In conversation with Chris Columbus: The Thursday Murder Club, Nine Months, Maiden Voyage, The Beatles and more
Returning to the Film Stories podcast is writer/director/producer Chris Columbus, as his new movie - The Thursday Murder Club - arrives in cinemas, with Netflix release due at the end of August 2025.
He talks Simon through the movie, and where it was when he came to it. They also chat about Hugh Grant's hair in Nine Months, films he's produced such as Didi and Patti Cake$, and we get a bit of a guided tour of his office, too...
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
50:43
--------
50:43
Cruel Intentions (1999), plus Akiva Schafer
Writer/director Roger Kumble had never made a film as he approached the back end of the 1999s, but had two very acclaimed plays under his belt. This, he figures, was his moment, and in under two weeks, he wrote the first draft of what would become Cruel Intentions. And while the project would soon pick up momentum, it still required him to get on his knees and basically beg one of his lead stars to appear in the movie.
The second half of this episode is then a chat with filmmaker Akiva Schafer, about the new The Naked Gun movie. He talks tiny details, finding jokes, and the movie's very, very long credits list...
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
59:03
--------
59:03
In conversation with Mikael Salomon - The Abyss, Hard Rain, Backdraft, Arachnophobia, and a whole lot more
In a very special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon chats to cinematographer and director Mikael Salomon.
The pair go through Mikael's extraordinary career, that's taken him from Denmark to Hollywood and back again. And Mikael tells his stories: his early years, how he came to the attention of James Cameron, working on The Abyss, Arachnophobia, Always and more, and then turning to direct (not least with the challenging Hard Rain.)
It's a clickbait-free, AI-free conversation, with a filmmaker telling their stories. Please do subscribe and spread the word if you like it!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
1:21:42
--------
1:21:42
In conversation with director Matt Shakman: The Fantastic Four, Dick Tracy, Gremlins 2, writing career-changing letters
In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Matt Shakman. They were chatting at the junket for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which is now in cinemas. But this conversation went in lots of different directions.
For your eardrums here, we go into Dick Tracy, Gremlins 2, the Star Trek film that never was, and the career-changing letter he wrote when he was young. Quite the chat this, with a movie junket question that struck gold...
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
47:05
--------
47:05
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach (1988)
The very future of the James Bond movie franchise was resting on The Spy Who Loved Me. Producer Albert R Broccoli was contending with the dissolution of his business partnership, a potential rival film, and an underperforming previous 007 film. Plus, questions about his leading man.
And it was a leading man causing conversations when it came to Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach. Where was Steve Guttenberg? Come to think of it, where was Bobcat Goldthwait? And could the enduring franchise survive?
The behind the scenes stories of both movies are told in this episode. Please note this is the last regular episode of Film Stories for a few weeks, while I take some summer downtime. Specials will follow...!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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!
UK