Hollywood Unscripted

Director Harry Bradbeer (FLEABAG, KILLING EVE, RAMY) joins host Jenny Curtis to talk about his career, process, and new film ENOLA HOLMES. Through the conversation they discuss: 

0:50 - The nature of the pandemic 

1:19 - Harry’s parents 

1:45 - Finding the arts and connecting to entertainment

3:47 - His first short film

4:44 - Going to America for film school 

6:31 - Writing to John Schlesinger, his love of MIDNIGHT COWBOY, his connection to John, and his experience of meeting and working with him. 

9:41 - What he said in the letter to John and John’s unique way of introducing Harry to people. 

11:29 - Getting involved with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, identifying with FLEABAG, and working as a team to shape the story. 

15:05 - The style of the balance and collaboration between Harry and Phoebe. 

17:53 - Developing the tool of breaking the fourth wall and how the second series took it further. 

20:11 - How they found the inspiration for the story of the second series. 

21:09 - Why it isn’t hard to let go of the show now that it has ended. 

24:00 - When FLEABAG may reappear. 

24:19 - Why he says series instead of season. 

24:31 - How he came on board for KILLING EVE and how he connected to the script. 

27:33 - How directing a pilot is a bigger responsibility than directing subsequent episodes in a show. 

28:29 - Getting into the world of RAMY. 

30:24 - Being drawn in by the ENOLA HOLMES script

31:40 - The challenges of fight sequences and how they found a way to keep telling the story through the fights in ENOLA HOLMES. 

33:18 - Breaking of the fourth wall in ENOLA HOLMES and what originally made Harry nervous about it. 

35:20 - Enola’s line of “our future is up to us” and the other powerful messages for audiences. 

36:12 - Working in period pieces. 

37:44 - Working with Millie Bobby Brown and developing the role of Enola. 

40:16 - The challenges Millie faced in leading the cast, but how she stepped up to the challenge.

41:11 - Discussing the transitional “pop-up” animations. 

43:26 - A specific scene that Harry loved shooting and building the world of London. 

46:32 - A scene that got cut from the film and why keeping a tight cut is important. 

47:30 - Having a life in storytelling. 

Learn More: Hollywood Unscripted

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Produced and Hosted by: Jenny Curtis

Co-Produced and Edited by: J Whiting

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music By: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actress Noomi Rapace (THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO) joins Host Jenny Curtis on Hollywood Unscripted in a passionate conversation about her career, characters and upcoming film, THE SECRETS WE KEEP. Through the conversation they discuss: 

0:51 - Traveling through summer and quarantining in London

2:38 - How THE SECRETS WE KEEP came to be and finding Yuval Adler. 

4:25 - Being able to see her film differently as a producer. 

5:31 - Finding how she was able to juggle the producer and actor role. 

7:09 - Being affected by the character of Maya. 

8:16 - Holding her characters close and getting lost in them. 

12:04 - Playing against herself when playing seven sisters in WHAT HAPPENED TO MONDAY. 

15:48 - Acting being about connection and the fear that sometimes goes along with it. 

18:03 - Her first part in a film at 7 years old instilling her with her dream of acting. 

19:18 - Leaving home at 15 to go to acting school and finding herself in a whole new world. 

22:24 - Finding freedom in art. 

24:27 - Playing the villain in BRIGHT. 

25:00 - Getting into character in THE DROP and her input on the story. 

27:45 - Going to bat for her characters

30:37 - Getting Chris Messina on board for THE SECRETS WE KEEP

31:55 - Amy Seimetz bringing collaboration to the project. 

33:06 - The challenges Noomi faced on set with THE SECRETS WE KEEP. 

36:50 - How she takes care of herself when she’s working on the intense roles she takes on. 

38:16 - Doing her own stunts. 

40:38 - Noomi’s take on a life in storytelling. 

Learn More: Hollywood Unscripted

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Hosted and Produced by: Jenny Curtis

Co-Producer and Editor: J Whiting

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music By: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Showrunner Jason Katims (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, PARENTHOOD, ROSWELL) joins host Jenny Curtis to talk about his new Netflix series AWAY, his upcoming Amazon series, ON THE SPECTRUM, and the incredible lessons he’s learned through his career. Throughout the conversation they discuss: 

TIMESTAMPS:

0:44 How AWAY came to be

2:04 Andrew Hinderaker’s involvement and creating a “real” sci-fi

4:49 What Jason is most proud of in AWAY

6:50 Gravitating to stories focused on youth

7:41 Bringing in a team that includes people Jason worked with throughout his career. 

