Film Stories
Film Stories with Simon Brew is a podcast that looks to dig into the stories behind popular movies.From troubled productions, to rights issues, to difficulties with release to films nearly falling apart, the podcast will be looking at the stories that don't always seem apparent when watching a movie! The podcast is hosted by Simon Brew, the founder of Den Of Geek. Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Thank you!
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Episodes
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The Order (2024), with director Justin Kurzel
Friday, 27 December 2024
In a special episode of Film Stories, it's a guest filmmaker and a guest interviewer! This time, director Justin Kurzel is chatting about his latest movie, The Order, that's now playing in UK cinemas. Plus, there's a bit of chat about Snowtown and Assasin's Creed in there too. Ryan Lambie of Film Stories is asking the questions, after a bit of babble from Simon at the start. And it's just the kind of longform, clickbait-free conversation we love to do... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024), with Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham
Monday, 23 December 2024
The return of Wallace & Gromit to our screens also coincides with a return visit for Nick Park to the Film Stories podcast. He's joined by his co-director too, Merlin Crossingham, as the pair chat about their new film, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. The conversation covers timescales, writing, studio notes... and a little bit of clingfilm... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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In conversation with Andrew Davis - Disturbing The Bones, The Fugitive, Holes, Stony Island, Under Siege and more
Friday, 20 December 2024
In a very special episode of Film Stories, Simon is joined by Andrew Davis, perhaps best known for directing films such as The Fugitive, Under Siege, Holes and more. Those movies certainly come up in the extensive conversation between the pair. Davis has also, with Jeff Biggers, written his first novel, Disturbing The Bones, and there's a strong movie link to it as well. And the chat also takes in Stony Island, The Fugitive sequel, Steal Big Steal Little and a whole lot more... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) and Juror #2 (2024)
Tuesday, 17 December 2024
In the final regular Film Stories episode of 2024, we start with a 1989 movie that's gone on to become something of a Christmas favourite. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation saw John Hughes writing again, and a first time director in Jeremiah Chechik. The former protected the latter from studio notes, and even a potential lack of snow turned into the opposite problem. Still: what happened to the UK cinema release? Clint Eastwood's Juror #2 remains one of the more curious film stories of 2024. A movie made for a modest sum, that Warner Bros then gave the impression of simply not really...
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In conversation with director J C Chandor: Margin Call, Kraven The Hunter, All Is Lost and more
Friday, 13 December 2024
It took some time for writer/director J C Chandor to break into the movie business. When he did, it was with the mini-budget Margin Call, a film that would snag him an Oscar nomination. Since then, he's brought to the screen All Is Lost, A Most Violent Year, Triple Frontier and now Kraven The Hunter, arguably his highest profile feature to date. In this special episode, he talks through his new film, and a whole lot more... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dirty Harry (1971) and Anita And Me (2002)
Monday, 9 December 2024
It's fairly well known that the role of Detective Harry Callahan was originally set to be played by Frank Sinatra, before he had to pull out as production neared. Yet when Clint Eastwood decided to accept, he had several versions of a script to choose from - and decided to put a call into someone he trusted: Don Siegel. The pair would go on to fashion a cinema classic. The journey to 2002's Anita And Me meanwhile began with the publication of Meera Syal's semi-autobiographical novel in 1996. Work began to then turn it into a film - but the challenge of making an independent film in the UK,...
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In conversation with Kevin Smith - The 4.30 Movie, Waterworld, indie cinema and more
Friday, 6 December 2024
In a potty-mouthed Film Stories podcast special, Simon welcomes back Kevin Smith. It's a chat centred around Smith's new film,. The 4.30 Movie - and how he came to make it. That tale involves buying a cinema, and digging deep into his own youth. Beyond that, they chat about the length of the end credits, they segue into Waterworld, and consider some of the bumps in life. Not least reviews, and a rejection from the Sundance Film Festival. The 4.30 Movie is available to buy and rent on video on demand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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In conversation with Kevin Costner and John Debney - Horizon: An American Saga, and more
Monday, 2 December 2024
In a special episode of Film Stories, Simon is joined by Kevin Costner and John Debney. Costner is, of course, the star, director and co-writer of Horizon: An American Saga, which he conceived and part-financed. Debney is a composer working on his fourth Kevin Costner-related project. The pair share their stories of making Horizon. The conversation also looks at funding films, a few films from both Kevin Costner and John Debney's back catalogues, and a whole lot more... --- Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/fspn It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back ...
