In conversation with director Alicia MacDonald - Finding Emily, Mike Leigh, short films, romantic comedies, Kickstarter

In conversation with director Alicia MacDonald - Finding Emily, Mike Leigh, short films, romantic comedies, Kickstarter

Author: Simon Brew May 25, 2026 Duration: 52:07
Alicia MacDonald first feature film as director, Finding Emily, turns out to be a Working Title-backed romantic comedy, the kind that used to fill British cinema charts. Albeit with a twist! In this Film Stories special, she talks to Simon Brew about launching her first feature, the years on her way up when she found herself alongside Mike Leigh, and in a room while Alan Rickman watched her type. Plus a whole lot more... Finding Emily is now in UK cinemas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wonder what really happened behind the scenes of your favorite film? Film Stories with Simon Brew pulls back the curtain, exploring the fascinating and often chaotic journeys movies take from script to screen. Host Simon Brew, founder of Den of Geek, guides each episode, delving into the untold narratives that shaped cinema. You’ll hear about productions plagued by unexpected hurdles, complex rights battles that stalled projects for years, and the sheer luck or stubborn determination that finally got a film into theaters. This isn't just a review show; it's a deep dive into the history and human drama of filmmaking. Each story reveals the layers hidden within a finished movie-the near-cancellations, the last-minute rewrites, and the creative clashes that are all part of the process. Tune in for a compelling look at how films are truly made, far beyond what appears in the final cut. This podcast celebrates the resilience and sometimes madness inherent in bringing stories to life, offering a fresh perspective for anyone who loves the world of TV and film.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Film Stories with Simon Brew
Podcast Episodes
Batman: The Movie (1966) and Young Adult (2011) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:18
Dinner dinner dinner dinner! Etc. Announced just six months before it landed in cinemas, the much-loved 1966 production Batman: The Movie was a masterclass in moving fast. Shot while the first series of the Batman TV sho…
The Fisher King (1991) and The Grey (2011) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:12
Two movies here where audiences went in expecting one thing, and might just have got another. 1991's The Fisher King though for a time was going to be a Disney movie, before the studio decided it was too dark. Directors…
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), plus The Russo Brothers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:40
For Star Wars spin-off Solo: A Star Wars Story, it wasn't supposed to be like this. Infamously, 90 days into photography, parent company Lucasfilm opted for a director change. Out when Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, a…
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) and Scent Of A Woman (1992) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:02
2016 was a turning point in the world of the X-Men movies. After the big success of 2014's X-Men: Days Of Future Past, 20th Century Fox spent big on X-Men: Apocalypse, and big things were expected of it. On the other han…
James Bond 26 (unmade, as of 2025) and Long Shot (2019) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:48
The path to the 26th James Bond film is one already filled with quite the story. Unmade at the point this episode is released in 2025, James Bond 26 has looked in limbo since the release of No Time To Die in 2021. There'…
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) and Waiting For Guffman (1996) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:33
After the huge success of the original Gremlins, Warner Bros quickly wanted a sequel. The people who'd actually made Gremlins, not least director Joe Dante? The thought of making another was not in the slightest big appe…

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