13:09 Continuing to learn on every project

15:26 The intensive wirework and training. 

17:46 Connecting to the isolation in the story in a different way in quarantine. 

20:41 The length of the mission potentially correlating with the length of the show, and the evolving nature of streaming shows. 

23:22 ON THE SPECTRUM, Jason’s most recent show to have been green-lit

27:35 Why Jason wanted to do ON THE SPECTRUM and the nature of making a deeply personal project. 

31:19 How he finds a connection to source material. 

33:13 What Ron Howard liked about Jason’s pitch for PARENTHOOD

34:26 What it means to make work that deeply affects his audience. 

36:30 What Jason hopes the audience gets from AWAY. 

Learn More: Hollywood Unscripted

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Hosted and Produced by: Jenny Curtis

Co-Producer and Editor: J Whiting

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Showrunner Liz Tigelaar joins host Jenny Curtis to talk about her illustrious career in television, from beginning as an intern on a hit show to creating LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE. Throughout the conversation they discuss: 

• 0:38 - LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE being nominated for five Emmy awards. 
• 1:07 - Adventuring in quarantine. 
• 2:00 - Beginning her career in the industry on DAWSON’S CREEK. 
• 3:30 - Her first writing partner, Holly Henderson, and the value of starting out with a partner.
• 7:05 - The steps of the ladder of writers and producers and her path up the ladder on AMERICAN DREAMS.
• 8:41 - Her experiences from show to show as her titles changed. 
• 10:31 - Her first experience as a showrunner on LIFE UNEXPECTED.
• 12:10 - Being on the CW with MELROSE PLACE before LIFE UNEXPECTED
• 12:50 - Unintentionally putting herself in the story of her show. 
• 13:43 - Being in an overall deal with ABC
• 14:42 - Her takeaway from working on various shows and why she wasn’t the best fit for ONCE UPON A TIME. 
• 16:13 - Working as a team on CASUAL
• 17:52 - The difference she found between streaming and network shows. 
• 19:33 - Having LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE come to her from Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington
• 20:22 - Finding the show from what the book provided. 
• 22:05 - How she linked the themes and found her story arc. 
• 22:40 - The continuous process of finding your voice in your work
• 24:18 - The opening and closing moments of the show and how she put a twist in the show that was slightly different from 
• 25:50 - The complexities of the character of Elena and exploring the levels of her prejudice and privilege. 
• 28:20 - The collaboration between Liz, Reese and Kerry in bringing Elena and Mia to life. 
• 29:28 - The power of Mia being unapologetic. 
• 31:11 - The actors working to create Young Mia and Young Elena. 
• 32:18 - The famous photo differing from the actress who plays Young Mia. 
• 33:58 - Creating the photo that could believably be an extremely valuable work of art
• 36:05 - The adoption storyline and the conversations on what the right ruling would be in the court case. 
• 38:06 - The differing view on Pearl and Mia’s definition of belonging and the conversations of motherhood in the writers room.
• 39:45 - The scene in the show that Liz is proudest of. 
• 41:30 - The day on set Liz would live over and over if she could. 
• 42:40 - The set hawk
• 43:33 - Getting to create a life in storytelling. 

   

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  Hosted and Produced by: Jenny Curtis

  Edited and Co-produced by: J Whiting

  Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

  Theme Music by: Celleste & Eric Dick

  A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Showrunner Tony McNamara joins host Jenny Curtis to talk about his career, his life in storytelling and his Emmy-nominated Hulu hit, THE GREAT. Throughout the conversation, they discuss: 

0:36 - Tony’s experience in quarantine in Australia. 

1:30 - His beginnings in finance and finding his path to writing

3:03 - His first play, which was produced by the Sydney Theatre Company. 

4:00 - His experience with film school. 

5:30 - Returning to work with STC. 

6:11 - His play, THE GREAT, and writing for Robyn Nevin. 

7:24 - Turning the play into a screenplay, which landed in the hands of Yorgos Lanthimos

7:45 - Coming on board THE FAVORITE to work on the screenplay and working off a script originally by Deborah Davis

9:09 - Knowing casting THE GREAT would be difficult, and finding his Peter in Nicholas Hoult.

10:26 - Elle Fanning’s involvement as lead actress and EP

12:20 - Finding an ensemble with the necessary comedic and dramatic skills. 

13:14 - Communicating style to the writers room and staffing the room with specific skills. 

14:22 - The interesting historical facts they found (including the pregnancy test used in the show)

15:28 - Finding the humor through his characters. 

16:36 - The casual violence in the show. 

16:47 - Elle’s nerves about her comedic experience. 

