Figgis Unfiltered

Antica Productions
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Film History
  • Updated Weekly

Figgis Unfiltered — Season 2 coming at you with legendary film director Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas, Internal Affairs, Timecode). Examining the human emotions, one at a time, Figgis turns the lens inward on the feelings that shape us: rage, desire, grief, joy, and love. One episode, one emotion, no filter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 4d ago ·  Video

    Happiness

    Filmmaker Mike Figgis on happiness: why it's dangerous, the childhood moment that defined it, and why he distrusts happy endings. Figgis Unfiltered S2 E1. Season 2 of Figgis Unfiltered examines the human emotions, one at a time. In Episode 1, director Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas) begins with happiness — a kitchen table stripped at 3am, a boyhood night hearing Louis Armstrong's trumpet cut through the red velvet curtains of the Newcastle Odeon beside his father, and a lifetime spent watching people to understand what a genuine smile really is. He explores why happiness can only be measured against sadness (by way of John Berger's Ways of Seeing), the actor's exercise that exposes sadness as our default setting, the "mask of happiness" he strips away when taking portraits, and the newspaper photograph of a rescued Australian family that moved him to tears. Then he answers your questions — on what gets him out of bed, the spirituality running through his films, why he casts actors who've stepped away from the mainstream (Kim Novak, Nastassja Kinski, Richard Gere), and whether Leaving Las Vegas could be made in 2026. He closes with his own recommendations on happiness: two books, two live jazz recordings, and one perfect Hitchcock film. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Season 2 — what happiness really is 01:14 A boy, his father & Louis Armstrong at the Odeon 04:04 Edinburgh: a failed comedian and his father's cough 05:18 Why happiness is dangerous — John Berger 06:13 "Show me happiness": the actor's exercise 07:33 Portraits and the mask of happiness 08:36 The Australian beach rescue that moved him 12:10 Listener questions — Clarissa (Toronto): what gets you out of bed? 14:16 Happiness is meant to be shared 17:14 A people-watcher's joy: stations & airports 19:06 Sasha (Ukraine): spirituality in his films 23:01 Doug (Boston): casting actors who stepped away 26:28 Jay (Amsterdam): could Leaving Las Vegas be made today? 29:22 Recommendations — books, live jazz & a Hitchcock film 33:22 Final thoughts: don't plan happiness 📚 Mentioned in this episode Books — A Fan's Notes (Fred Exley) · Something Happened (Joseph Heller) · Ways of Seeing (John Berger) · Diary of a Mad Old Man (Tanizaki) Music — Louis Armstrong's 1948 live all-star concert · Duke Ellington at Newport '56, "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue" (Paul Gonsalves) Films — Notorious (Hitchcock) · Festen · and Mike's own Leaving Las Vegas 🎙️ Got a question for Mike? Send it as a voice note and it could feature in a future episode — DM us on Instagram: @figgisunfiltered 🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell for new Season 2 episodes across all podcast platforms and here on YouTube. Follow: Instagram → https://instagram.com/figgisunfiltered #MikeFiggis #FiggisUnfiltered #Happiness Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Happiness

  2. Mar 20

    Writer Ian Buruma on life in Nazi Germany

    In his new book, Stay Alive: Berlin, 1939-1945, Ian Buruma explores the complexities of survival and daily life under Nazi rule. He talks to Mike about the book, his longtime interest in China and Japan, and their shared experiences with a legendary Dutch avant-garde theatre. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Mar 6

    AI comes to Hollywood

    Mike Figgis and Josh Karp talk about what AI means for the movie industry, and whether there’s a positive side to the disruption. They also talk about what to do when the artists you love have done harmful things. And Mike recounts his thoughts after a trip to Berlin for the 30th anniversary screening of Leaving Las Vegas.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Feb 20

    Oscar Nominations and More Unreliable Memories

    Mike and Josh Karp discuss the Oscar nominations, a favourite that didn’t make the cut, and what Mike learned from attempting to get MEGADOC into the Academy screening rooms. Then, Mike shares more strange stories from Hollywood, his performance art roots, and being a concerned dad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Jan 30

    Unreliable Memories: A Director's Notebook

    Mike keeps a notebook filled with memories – those strange, touching, unsettling or funny moments that stick with you for one reason or another. Today, he opens up the notebook and shares some of his favourites, including a couple of near-death experiences, the time he bought a bootleg DVD of his own movie, and an extreme art performance that ended with the destruction of a Picasso. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Jan 2

    On Tarantino, Academy Award Nominations and What We’re Watching

    Mike and Josh Karp dissect Quentin Tarantino’s brutal comments about Paul Dano, the bizarre process of getting an Academy Award nomination, and what they’ve been watching.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. 12/19/2025

    Leaving Las Vegas, Part 3: The Bizarre Rituals of Fame and Money

    After Leaving Las Vegas became a surprise hit, Mike was a hot name in Hollywood. He talks to writer Josh Karp about the bizarre ritual of the Oscars ceremony, his brief entry into the Hollywood club, and why he ultimately decided not to pursue big budget studio movies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. 12/05/2025

    Leaving Las Vegas part 2: Nick Cage, Sting, and filming in a city that doesn’t want you

    More recollections of Leaving Las Vegas, this time focusing on the cast, the feel of the movie, and the three-week shoot. Mike talks to writer Josh Karp about what it was like working with Nicholas Cage, Elisabeth Shue and a dream list of actors in smaller parts, as well as battles to maintain the film’s iconic sound, and shooting a movie in a city that didn’t want them there.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About

Figgis Unfiltered — Season 2 coming at you with legendary film director Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas, Internal Affairs, Timecode). Examining the human emotions, one at a time, Figgis turns the lens inward on the feelings that shape us: rage, desire, grief, joy, and love. One episode, one emotion, no filter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Antica Productions
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © ccaf6860-7a08-11f0-a47a-019bf64abb30
  • Show Website
    Figgis Unfiltered

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