Film Stories with Simon Brew

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, an action film that took time to find its audience, and a Formula 1 movie made as a British independent film. Road House (1989) saw Patrick Swayze battling with a knee that had to be regularly drained, and also saw producer Joel Silver on the hunt for a Die Hard-size hit. Plus: the most expensive scene in this action favourite didn't involve any fig...

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two hugely acclaimed and much-loved movies, that each had their challenges. When writer/director Michael Mann first happened upon the story that would become Heat, he wasn't in a position to turn it into a major feature film. But he clearly had some unfinished business with the material. Alexander Payne had planned to make Sideways after his success...

For a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Marc Forster for a conversation. They chat about Forster's latest movie, A Man Called Otto, a film that seemed to come together really quickly, but actually has been percolating for some time. They also chat about Forster's decision in his teens to up sticks to America. And there's time too for a story from the making o...

For the final episode of Film Stories in 2022, something a bit special: a welcome back to director Phil Alden Robinson, who joins Simon to tell the story of 2002's Tom Clancy adaptation, The Sum Of All Fears. They talk about how Robinson came to the project, and the challenge when they ended up having to use locations booked for an entirely different film. Plus, dealing with Tom Clancy, the possib...

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films from top notch filmmakers take centre stage. 1992's The Last Of The Mohicans, from Michael Mann, wasn't the easiest of productions. From personnel leaving and the threat of strike action, to the months of required training and the difficulty landing the score, it proved quite the challenge. The Coen Brothers' O Brother Where Are Thou? was...

In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by writer and director Ol Parker, with the pair chatting about his latest film, Ticket To Paradise. They look at how the film came together, and the challenges of making a film led by two major movie stars. Parker also candidly discusses the response to the movie, and the less than stellar critical response to it. He also talks abou...

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a dash of the festive spirit as two Christmas-set movies take centre stage. The first Lethal Weapon movie came together in just a few years, sparked by then-twentysomething Shane Black's script. The project was offered to Leonard Nimoy to look at before Richard Donner signed on the dotted line to direct - and it remains a casting masterclass too. Ji...

In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by Oscar-winning film composer Michael Giacchino. Michael's in the awards running again for his score to The Batman, and that's one of the subjects they talk about (the film is widely available now). They also chat about getting started, about juggling multiple projects, making sure you finish work on time, and general nerdy stuff....

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a much-loved box office disappointment, and a film that burned through a lot of directors The late, great Jim Henson earned a success with The Dark Crystal, but he knew he wanted his next film to be a bit lighter, and to have human characters in it too. 25 drafts of the script and story later, Labyrinth went before the cameras - but with a lot of ch...

In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Matthew Warchus and screenwriter Dennis Kelly, with the focus primarily being 2022's Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical. In their conversation, they talk about taking the hugely success musical from stage to screen, and how brutal they had to be as they did so. They chat too the many, many drafts of the script, the songs t...

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films from the 1990s that attracted awards attention - one with less controversy than the other. After the way his first film was treated, writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson was adamant things would be different with his second. But who would give a twentysomething filmmaker $15m and creative control for a film on the surface about making adul...

In a special episode of Film Stories, Simon chats to Oscar-winning Disney producer Roy Conli, in part about the new animated film, Strange World. Their chat takes them back to Roy's theatrical origins but also the teacher who pushed him to read. On top of that though, they get into the Oscar bet that Roy didn't deliver on, the new bet that hopefully he will, and the ongoing challenge of making fea...

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of 1990s summer blockbusters - one of which proved more problematic than the other. Come 1990 and there were three competing Robin Hood projects on the way from Hollywood. But it was 1991's Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves that won the race to the screen. It'd be fair to say it was not an easy journey to get there. Off the back of making GoldenE...

In a special episode of Film Stories, Simon chats to writer/director James Gray. The pair met around the time of the release of his film Armageddon Time, and they chat about the complexities of getting such a movie through the studio system. It's a really candid chat this, as Gray explores opening up his family life for a film, and his feelings on the current state of cinema. Plus, isn't it about...

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that hardy set the box office alight - although the fallout from one was a lot, lot louder than the other! Ed Wood was a movie Tim Burton decided to make when he walked away from a higher profile project. However, the studio paying for the movie panicked a month before production and tried to box Burton into a deal. He wasn't playing ball,...

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a sequel that was a beast to make, and a British book adaptation that Tom Hanks sort-of-unlocked. Aliens remains the template for how to make an excellent sequel - but heck, was it beset by problems. Not least that writer/director James Cameron and the crew at Pinewood Studios making the film were not exactly on each other's Christmas card lists. St...

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two hit films come under the microscope - but one of them nearly fell apart days before filming was due to begin. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would become for a long time the most successful independent film of all time in terms of box office returns. Yet none of the major studio would commit to the film, and it'd take a late deal to save the movie...

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two very successful films - one of which nearly lost the confidence of its parent studio The tale behind Hidden Figures had seemingly been all but lost to history. That was until one writer went digging, and then a producer won a bidding war for movie rights in which barely anyone else was interested. A late release date change also would prove insp...

Paul Feig is a busy man. He's got a new film (The School For Good And Evil) and a new cocktail book too. But he squeezed some time into his schedule for a special podcast recording, where he chats to Simon about his directorial career. Recorded in front of a live audience in London, the pair chat about Paul Feig's early stand-up and acting work, the films that landed him in movie jail, and then th...

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of films that faced their challenges, but one came out of it all better than the other. A third Blade film was announced even before Blade II had arrived in cinemas. David S Goyer took on the director's chair, but to say the production had a few problems would be quite the understatement. Gulp. Things were a little smoother with 1992's Candym...

After building a strong career as an actor over the past few decades, Frances O'Connor has now taken the jump into feature writing and directing. In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, she chats to Simon about why she's decided to take the plunge now, and what was it that unlocked her film, Emily. She takes us into the writing process of the film, the battle to get funding, and making t...

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that hit much bigger than expected - each of which changed a lot in post-production. Horror hit Paranormal Activity actually first debuted on screen in 2007. But it'd be two years before it got a full wide release in cinemas, and by then the ending would have undergone changes (and a planned remake abandoned). 20th Century Fox was having d...

Decade after decade, director Stephen Frears has maintained an enviable output of movies and TV shows, and his latest film - The Lost King - is now playing in UK cinemas. He joins Simon for a podcast special, where they chat about his work, from breaking through with My Beautiful Laundrette, to the ultra-fast turnaround of Dangerous Liaisons. They also talk about the perils of making studio films...

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of films released within a few months of each other, that had one or two things in common. The Silence Of The Lambs was originally earmarked by Gene Hackman for his directorial debut, and a deal was struck for the book rights. But the story's violence was putting people off, and there was a bit of a rights hurdle that had to be negotiated too...

Recorded before a live audience in London in September 2022, this very special episode of Film Stories sees Simon in conversation with writer and director Gurinder Chadha OBE. They chat about her early days, how she broke into movies with I'm British But... and the wonderful Bhaji On The Beach. And then she takes us through tales of films such as Bend It Like Beckham, Angus Thongs & Perfect Snoggi...