17:45 - The tool of sex throughout the story. 

20:18 - Tony’s favorite aspect of these characters. 

21:07 - The big job of the Production designer. 

21:50 - The first and last days of production on THE GREAT. 

24:13 - Getting picked up for season 2

25:25 - Handwriting the first draft. 

26:23 - Tony’s perspective on a life in storytelling. 

Learn More: Hollywood Unscripted

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Hosted and Produced by: Jenny Curtis

Edited and Co-produced by: J Whiting

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music by: Celleste & Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

O-T Fagbenle joins Jenny Curtis on Hollywood Unscripted to talk about THE HANDMAID’S TALE, being a new part of the marvel universe in BLACK WIDOW, and his new Hulu show MAXXX. Through the conversation they discuss: 

1:02 - creating MAXXX

2:09 - working with Second City improvisers when developing the show. 

4:23 - a hiccup in starting production and changes that C4 wanted changes

6:21 - bringing on more weight to the production team

7:31 - reflections of O-T in the character of Maxxx. 

8:16 - exploring the cultural phenomenon of social media in the show. 

9:20 - O-T seeing himself in his characters and leaning into different parts of himself. 

10:23 - really embodying the character

11:18 - working with his brother Luti and the gift of working with family. 

12:13 - Getting Christopher Meloni involved

13:16 - The struggle of working on a passion project and the blessing of hiring a diverse crew. 

14:45 - Finding believable extras for the party scene by casting from a real fetish community. 

15:44 - The two opposing songs in MAXXX. 

17:16 - learning to play drums, guitar and bass specifically for the show. 

18:05 - loving to play in the cringe-worthy moments and the British tradition of that style of comedy. 

18:57 - getting Jourdan Dunn on the show and expanding her role. 

20:40 - the development of the character of Tamzin and the talent of Pippa Bennet-Warner.

22:19 - Maxxx’s adopted son and the dynamic of the non-binary love affair. 

26:40 - The joy of experiencing Luke’s pain in THE HANDMAID’S TALE

27:45 - The crew of THE HANDMAID’S TALE helping O-T prepare for MAXXX. 

28:24 - The best advice showrunner Bruce Miller had for writing. 

29:18 - The funeral scene in MAXXX being the seed of the idea for his character. 

29:50 - Joining the Marvel Universe with BLACK WIDOW and the surreal path his career has taken. 

32:07 - Almost passing on the audition for BLACK WIDOW and his story of booking the role. 

35:47 - Trying to not care about accolades and focusing on what’s important. 

36:44 - His charity, ABC foundation (find more at www.abcfoundation.me)

38:24 - Choosing theater or film, the relationship with the audience, and the style of writing in theater. 

40:15 - Loving the language of Shakespeare and Jenny’s favorite Shakespearean insult. 

41:21 - Final thoughts on MAXXX and finding peace. 

Find more about O-T's charity ABC Foundation: https://www.abcfoundation.me 

Learn more: Hollywood Unscripted

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Hosted by: Jenny Curtis

Guest: O-T Fagbenle

Produced and Edited by: Jenny Curtis

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Director Catherine Hardwicke joins host, Jenny Curtis, and guest co-host, Dana Gourrier in a virtual sit-down on HOLLYWOOD UNSCRIPTED. Throughout the conversation they discuss:

0:50 - How Catherine has spent her time during Quarantine. 

1:28 - Catherine’s beginning as an architect and the advice on creativity from her professors. 

2:32 - Why animation was not the right path for her. 

3:20 - The fun of designing TANK GIRL

3:55 - Learning to direct not only from classes, but from working with big directors in production. 

5:06 - Being confident in the work through massive preparation. 

6:00 - Catherine’s memory of Dana’s knockout audition for DON’T LOOK DEEPER. As well as Dana’s memory of her audition experience with Catherine. 

7:20 - What Catherine looks for in auditions and how she creates an atmosphere of play in the audition room. 

9:30 - The process of creating THIRTEEN with Nikki Reed, based on Nikki’s real-life experiences as a form of therapy. 

11:39 - Evan Rachel Wood’s quote of needing to be sexual and not sexual as a teenager and how Catherine kept the young women safe and comfortable on set. 

14:15 - Once Catherine moved to directing, she was ready to leave production design behind. 

14:43 - LORDS OF DOGTOWN and how it was the male coming-of-age story version of THIRTEEN

16:08 - Nikki Reed’s character in LORDS OF DOGTOWN

16:37 - Catherine’s love of working with young actors, but also her work with established performers. 

17:07 - Jenny’s favorite scene with Heath Ledger and Catherine’s experience working with him and witnessing his process. 