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In conversation with Jared Bush, Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios
Friday, 29 November 2024
In a very special episode of the podcast, the Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios - Oscar-winner Jared Bush - joins Simon for a chat about his work and career. They start off with Moana 2, which is in cinemas now. But the conversation goes right the way back to Jared Bush's time as a script reader for Robert Zemeckis, and then through to the future of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Plus: the sliding doors moment that could have taken Jared Bush's career in a very different direction... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Demolition Man (1993) and Hundreds Of Beavers (2022)
Monday, 25 November 2024
1993 was a banner year for Sylvester Stallone, thanks to two films that gave him quite the comeback. First up was Cliffhanger. Not far behind? That'd be the much-loved Demolition Man. Ahead of its 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray debut, let's take a look at a movie that one of its co-stars loathed making. And also try to work out why its director moved away from feature films straight after. Then there's Hundreds Of Beavers, a 2022 film that for reasons explained, most could only get to see in 2024. It involved a long shoot, lots of beaver costumes, and a fair amount of expertise in Adobe After Affects...
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In conversation with director Vicky Jenson: Spellbound, Shrek, Shark Tale, Post-Grad, director jail
Friday, 22 November 2024
Vicky Jenson's directorial career got off to a hell of a start. As co-director of Shrek, she went to the Cannes Film Festival, she won an Oscar, scored a massive box office hit. Then Shark Tale followed, another hit. Then a live action movie, Post-Grad - but that didn't hit. And she paid a career price. This story gets better though, as Jenson's now made the animated feature Spellbound, which is available on Netflix. And she's chatting to us for this special episode of Film Stories. Hers is quite the story... ---- Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/fspn It’s ...
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Charlie's Angels (2000) and D-Tox (2002)
Monday, 18 November 2024
It was following the success of The Fugitive that Hollywood started plundering (again) the archives of television for its movie ideas. Sony wanted a Charlie's Angels film, and was looking for pitches. Drew Barrymore, then making Never Been Kissed, was interested. The film she'd help steer to the screen though wasn't without behind the scenes incidents, though. Sylvester Stallone was all set to earn $60m for three movies in the mid-1990s meanwhile, he just had to make sure he picked the right projects. He committed to filming D-Tox in the late 1990s. But years after it was finished, it'd b...
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In conversation with Lucy Fisher & Douglas Wick: Gladiator II, Ridley Scott, Stuart Little and more
Friday, 15 November 2024
In a Film Stories podcast special, producers Lucy Fisher and Douglas Wick - the latter an Oscar-winner for the original Gladiator - join Simon to talk about their work. A lot of the chat is taken up with Gladiator II, working with Ridley Scott, and trying to get an epic production off the ground. There is a very odd left turn when Stuart Little comes into the conversation, and a cat's bottom is discussed... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Superman II (1980) and Toys (1992)
Monday, 11 November 2024
Two twisty behind the scenes stories here. Originally, 1980's Superman II was being shot alongside the original Superman, with Richard Donner directing both. But frictions behind the scenes led to an eventual parting of the ways, a retooling of Superman II, and an eventual emergence of a second cut of the film. Toys meanwhile? From the director of Rain Man and starring Robin Williams? It should have been huge, not least because its script had been revered for over a decade. In fact, the film was supposed to have been made nearly a decade before. And when it did eventually happen? The chall...
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In conversation with Jake Kasdan - Red One, Zero Effect, The TV Set and more
Friday, 8 November 2024
The new film from director Jake Kasdan is Red One, now playing in cinemas, and itself a massive, expensive Christmas blockbuster film. On the flip side, he started his directorial career with a microbudget indie by the name of Zero Effect back in 1998. In this special episode of Film Stories, he takes his through his work. He and Simon talk about his blockbuster movies (Jake's, not Simon's), but also the indie film that got lost a little, The TV Set. Plus there's chat about the physical side of filmmaking, and a whole lot more... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Tombstone (1993) and Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
Monday, 4 November 2024
Ah, Tombstone. The 1993 western with a cast led by Kurt Russell, and basically co-starring everyone else who wasn't in the rival project - Wyatt Earp - telling a similar story. But heck, behind the scenes, there were all sorts of problems. Examples? A director who got fired. A release date that couldn't move. A script that needed urgently hacking to hit the production deadline. A star who was rumoured to be ghost directing the movie. Meanwhile, following the success of 1992's The Muppet Christmas Carol, director Brian Henson liked the idea of taking another classic tale and adding The Mup...
