Hollywood Gold

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Director Steven Shainberg recalls the making of 2002's SECRETARY, a daring film that centers around a BDSM relationship between a lawyer and his new secretary. Inspired by the great filmmakers Jane Campion and Mike Lee, Steven decided to turn his short film into a feature, but knew it would be a challenge to get it made. Many of the executives and financiers who read the script were scared to take on such risky material, but Steven was persistent and secured independent financing. They went out to nearly every young female star of the day, but everyone passed. And then Maggie Gyllenhaal auditioned and he knew she was the one. As Steven explains on the podcast, the film is about so much more than the taboo relationship between boss and employee. It's about two people finding freedom and happiness in each other and honoring their true selves. 

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For the first time on the podcast, host Daniela Taplin Lundberg talks to her right-hand woman Becca Cammarata to discuss their own trials and tribulations when producing the historical biopic HARRIET. From the stress of pivoting from a indie film to convincing a studio to come on board to taking a risk on casting relatively unknown Cynthia Erivo, the two share spiritual stories from a muddy set with the goal of showcasitng how Harriet Tubman was a real life superhero. Previous guest and legendary producer Debra Martin Chase is the real hero of this story, having been with the project for years and never wavering on her belief that the world had to be ready before this movie could be made.

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S.E. Hinton's classic book The Outsiders has influenced an entire generation of young people, and has inspired artists to create various adaptations. The most well-known of these is Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 film starring Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas Howell, and Diane Lane. In this episode, producer Fred Roos recounts the story of how Coppola's intense and unique casting process allowed him to discover the perfect cast.

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Producer Kevin McCormick recalls the making of 1977's generation-defining SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER. Based on a New York Magazine article about working class Italian Americans in Bay Ridge who let off steam by dancing at the local disco, the film became iconic for its bestselling soundtrack, courtesy of the BeeGees, and its incredible dance scenes. It also made a young John Travolta a bonafide movie star for his performance - a turn that was as dark as it was fun, and laid the groundwork for his star turn in Grease. The journey to the screen was filled with drama, like when the original director was fired on the same day he found out he was nominated for an Oscar or production had to shut down to avoid Travolta's hordes of fans, but the film cemented its place in film history when Travolta was nominated for an Oscar. 

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Producer Bryan Unkeless recounts the making of 2017's smash I, TONYA. The script, floating around the industry as a spec, was about the incredible life and rise to fame of professional skater Tonya Harding, focusing on the events surrounding the attack on Nancy Kerrigan at the 1994 National Figure Skating Championships. Bryan knew it could be something special if he assembled the right team. Margot and Tom were the first pieces of the puzzle to fall into place and once Director Craig Gillespie came on board, it was full steam ahead. Margot was a true partner, participating in pitches to secure financing and spending months training and learning to skate the full routines. All the risks taken paid off when the film wowed audiences and was nominated for three Oscars.

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Producer Todd Lieberman joins Hollywood Gold to discuss 2009’s romantic comedy classic THE PROPOSAL. Having been a huge fan of romcoms and an admirer of Sandra Bullock’s versatility as an actor, the prospect of Bullock returning to the genre was incredibly exciting to Todd. A match made in comedy heaven was made when a young Ryan Reynolds joined the project, and the cast became the stuff of legend once Betty White, who insisted on auditioning, signed on. Although not initially a hit with critics, the film found huge success at the box office and quickly cemented its place in romcom history.

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Daniela, Vanessa and Rachel go over what are sure to be some of the biggest movies of the summer including Furiosa, Inside Out 2, and Kinds of Kindness. What movies will be box office successes? We make our best guesses, and thanks to Kalshi you can get in on the action as well. Place your first bet now by going to Kalshi.com/hollywoodgold

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Producer Cathy Konrad returns to Hollywood Gold to discuss the making of 1999's GIRL, INTERRUPTED. The film's champion from the start was star Winona Ryder, who had read Susanna Kaysen's memoir about her time in a mental institution, and was compelled to translate it to the screen. Not only was the film unique in the female-led team that was leading the charge behind the scenes, it also offered vastly different and more complex roles for actresses. Many of the day's top actresses, including Reese Witherspoon and Alicia Silverstone, lined up to read for the roles, but it was a young Angelina Jolie who blew everyone away and won the role that she would earn an Oscar for.

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Writer/Director/Producer Michael Showalter recounts the journey of this year's romance THE IDEA OF YOU, recently released on Amazon and making waves for its grounded but fantastical portrayal of a 40 year old woman embarking on a whirlwind romance with a 24 year old pop star (Nicholas Galitzine). Showalter was a huge fan of both Anne Hathaway and romcoms, so when the book was presented to him to adapt and direct, he jumped at the opportunity. It was important to him to depict a confident woman who doesn't need to "find herself," but ends up finding love in the most unexpected of places. 

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