18:52 - TWILIGHT and the surprising blockbuster success. 

20:07 - Male directors being hired for YA blockbusters after Catherine’s success with TWILIGHT. 

21:31 - Catherine’s approach to seeking work. 

22:13 - Catherine’s love of action and how she applies that to her films. 

23:55 - How Catherine’s approach to storytelling begins with relating to the characters and how the visuals come naturally to her. 

24:41 - The action sequences in MISS BALA and working with the actors, Gina Rodriguez and Ismael Cruz Cordova. 

24:40 - DON’T LOOK DEEPER and Catherine’s interest in getting involved. 

28:26 - The difference in working in short form content. 

29:03 - Jenny and Dana’s connection to CalArts and Don Cheadle’s addition to DON’T LOOK DEEPER

29:39 - Having to direct both for vertical and horizontal mode for Quibi. 

31:05 - Finding and working with Helena Howard
32:17 - Finding a character through costume and Dana’s distinct necklace for her character in DON’T LOOK DEEPER. 

33:38 - The leap of faith in hiring Helena as the lead of the show and the work before the shoot. 

34:41 - The different genres Catherine has worked in and how she doesn’t define the divisions between them. 

35:54 - Finding ways to put personal passions in her screenplays and how TWILIGHT had a bigger affect on the audience because of it. 

37:35 - The architecture featured in DON’T LOOK DEEPER. 

38:12 - Looking back on THIRTEEN and not having anything Catherine would change. 

38:59 - The creative relationship with cinematographer Elliot Davis. 

39:55 - The delight and privilege of a career in storytelling. 

Learn more: Hollywood Unscripted

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Hosted by: Jenny Curtis

Guest Host: Dana Gourrier

Producer: Jenny Curtis

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music by: Celleste & Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Filmmaker Oge Egbuonu joins Jenny Curtis on Hollywood Unscripted to talk about her powerful directorial debut, (IN)VISIBLE PORTRAITS. Through the conversation they discuss: 

TIMESTAMPS:

• 0:36 - The experience of the week after releasing the film 
• 1:06 - Meeting EP Michael Meyer and how the film came to be. 
• 3:15 - Why Oge hadn’t thought about being a director
• 3:48 - Creating the structure and flow of the film. 
• 7:27 - The artist Victoria Cassinova and the process of her involvement in the film. 
• 9:01 - The poet Jazmine Williams and the process of her involvement in the film. 
• 10:21 - The composer Jamey Heath and his process of creating the score. 
• 11:23 - The research phase of this project and the revelatory things she learned. 
• 13:32 - Dr. Joy Degruy’s introduction
• 13:54 - How Oge found and got to know the subjects in the film, from the scholars to everyday women and girls. 
• 15:38 - How she created an environment that allowed for true vulnerability and insisting upon an all-female crew. 
• 17:13 - The subjects of the film and the story of Helen Jones. 
• 20:55 - Having a variety of generations, careers and lifestyles in the film and remaining open to the process. 
• 21:51 - Moving the release date from fall to Juneteenth. 
• 23:47 - Facing rejection in the search of distribution and redirecting the approach. 
• 24:31 - The personal effect that the research had on Oge and how she was able to take care of her mental health in the process. 
• 26:36 - The choice of using parenthesis in the title, (In)Visible Portraits. 
• 27:48 - Oge feeling invisible as a child, and finding herself feeling seen now. 
• 29:29 - What she hopes to see happen in the next 20 years and the goal to have this film included in school curriculum. 
• 31:09 - Realizing after picture-lock that the film was something special. 
• 32:34 - Sitting with the film before being able to talk about it. 
• 34:19 - Oge’s gratitude for the support she’s received 

Learn More: Hollywood Unscripted

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Hosted by: Jenny Curtis

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Producer & Editor: Jenny Curtis

Theme Music by: Celleste & Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bruce Miller, showrunner of THE HANDMAID’S TALE joins Jenny Curtis in a “Stuck at Home” special of Hollywood Unscripted to discuss the show, his career, and the nature of the industry. Through the conversation they discuss: 

0:37 - Bruce’s experience during quarantine. 

1:10 - His early connection to the industry through his Dad, when he realized he was a writer and his first screenplay. 

3:03 - His path before success, getting fired several times and when he did and did not think about quitting. 

5:09 - Being drawn to stories about strong women, the strong women in his life, and being guided in how to properly tell those stories. 

6:26 - A time when the women thoroughly dissected an idea before it making it into the show. 

7:32 - The atmosphere of the writers room (and set) contrasting with the heaviness of the show. 

