Hollywood Gold

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During the production of Scream, producer Cathy Konrad received a late night call with a creepy voice saying, "Do you like scary movies?" Thankfully, it was just the film's director, legendary horror filmmaker Wes Craven, calling to discuss what to do about the Weinsteins being unhappy with the mask and the footage. Despite the studio roadblocks, Scream was finished and was a huge success, redefining the horror genre for a new generation.

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Producer Debra Martin Chase has worked with some of the greatest talents of our time, including Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington. In this episode, Debra talks about how her second career as a film producer began with the timeless classic The Princess Diaries. She explains how this special film inspired Julie Andrews' return to film after a 10 year hiatus and launched Anne Hathaway's career. Debra shares insights into breaking boundaries, forging your own path, what it means to be a leader, and provides glimpses into some of the behind the scenes magic from set.

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In this episode, legendary producer Jennifer Todd recalls the production of one of the most ambitious independent films of all time - Christopher Nolan’s Memento. The film that launched the career of one of the most successful and innovative directors of our time struggled to find both buyers and an audience, but Nolan’s vision and perseverance prevailed.

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Producers Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks recount the fateful moment that Steven Spielberg walked out of his office at the exact right time to seal the deal with American Beauty writer Alan Ball. Taking a chance on theater director Sam Mendes who had never directed a feature film, they brought together a stellar cast and made a film that went on to win 5 Oscars, including Best Picture.

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This episode is brought to you by Arc Studio. Screenwriters, write your next script with Arc Studio—the collaboration-friendly screenwriting app with a distraction-free interface that helps you get in the writing zone and stay there. Arc Studio offers a completely free plan, or to take advantage of its full suite of powerful tools you can get $30 off a Pro subscription by visiting arcstudiopro.com/hollywoodgold.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind producer Anthony Bregman dishes all the behind the scenes movie magic on this iconic film. From having to find a new editor three days into filming, to some little white lies about the daily’s when asked by Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey, this movie had no shortage of drama both on and off camera. But, beyond that, its incredible camera work and unique sets helped push the boundaries of what was possible at the time making it one of the 2000s finest films. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Filmmaker Ron Shelton discusses how his experience as a minor league baseball player inspired him to make one of the most authentic sports films of all time. Star Kevin Costner was an early believer in the film and helped secure a studio deal against all odds, while the biggest casting challenge was solved by Susan Sarandon herself with a bold move that convinced the studio heads she was the perfect choice.

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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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[WARNING: This content contains spoilers]

When Producer Rachel O'Connor first read the script for CHALLENGERS, she was immediately intrigued. The character of Tashi, brought to life brilliantly by Zendaya, captivated her attention, as did a movie set in the world of tennis with an unabashedly sexy subplot. Once she got the writer on board with the producing team and approached Zendaya, the star knew this script would need a visionary filmmaker at the helm. Enter Luca Guadagino, the Italian director whose bold films have launched the careers of many young actors. The dynamic trio of Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, and Mike Faist spent weeks training as true tennis pros, and Luca's singular vision resulted in a film that is wowing audiences across the country.

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When Steve Martin first approached Charles Shyer and Nancy Meyers about rewriting the script for a modern take on the 1950 Spencer Tracy film FATHER OF THE BRIDE, Charles wasn't sure. He thought the script was truly awful, but he took the meeting and told Steve the script wasn't good enough for him. Charles and Nancy proved a dynamic duo behind the scenes, creating scenes full of heart and humor for the dynamic duo of Steve and Martin on screen. Their comedy chops were matched by the wits of Kimberly Williams and the iconic Diane Keaton, whose role almost went to Goldie Hawn because the studio was nervous that Diane's last movie was a flop.