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In conversation with Paul Reiser
Friday, 1 November 2024
Paul Reiser first came on my radar, as he did for many, with 1986's Aliens. We touch on that very briefly here, as we chat independent film, The Problem With People, a bit of Diner, and the challenges of getting films made. Plus! Colm Meaney going to the wrong bar, a date set for 19 years into the future, and a whole lot more... The Problem With People is in UK cinemas from 8th November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Passengers (2016) and Flashdance (1983)
Monday, 28 October 2024
When the script for Passengers turned up on the famous Hollywood black list of the best unproduced screenplays, it seemed it'd be just a matter of time before it got made. Keanu Reeves and Reece Witherspoon were attached, a director was in place - what could go wrong? Well, a few things. And when the movie did get made? More problems weren't far behind. The 1983 hit Flashdance meanwhile launched numerous careers - but also had its fair share of behind the scenes dramas. That, and some Hollywood executives watching a hosepipe... Stories of both are told in this episode.... Get NordVPN ...
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Kick-Ass (2010) and Payback (1999)
Monday, 21 October 2024
None of the Hollywood studios wanted to make 2010's Kick-Ass, a comic book movie with an R-rated edge. All of them turned it down, and so the film came to life in tandem with the comics, exploding into cinemas in 2010. It would be fair to say that not everyone in the media was pleased about it, as quite a backlash bubbled up. There were problems with 1999's Payback too, but they came down to a different of opinion between star Mel Gibson and writer/director Brian Helgeland. It got to a point where just days after Helgeland won an Oscar for L.A. Confidential, he was, er, 'removed' from Payb...
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In conversation with Chris Sanders | The Wild Robot, Lilo & Stitch, Gene Kelly and more
Friday, 18 October 2024
In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by Oscar-nominee Chris Sanders, for a conversation and his latest film and career. The latest film? The Wild Robot, a box office smash and a break in style for DreamWorks Animation. It's now in UK cinemas and we go through the journey of the movie. Plus! Gene Kelly pops up in conversation, as does Lilo & Stitch and a few other moments from Chris' career... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Terrifier (2016) and Longlegs (2024)
Monday, 14 October 2024
The Terrifier movie franchise has now led to a number one box office hit - but the story behind the first film involves short films, a crowdfunding campaign that missed its target, a shoot that went on longer than originally planned and financiers dropping out. And then there was the battle to get the film noticed in the first place. Plus, how a tiny team gave the impression of a crew of 100. Writer/direcotr Osgood Perkins meanwhile had been mulling about a possibe character who would become Longlegs long before he embarked on an unusual serial killer film. Made on a budget of around $10m,...
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Star Trek Beyond (2016) and Quentin Tarantino's Star Trek (unmade)
Monday, 7 October 2024
2016 marked the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, and not unreasonably, Paramount Pictures wanted a movie. But far from being a straightforward production, Star Trek Beyond would go through different directors, and eventually find itself without a script just months ahead of filming. It made for a tense situation, and that's explored in this episode. Also explored: the moment when Quentin Tarantino was suddenly announced as the potential writer/director of a new Star Trek movie. It involved a writers' room coming together, a move into R-rated territory - and Tarantino deciding whether he want...
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Rain Man (1988) and Michael Flatley's Blackbird (2022)
Monday, 30 September 2024
The film Rain Man became a huge box office hit at the end if 1988, and an Oscar-winner in 1989. Yet here was a movie that went through the hands of at least three directors who didn't make it, including Steven Spielberg, who was attached for nearly half a year. But Barry Levinson did make the film - and he was able to take advantage of a situation that gave him a surprising amount of control. Michael Flatley meanwhile had seemingly total control over his passion project, Blackbird. He wrote, directed, produced and starred in the movie, which debuted in 2018 - but then seemed to disappear....
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Outbreak (1995) and Predestination (2014)
Monday, 23 September 2024
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 wo...
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In conversation with director James Watkins: Speak No Evil, Eden Lake and more
Wednesday, 18 September 2024
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
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American Gangster (2007) and Piranha II: The Spawning (1982)
Monday, 16 September 2024
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...
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In conversation with director Anand Tucker
Friday, 13 September 2024
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
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The Flash (2023) and 24: The Movie (unmade so far)
Monday, 9 September 2024
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 projec...
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In conversation with producer Tommy Harper: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Mission: Impossible, Star Trek, Star Wars, Showgirls and more
Friday, 6 September 2024
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
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The Avengers (1998) and Step Brothers (2008)
Monday, 26 August 2024
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 Fo...
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