9:11 - How THE HANDMAID’S TALE series came to be, how Bruce got involved, and how long he’d been thinking about the project. 

11:24 - Meeting Margaret Atwood and working with her to make sure THE HANDMAID’S TALE series and the book THE TESTAMENTS fit together. 

15:17 - Navigating the characters survival in the danger set in the world of Gilead. 

17:13 - Elizabeth Moss; the effect she’s had on the character of June, her professionalism, and being an EP. 

19:05 - Creating a slower pace for the story and June/Offred’s internal conflict. 

22:09 - June’s mental state in season 3, favorite moments from the season and how pieces of dialogue can be very effective. 

23:07 - The character of Emily and the subtlety of Alexis Bledel. 

24:37 - The possible influence of society on the story and not inventing cruelties. 

26:27 - The absence of people of color in the book and why Bruce decided against using that story point in the show. 

28:49 - Creating the look of the show and how all departments work together in the development of it. 

30:20 - The purposeful detail in the art design and not explaining decisions to the audience. 

33:10 - Bradley Whitford coming on the show and the development of his character,  Commander Lawrence. 

34:43 - The character of Nick and Jenny’s misunderstanding of his story. 

36:36 - Taking the mystery out of an anticipated confrontation scene. 

37:32 - The status of season 4 and how quarantine has changed the writing process for the better. 

38:23 - The difficulty in scheduling and the benefit to having table reads. 

40:24 - Sharing some insights into the coming season

42:12 - Two things in Bruce’s past that he would revisit to change and the part of the industry that shouldn’t be indulged. 

44:55 - The job of a showrunner.  

Learn more: Hollywood Unscripted

Hosted By: Jenny Curtis

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Producer: Jenny Curtis

Theme Music By: Celleste & Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

Follow Us: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer and producer Mark Bomback (Live Free or Die Hard, Wolverine, War for the Planet of the Apes) joins host Jenny Curtis with special co-host Dana Gourrier for a Hollywood Unscripted ‘Stuck at Home Special’ to discuss his illustrious career as a screenwriter and his first time as a showrunner with Apple TV plus series Defending Jacob.

Jenny, Dana and Mark discuss how being at home during quarantine has affected and influenced them as artists. (1:00) Mark shares his experiences in Westchester, NY – as it was a Coronavirus epicenter – and how life is becoming ‘the new normal’. (3:15) They share experiences on how you have to include these new experiences and current events when shows go back into production and how you tackle these new challenges to stay relevant.

They move on to discuss Mark’s newest endeavor: being showrunner for Defending Jacob (4:37). Mark shares what brought him to the project, how ‘It’s not the kind of movie we make anymore - it’s more in the train of television.’  And how reading the book drew him in and made him want to work on it. (6:13) Mark expands on this sharing how he develops a screenplay from a book, and how he makes the changes and how when you retell the story in the most cinematic way possible , it sometimes results in changes to really experience the story and characters.

Dana asks Mark who his biggest influences are (9:36) and Mark explains why he’s been influenced by these people and what he believe the role of the writer is.

Mark explains his experiences and change when you become the showrunner (from the writer) writer and the challenge of being both roles at the same time. From casting to crew, you’re involved in every decision(13:20), the evolution of the show from the beginning of being hired to creating the cast, including how Chris Evans became part of the project (15:55).

The conversation goes back to Defending Jacob (20:00) as the hosts ask Mark if he believes - Jacob did it?

Mark shares his experiences of how he started in the film world (25:00), including his first job and how his perseverance and determination – along with taking a few free jobs, and making the right connections – kept him working and his experiences working on a multitude of projects helped him truly develop his skills. He explains that on Live Free or Die Hard it helped develop relationships for a long-lasting career.

Jenny asks mark about part of his job as a writer – doing rewrites (34:47) - and what it’s like not being recognized for a lot of his work. Mark answers with what he loves about those jobs and the most important job of the screenwriter - how you make everyone happy, the joy in rewriting versus your own ideas (39:33), and the privilege of objectivity.

Before ending, they discuss a shared connection between host Dana and Mark (43:00), having both worked The United States vs Billie Holiday. Mark explains how he evolved to Executive Producer role on this film and bringing on Suzan-Lori Parks.

They wrap the show with Mark sharing his favorite memories from the production of Defending Jacob (47:03).

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Producer: Jenny Curtis

Music By: Celleste & Eric Dick

Learn More: Hollywood Unscripted

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Produced and Hosted by: Jenny Curtis

Co-Hosted by: Dana Gourrier

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music by: Celleste & Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.