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Producer Josh Penn recalls leaving the Obama campaign to try his hand at movie producing, and striking gold with 2012's BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD. Not only was the film nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture, it grossed nearly 10x its budget at the box office. Not having much film experience served the filmmaking team well because their optimism, ingenuity, and confidence is what lended an air of true grit and authenticity to the film. From writer/director Ben Zeitlin writing a script in two weeks in order to get into the Sundance labs to producers insisting a local baker audition for the co-lead, a series of fortunate events led to the pure magic of the film. 

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Director Reinaldo Marcus Green recalls the challenges of making a film about the legendary Bob Marley. One of the hardest tasks was finding the right actor to embody Marley mind, body, and soul. Rei and the producers reviewed many audition tapes and almost lost hope when Kingsley Ben-Adir entered the picture. Not only did he look like Marley, he dedicated himself to learning to sing in Bob's accent, play his songs on the guitar, and speak Patois. The production, shot in both the UK and Jamaica, was not easy between language barriers, perfecting the songs, and feeling the pressure of honoring Bob's legacy, but the support of the Marley family helped guide the film to great success.

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Directors Will Speck and Josh Gordon glide us through the making of 2007's hit comedy BLADES OF GLORY. Having made their mark directing a few iconic commercial campaigns, the duo went into directing their first feature film with a little too much confidence, and hit their first big challenge when Ben Stiller decided the role felt too repetitive for him and stepped away from the leading role. Will and Josh flew the script to Will Ferrell since he was shooting another movie, and he signed on. A fun crew of comedians assembled to round out the cast and months of ice skating training and true collaboration led to comedy gold. 

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Writer/Director (and Daniela's stepdad) David Ward recounts how he hit a box office home run with 1989's MAJOR LEAGUE. At a time when both baseball movies and baseball as a sport were struggling, he managed to create the perfect formula for a sports underdog story. Performances from Charlie Sheen, Wesley Snipes, and Tom Berenger combined to make the perfect cast of quirky characters that everyone wanted to see beat the odds. Add in a will they/won't they romance and a delicious villian, and a sports movie structure was born that is emulated to this day.

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Writer Kiwi Smith recalls the making of the 2001 classic LEGALLY BLONDE. Fresh off of her first hit 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU, Kiwi and her writing partner Karen McCullah were eager to find a story centered on female empowerment that was fun, fresh, smart, and accessible. She found all that and more in an unpublished manuscript about a sorority girl going to Stanford Law. Kiwi remembers wearing pink to their studio pitch and being fully committed to bringing Elle's story to the screen in the right way. A huge part of that was the casting. Among many others, Britney Spears was floated as a possible idea, but it was undeniably Reese Witherspoon's part. Reese emerged as a true leader and her turn as Elle is the stuff of movie legend and inspired a generation of beautiful, smart, and successful women.

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Producer Jeremy Thomas remembers the making of 1987's legendary film THE LAST EMPEROR. Jeremy was a young indie producer with an eager spirit and a history of ingenuity when iconic director Bernardo Bertolucci approached him about making a film about the last Emperor of China. Jeremy knew it would be a feat to accomplish such an undertaking, but instead of shying away from the challenge, he leaned in and got the support of the Chinese government. A true international collobration, the film's authenticity is evident and it remains a classic.

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On this week's episode of the Hollywood Gold Podcast sponsored by Kalshi, Daniela, Becca, and Vanessa discuss the 2024 Oscars race and give their predictions. For more information on how you can participate in all the fun, head to Kalshi.com/HollywoodGold and place your first $10 bet today!

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Producers David Hinojosa and Pamela Koffler discuss the making of last year's powerful film PAST LIVES. From first time feature director Celine Song, the film explores the themes of love and destiny through a story of immigration and reconnection. It was recently nominated for two Oscars, including Best Picture, thanks in part to the performances from leads Greta Lee and Teo Yoo. The film's path to production also speaks to the themes of destiny and timing, as the fates aligned to bring the right producers to the project at the absolute right time for it to get made.

