You Never Forget Your First

Halloween might be over but the (genuinely) scary stories that Benas brings from Lithuania are just beginning. So although we might be late to the pumpkin carving,  the goods are still here as we tackle Robin Hardys landmark horror movie The Wicker Man (1973). Serving as the inspiration for so many movies after it, not least of which being Hot Fuzz, The Wicker Man, when you watch it from a remote house in Scotland where this podcast was recorded from, is a genuinely frightening film. The lack of so many horror elements is paradoxically why it works so well, the little to no music, stilted acting, no overly dark scenes or jump scares. Just a slow, crawling horror that gets under your skin. A little like the creaking door that kept joining as our fifth member. Enjoy. 

We’re exploding back on the scene with our most explosive debut where half the narrative revolves around explosions as explosions try to outdo other explosions in J. J. Abrams explosive debut Mission Impossible Three (2006). Its hard to imagine a film this large is a debut, but it set the tone for the rest of the franchise that continues to this day. From Lost, to getting lost in Lost, to wondering what exactly actually happened in Lost, JJ made a huge jump into mainstream filmmaking with MI3 and continued the trend into Star Wars. Stay tuned for Tom Cruise dressed as a nun doing questionable Italian accents and Benas Serrano Ham angle that made little to no sense. Enjoy.

We asked the ultimate question. Could AI direct? But literally though, could it actually direct? How would it work? Would it spit out garbage? Could it be creative? Direct actors? Squash producers? Work with a budget? Make something good? 

If you want to feel like you plugged your head into The Matrix whilst simultaneously having your brain whisked like scrambled eggs this is the episode for you. We go from the hilarious nonsensical scripts AI has pumped out to the bleeding edge of human consciousness, even throwing in an IWAAD (which is probably the most terrifying one we’ve ever had). We’ve also upped our production value just a tad - though you’ll have to listen to find out what. We can neither confirm nor deny it is/not including excerpts from films. Seriously...who'd have the audacity to do that? 

If you would have invented YNFYF, you would have invented YNFYF. But you didn’t. Thankfully we did, and if you can handle the truth of the witty quips and constant repetition we’re bringing this ep, then you’ll discover the truth of Aaron Sorkins debut, Mollys Game (2017). We’re no stranger to writer turned directors, but this particular case was unique given Sorkin is such a strong writer. Crafting his unique dialogue in films such as Steve Jobs, Moneyball, The Social Network - also that little mini series the West Wing - no matter who he works with, his voice finds its way to dominate the films he writes. Mollys Game follows the true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game and became an FBI target. Sounds pretty Sorkin-ey. Drenched in so much legal speak we needed Louis on top form to dissect what the f**k was being talked about half the time. Enjoy. 

GRAB YOUR UNCUT GEMS as we’ve gone to the underbelly of New York in search of The Safdie Brothers and their debut film, Daddy LongLegs (2009). The film follows a father looking after his two kids, which, if you think sounds like an anomaly in the high octane, ‘underbelly of society’ types of films the Safdies make, then you’d be mistaken. In fact the film contains the very DNA of that nervous energy, bizarre characterisations and boots on the ground type of filmmaking the Safdies are synonymous with. The main actor of Daddy Longlegs, Ronald Bronstein, is essentially ‘the third Safdie brother’ acting as a co-writer and editor on all their films. If that filled your knowledge gaps, then dive on in to our neon soaked room, spend time with some shifty characters (Sparrow), and hear some stories that will keep the anxiety levels so high, you’ll be awake all night after listening. Either that, or you’re like Benas, a stone cold film-watcher (more on that in the ep). Enjoy.

What does a debut film podcast talk about, when it’s not debut films? In and amongst the wealth of first films we cover, we’re going to occasionally pepper in what we’re referring to as ‘hangout eps’ (name pending…) extra eps that are around directing and filmmaking, spurred by questions we find interesting. This is a total experiment for us, just like when Hans Zimmer insisted on playing loud horns in Inception every 5 minutes, and look how that turned out! 

