the film industry and the legacy of "The Crow," highlighting the film's soundtrack and the involvement of New Order. It also discusses the challenges faced in completing and releasing "The Crow" after Brandon Lee's death, including the studio's involvement, the use of CGI, and the film's eventual success.
Question of the Week and Outro
The episode concludes with a question of the week, asking listeners to share their thoughts on young artists who left us too soon. The host then thanks listeners for their support and promotes the show's membership program.
Keywords
Bruce Lee
A legendary martial artist, actor, and filmmaker who revolutionized martial arts cinema. Known for his iconic fighting style, charisma, and influence on popular culture.
Brandon Lee
An American actor known for his role in the film "The Crow." He was the son of Bruce Lee and tragically died during the filming of the movie.
The Crow
A 1994 American superhero film based on the comic book of the same name. It tells the story of a rock musician who is resurrected to seek revenge for his murder and the murder of his fiancée.
Prop Gun
A firearm used in film and television productions that is designed to simulate the appearance and sound of a real gun without firing a projectile.
Goth Subculture
A subculture that emerged in the 1980s, characterized by dark clothing, makeup, and music. It often explores themes of death, darkness, and rebellion.
Joy Division
An influential English post-punk band known for their dark and atmospheric music. Their lead singer, Ian Curtis, committed suicide in 1980, leading to the band's disbandment.
New Order
An English electronic music band formed by members of Joy Division after Ian Curtis' death. They are known for their innovative and influential music, which blended elements of post-punk, synth-pop, and dance music.
Miramax
An independent film production and distribution company known for its success in distributing art house and foreign films. They were instrumental in the release of "The Crow" after Paramount dropped the project.
Q&A
What was the alleged curse that haunted the Lee family?
The curse stemmed from the death of Bruce Lee's older brother at a young age. Some superstitious family members believed this meant the next male child would be marked for death.
How did Brandon Lee's death impact the film industry?
Brandon Lee's death led to stricter safety protocols for the handling of firearms on film sets, including the requirement for a licensed armorer to be present at all times.
What was the significance of New Order's involvement in the "The Crow" soundtrack?
New Order was formed by members of Joy Division, a band that heavily influenced the comic book "The Crow." The filmmakers wanted to get New Order involved to pay homage to the band's influence.
Show Notes
Haunted by the legacy of his superstar father and by an old family curse, Brandon Lee tried to outrun the past. But the past came after him all the same. It was said that his father, Bruce Lee, was taken by that family curse at just 32 years old, and that it then followed Brandon to the set of The Crow, a cross between a superhero blockbuster and a brooding art film that was all goth. The shoot was plagued by injury, electrocution, storms, fires, and car crashes – and culminated in tragedy when a prop gun fired a real bullet.
To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com.
The loss of Brandon Lee has Jake thinking about that old Billy Joel lyric: "Only the Good Die Young." What other artists were taken from us too soon? Let Jake know at 617-906-6638, disgracelandpod@gmail.com, or on socials @disgracelandpod.
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