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Writer/producer David Hemingson reflects on the making of 2023's THE HOLDOVERS, which is nominated for 5 Oscars. An established TV writer, David didn't take it seriously at first when iconic director Alexander Payne called him about the film. Once he realized the film was going to get made and Alex suggested Paul Giamatti, David recalled how his father and Giamatti's father were friends at Yale. Together, they crafted an authentic, moving, and funny film about generational divides and finding connection in unusual circumstances.

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Producer Jonathan Glickman joins Hollywood Gold again to discuss the making of 1995's classic romantic comedy WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING. Made at a time when a good romcom could launch the career of an unknown actress, Sandra Bullock's star turn put her into a category alongside the likes of Julia Roberts and Demi Moore, both of whom were offered the part. As a young producer in charge of running a set for the first time, Jon Glickman had a scare when the table read was a disaster and his lead actor almost quit. Quick and effective rewrites were done and the film was a huge hit, grossing over $180 million at the box office and solidifying its place in romcom history.

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Producers Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe discuss the long and winding road to production for Yorgos Lanthimos' fantastical POOR THINGS, which was just nominated for a mind-blowing 11 Oscars. The producing pair had been fans of Yorgos' Greek films, and helped him successfully navigate the transition to English language films beginning with 2015's breakout THE LOBSTER. Having worked with Emma Stone on hit THE FAVORITE, Yorgos knew she would be perfect for this unconventional story of a brought back to life in a woman's body. Emma came on to produce and star, and her name helped get the movie MADE by a studio. Yorgos' ability to make actors feel comfortable and free allowed for incredible performances in a film that looks way more expensive than it was.

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Editor Wyatt Smith guides us through the making of the most ambitious Disney live action remake to date. Wyatt, fresh off the remake of another Disney classic (Mary Poppins Returns), was involved in THE LITTLE MERMAID from day one with his frequent collaborator, director Rob Marshall. The filmmaker faced numerous challenges from updating the music, lyrics, and characters to modernize the story, to finding new and innovative ways to make a VFX heavy film feel organic for the actors.

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Producer Nina Jacobson recounts the making of 2012's wildly successful THE HUNGER GAMES, the adaptation of the hit book series that became a cultural phenomenon and catapulted Jennifer Lawrence to superstardom. Nina, fresh off a gig as the head of Disney, used her studio experience to navigate the tricky road to successfully launch the first film of a female-centered action franchise that is still putting out new installments over a decade later.

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Producer Wendy Finerman discusses the making of 2006's Oscar-nominated classic THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA. Wendy was confident in the unexpected casting of Meryl Streep in a role that many didn't think she would be funny in, and was proved right when Meryl truly embodied a role that immortalized Vogue's already famous Anna Wintour. Paired with the brilliance of Anne Hathaway and a young Emily Blunt in a role that would launch her career, the film went on to be nominated for two Oscars and become a critical and commercial success.

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Producer Bruce Cohen recounts the making of 2012’s Oscar winning Silver Linings Playbook, David O. Russell’s brilliant film about a bipolar man and the widow who changed his life. Not only did the film launch a young Jennifer Lawrence into a new career stratosphere and encourage Bradley Cooper’s interest in directing, it remains one of the few films to be nominated for the Big Five Oscars. David O. Russell’s penchant for improv helped him realize the magic in his cast and solidified the film’s iconic status.

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Producer Sarah Pillsbury details the Superstar women both in front of and behind the screen who made1985's iconic film DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN. Taking a risk on newcomer Madonna, an emerging musician who would walk the streets of New York with a boombox on her shoulder, turned out to be a genius bet. "Like a Virgin" was released during production and Madonna suddenly became a superstar in need of security. Her newfound popularity and pairing her with the brilliant Rosanna Arquette made for movie magic as the film wowed audiences and critics alike at Cannes.

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Hey Pod Fam - sorry we have been absent! We will be back very soon with all new episodes. Be sure to like, review and listen to past episodes. Follow us @staygoldfeatures.

Thank you for listening and STAY GOLD!

