8 episodes
How BOATS is it? Dissecting movies based on a true story. Rob Bergsma
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- TV & Film
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5.0 • 7 Ratings
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Not about boats. Dissecting movies Based on a true story. If you're like me, every time you watch a movie that's Based On A True Story (B.O.A.T.S.) you forever wonder just how closely the adaptation followed the original story. Well, let's find out! I'll do the reading and have my smart and funny friends on to discuss these films and see how true to life the Hollywood versions are. Come on in!
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08 - How BOATS is Seabiscuit (2003)? With Ashley Chaney
How Based On A True Story is Seabiscuit (2003)?
VO Artist and Podcast Host Ashley Chaney is on the show talking about the 2003 horse racing movie Seabiscuit! Was Red Pollard abandoned by his family? Did someone else ride Seabiscuit while Red was hurt? What about Charles Howard... was he truly a built from nothing businessman with tragedy in his family? Come hang out and learn about the horse that gave Depression era America hope.
Seabiscuit is directed by Gary Ross and stars Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Banks, and Gary Stevens.
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/seabiscuit
Read the book: https://bookshop.org/a/4479/9780449005613 -
07 - How BOATS is Fighting with My Family (2019)? With David Sokoll
How Based On A True Story is Fighting With My Family (2019)?
Film buff and fun guy David Sokoll joins Rob to break down how well the movie lines up with the true story of WWE Superstar Paige. From the family run wrestling business in England to quality time with Dwayne The Rock Johnson, how close did this rags to riches story stay to reality? The movie is written and directed by Stephen Merchant and stars Florence Pugh, Nick Frost, Dwayne Johnson, Lena Headey, Vince Vaughn and Jack Lowden.
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/fighting-with-my-family
The documentary the movie is based on: https://vimeo.com/205508370
Good writeup on fact vs fiction: https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/fighting-with-my-family/
Another article with lots of info:
https://screenrant.com/fighting-family-movie-true-story-wwe-paige-changes/ -
06 - How BOATS is HIDDEN FIGURES (2016)? With Alaina Karschnick Weddon
How Based On A True Story is Hidden Figures (2016)?
Rob is joined by Alaina Karschnick Weddon to take a look at the story of the black women behind so much of the math that put Americans into space and on the moon. They launch into the facts of the true story behind the movie starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner and Jim Parsons.
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/hidden-figures
The book the movie is based on: https://bookshop.org/a/4479/9780062363602
Good writeup on fact vs fiction: https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/hidden-figures/ -
05 - How BOATS is BAD EDUCATION (2019)? With Randi Bergsma
How Based On A True Story is Bad Education (2019)?
Rob is joined by a very special guest, his wife Randi! They delve into the facts of the true story behind the movie starring Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney. Were Frank and Pam as bold as they seem with their scheme? How did they get caught? Let's talk about it!
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/bad-education-2019
The article the movie is based on: https://nymag.com/nymetro/urban/features/9908/
Link to lots of followup articles from all different sources:
https://bookshlf.com/user/robboblobbo/shelf/stbrzd -
04 - How BOATS is TAG (2018)? With Mark Hampton
How Based On A True Story is Tag?
Rob and Mark get into TAG (2018) to see how true to life the movie is. How many of the outrageous tags and chases in the movie actually happened? Are the characters based on specific people? Was someone REALLY (mild spoiler alert) tagged at a funeral?
Jump in and let's find out!
Where to watch Tag: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/tag-2018
Further Reading / Watching:
Original Wall Street Journal Article- "It Takes Planning, Caution to Avoid Being 'It'"
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323375204578269991660836834?ns=prod/accounts-wsj
ESPN 2013 Video:
https://youtu.be/d8C-VFbP-JQ
CBS 2013 Video:
https://youtu.be/TYuEoBwE0lo
Megyn Kelly Today Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2GGPNvaH0U
Movie EPK Video with Real Tag guys:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5b8COCfFBA
National Catholic Register Article:
https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/the-real-tag-brothers-story-is-better-than-the-movie
The Guardian Article:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/apr/20/played-tag-23-years-experience
Nerdist Article:
https://archive.nerdist.com/the-bizarre-true-story-behind-jeremy-renner-jon-hamm-and-hannibal-buress-new-comedy-tag/
Great research resource HollywoodvHistory:
https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/tag/
Tag Participation Agreement / Legal Document:
https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/tag-participation-agreement/ -
03 - How BOATS is THE SOCIAL NETWORK (2010)? With Ryan Lucchesi
How Based On A True Story is The Social Network (2010)?
Rob and Ryan click like or add friend or expand their network or something like that to take a look at the true story behind The Social Network starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella, and Rooney Mara. Is Mark Zuckerberg like how he's portrayed? Is that really how the business started? Did he steal the idea? Let's get into it!
Where to watch The Social Network: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-social-network
Books read for this epsiode:
The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook: A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal by Ben Mezrich (2010)
https://bookshop.org/a/4479/9780307740984
The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company That Is Connecting the World
by David Kirkpatrick (2011)
https://bookshop.org/a/4479/9781439102121
Facebook: The Inside Story by Steven Levy (2020)
https://bookshop.org/a/4479/9780735213159
Customer Reviews
I didn’t even know some of these movies were BOATS!
I love listening Rob and Co talk about movies. They are so fun to listen to, AND, you get to learn random fun facts along the way!
Funny and Conversational
Ron does a great job of presenting a lot of information from his research while keeping a light-hearted and funny conversation going with his guest. My favorite bit is when he plays clips for his audio-only podcast that you really need to see to understand. Nice touch.