You may have wondered from time to time what on earth a directors cut is (isn’t every film a directors cut?), how they come to exist, and if you’re obsessed with mentioning streaming giants every episode like us, wonder where 

the future of them lies as directors are given more and more autonomy when working with streamers. This was a really fun one to record, and we hope its as fun to listen back to. 🎬 

Website: www.youneverforgetyourfirst.com

NEW EP! We’ve gone and Super Sized this weeks podcast ep for you as we delve into the 2004 documentary Super Size Me directed by Morgan Spurlock.

It turns out all you need is a Big Mac and a camera to bring down the big corps, plus the digestive system of a T-Rex to weather the health storm from all that Super Sizing. The now iconic doc was far reaching and influential, having a lasting impact on our relationship with fast food and the industry’s treatment of it. To think the budget was a mere $65,000 (probably most going on McDonalds) and yet it garnered international fame, becoming Oscar nominated and winning the grand jury prize for directing at Sundance. All for just eating McDonalds for 30 days. It cant be that hard, right guys? ….guys? 

Website: www.youneverforgetyourfirst.com

Join us as we do what we do every episode, which is explore the lives of others, except this time we really are exploring the actual film, The Lives of Others (2006) directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. This is an exceptional debut that feels like a fourth or fifth film from an already established filmmaker. The film takes place in 1984 East Berlin, telling the story of a Stasi officer who listens in on a writer and his lover, and becomes increasingly absorbed by their lives. Hopefully, you’ll listen in here and become increasingly absorbed yourself. In the pod. Not in our lives. Enjoy.

Join us in an epic journey back to 1950’s America, where we gave each other nicknames like Benas-whooping-y’all and Louis-loose-lips-Lunts, repeated the phrase ‘baking biscuits’ about a thousand times, and tried to figure out what the hell that on-going sound is, in Andrew Pattersons debut film The Vast of Night (2019). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A high ambition paired with a low budget means Andrew Patterson needed to deploy all the DIY tricks in the book, (as well as make up new ones) from an inventive one shot using a go kart, to hiring unknown actors who brought a freshness to the roles (who nailed it btw) to choosing a new angle on a worn genre. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The OG crew are back together in this episode, with one of us only having watched Saving Private Ryan for the first time (yes, we are a serious film pod thanks) to of course mentioning the Netflix price hike and the obligatory Nolan mention. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀IWAADs this week included the phrase ‘spilling avocados on the road’ - you can’t make this stuff up, or maybe you can, if you’re Benas. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Happy listening, enjoy. 

We’ve started 2021 strong with a blinding ray of indie film goodness, so strong we could barely see each other as we recorded this very episode, in the form of Little Miss Sunshine (2006) directed by Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris. 

The history of how this film was conceived, written, produced, and the 5 years it spent in development hell, including firing and re-hiring writer Micheal Arndt, is anything less than a sunny experience. Throw Jonathon and Valerie in for being responsible in bringing Red Hot Chilli Peppers to the masses, essentially directing all their hit music videos you grew up on, and you start to build a picture of why this film is a knockout debut film. 

Featuring a stellar cast such as Steve Carrell before he was Steve Carrell, Paul Dano before he was Paul Dano, and Bryan Cranston before he was Bryan Cranston (yes, he makes a cameo, hence why you should rewatch it). With Greg Kinnear nailing the comedic timing and Toni Collette always bringing a solid performance, and you wonder how an indie film managed to get such a great cast (hint: write a damn good script and grab people before they come unfairly famous).

We had our own recasting for this episode in the form of Doms oldest friend, Will! No, Will is not 90 years old, he is in fact a very knowledgable filmmaker who is the very reason we’re doing this film, and he came on the pod to throw down some serious knowledge bombs, so big we actually had to take cover a few times. He also helped drive the VW mini van that is YNFYF. Turns out his parking is as great as his film knowledge.

Happy listening, enjoy.