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Legendary Director and Producer Ed Zwick recalls the making of 1989's triple Oscar winner Glory. Fresh off of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the studio wanted the young Matthew Broderick to be the star in a film about the U.S. Army's first all-Black regiment. Zwick had to fight to ensure the movie told the right story, relying on his ingenuity to convince the studio of his vision from start to finish, and inventing the sizzle reel in the process.

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In this special festival edition of Hollywood Gold, Daniela speaks with producers Erik Feig and Ryan Heller about their soon to be released film THEATER CAMP. Written by best friends and theater camp alums Ben Platt, Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman, and Noah Galvin, the film explores the comedic absurdities of summer theater camps, as well as the passion and dedication of those who run them.

While slightly different than the normal Hollywood Gold fare, this episode provides insight into how indie films get made and sold today, and also includes some fun festival stories from Stay Gold's own Daniela and Becca.

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Director Michael Showalter recounts the path to Sundance history with The Big Sick. After working with comedian Kumail Nanjiani on his previous film, Showalter read the script Kumail and his wife Emily V. Gordon wrote about how their relationship overcame both cultural clashes and a mysterious illness, and knew he had to direct it. Encouraging honest and organic performances from his actors is a Showalter specialty, and the combination of a great script with brilliant improvisation made for on-screen magic. The film premiered at Sundance where it sold for a record-breaking number, and remains a culturally important film that asks what it means to be an American.

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Producer Moctesuma Esparza explains how Jennifer Lopez beat out 80,000 young women who auditioned to portray the now iconic pop star and, in true diva fashion, made the producers wait 6 months for her. But first, Moctesuma had to win the trust of Selena’s family who were understandably wary to trust someone in entertainment.

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Producers Elizabeth Banks and Max Handelman recount the making of their global hit PITCH PERFECT. The success of this film launched a franchise and made Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson household names. The concept wasn't an easy sell, so they used pitch pipes and performed songs during studio pitches. They knew they struck gold when Harvey Weinstein wanted the movie so much that he yelled at Elizabeth in the middle of the Met Ball. Thankfully for fans everywhere, she was not intimidated and the movie found its perfect home in Universal.

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Producers Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks recount the fateful moment that Steven Spielberg walked out of his office at the exact right time to seal the deal with American Beauty writer Alan Ball. Taking a chance on theater director Sam Mendes who had never directed a feature film, they brought together a stellar cast and made a film that went on to win 5 Oscars, including Best Picture.

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Filmmaker Ron Shelton discusses how his experience as a minor league baseball player inspired him to make one of the most authentic sports films of all time. Star Kevin Costner was an early believer in the film and helped secure a studio deal against all odds, while the biggest casting challenge was solved by Susan Sarandon herself with a bold move that convinced the studio heads she was the perfect choice.

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Producer and writer Callie Khouri takes us on the journey from script to screen of the beloved film Thelma and Louise. Equal parts inspiration (the story in its entirety just popped into her head one day), great timing (Ridley Scott was suddenly available to direct), and integrity (Callie refused to change the ending regardless of studio notes), the film is a remarkable success story that marks the revolutionary reinvention of female characters on screen.

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Producer Debra Martin Chase has worked with some of the greatest talents of our time, including Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington. In this episode, Debra talks about how her second career as a film producer began with the timeless classic The Princess Diaries. She explains how this special film inspired Julie Andrews' return to film after a 10 year hiatus and launched Anne Hathaway's career. Debra shares insights into breaking boundaries, forging your own path, what it means to be a leader, and provides glimpses into some of the behind the scenes magic from set.

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In this episode, Daniela's personal and professional lives intertwine as she interviews her father Jonathan Taplin. A producer, manager, writer, and professor, Jonathan began his career in film by producing Martin Scorsese's iconic Mean Streets. Having sunk his entire life savings into financing this film by a then unknown filmmaker, a combination of passion, ingenuity, talent, and luck led to the success of the film that would launch Scorsese's long and storied career.

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