How to Make Films and Influence People

Andrew Curzon and Peter Kimball
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Film Reviews

In this podcast, we talk about our own approach to screenwriting and filmmaking, discuss great works of cinema, and blasphemously imagine how they could be remade. Each week we tackle a movie widely considered to be a "great film". We ask the important questions: How would you remake this as a family film? What's the no-budget version? How do you turn this into a 10-episode Netflix series? Join us as we walk through our creative process, share updates from our screenplay, and talk about what we've been watching lately.

  1. 10 Things I Hate About You

    6d ago

    10 Things I Hate About You

    Peter and Andrew unpack Gil Junger's 1999 teen romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You, exploring how its smart adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew and its fast-paced, trope-filled character dynamics made it a defining film of the era. They discuss the film’s themes of teenage rebellion, dating expectations, and high school social hierarchies, and debate whether its stylized view of late-90s youth still resonates in a modern world. In their remake scenarios, they tackle a structural challenge: How do you adapt a story about high school dating for families? Could it work as a much darker, R-rated thriller? What would a no-budget, one-location Breakfast Club-style version look like? Would it be better as an ongoing TV series about the fallout of Cameron's disastrous first date, or a sketch-comedy anthology of modern Shakespeare adaptations? The hosts also celebrate their 30th episode by handing out awards to their past ten covered films, and share their current viewing habits, including The Celebration (Festen) and Deliver Me From Nowhere, while referencing Clueless, American Pie, The Breakfast Club, Milk and Cereal, and Fight Club in their discussion. Topics covered: The value of Dogme 95 filmmaking restrictions, the challenges of writing realistic high school movies, the benefits of shooting a short film in Iceland, and why some movies are highly rewatchable and enjoyable even if they aren't considered traditional masterpieces.

    1h 15m
  2. City Lights

    May 29

    City Lights

    Peter and Andrew journey through Charlie Chaplin's 1931 silent classic City Lights, exploring how its masterful physical comedy and intentional use of silence in the talkie era left a lasting mark on cinema. They discuss the film’s themes of optimism, wealth disparity, and the Tramp's enduring charm, and debate whether its lighthearted approach to heavy issues still resonates in a modern world. In their remake scenarios, they tackle a physical challenge: How do you adapt a silent physical comedy for modern families? Could it work as an animal-focused claymation like Pingu? What would a no-budget, Safdie Brothers-style gritty drama version look like? Would it be better as a sketch-comedy TV series in the vein of Mr. Bean or Jackass? The hosts also share their current viewing habits, including Saturday Night Live and Dead Man's Wire, while referencing The Town, Singin' in the Rain, Babylon, The Great Dictator, John Q, Uncut Gems, and WALL-E in their discussion. Topics covered: The transition from silent films to talkies, crafting the perfect pratfall, the value of optimism in storytelling, picking the right director for a dinner date, and why some movies are more about the execution than the plot.

    1h 2m
  3. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

    May 22

    The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

    Peter and Andrew journey through Sergio Leone's 1966 epic The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, exploring how its sprawling narrative, iconic characters, and gritty take on the Civil War changed the western genre forever. They discuss the film’s slow-building tension, its memorable dubbed dialogue, and debate whether the movie's moral ambiguity makes it a masterpiece or if it's just a stylish excuse for a gunfight. In their remake scenarios, they tackle a western challenge: How do you adapt a violent story about greed for families? Could it work as a madcap treasure hunt? What would a no-budget, wilderness-only version look like? Would it be better as an ongoing TV series exploring the characters' backstories and side quests? The hosts also share their current viewing habits, including Smithereens and 28 Years Later: Bone Temple, while referencing A Fistful of Dollars, Unforgiven, The Revenant, Yellowstone, No Country for Old Men, Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds, and The Hateful Eight in their discussion. Topics covered: Handling feedback on early script drafts, the evolution of the western genre, moral ambiguity in cinema, the impact of dubbing on classic films, and why some movies benefit from a slower pace.

    1h 8m
  4. Fight Club

    May 15

    Fight Club

    Peter and Andrew take on David Fincher’s cult classic Fight Club, exploring how its stylish direction, Brad Pitt’s iconic performance, and infamous twist made it a touchstone for a generation. They analyze the film’s critique of consumerism, masculinity, and cult mentality, and debate whether the movie’s message is misunderstood or subversive. Plus, they discuss how the film’s twist holds up on repeat viewings and why it’s both a product of the 1990s and a timeless provocation. In their remake scenarios, they tackle a challenging puzzle: How do you make a dark, violent thriller family-friendly? Could it work as a coming-of-age high school sports story? What would a no-budget, one-location basement version look like? Would it be better as a TV series following the police investigation into Project Mayhem? The hosts also share their current viewing habits, including The Straight Story and There There, while referencing The Boss of It All, The Graduate, Parasite, and The Big Short in their discussion. Topics covered: The legacy of 90s anti-consumerism, twist endings, the dangers of charismatic leaders, physical connection in a corporate world, and why some movies are harder to interpret than others.

    1h 15m
  5. Dead Poets Society

    May 8

    Dead Poets Society

    Peter and Andrew revisit the inspirational classic Dead Poets Society, exploring how Robin Williams’ passionate performance as Mr. Keating helped redefine the teacher-student movie. They discuss the film’s themes of nonconformity, tradition, and the pressures of elite education, and debate whether its “seize the day” message still resonates in a modern world. In their remake scenarios, they tackle a coming-of-age challenge: How do you adapt a story about poetry and rebellion for families? Could it work as a girls’ boarding school drama? What would a no-budget horror version look like? Would it be better as a TV series about teachers and students in different eras? The hosts also share their current viewing habits, including The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkens and My Life (directed by Nicolas Winding Refn), while referencing Good Will Hunting, Whiplash, Stand and Deliver, The Holdovers, Lean on Me, Friday Night Lights, Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, and Blair Witch in their discussion. Topics covered: The legacy of “carpe diem,” Robin Williams’ dramatic range, the evolution of school stories, the ethics of inspirational teaching, and why some movies are both timeless and of their time.

    1h 11m
  6. 2001: A Space Odyssey

    May 1

    2001: A Space Odyssey

    Peter and Andrew journey through Stanley Kubrick’s visionary sci-fi epic 2001: A Space Odyssey, exploring how its groundbreaking visuals, enigmatic storytelling, and iconic HAL 9000 changed cinema forever. They discuss the film’s slow, meditative pace, its ambiguous ending, and why it’s more art installation than popcorn entertainment. In their remake scenarios, they face a cosmic challenge: How do you adapt Kubrick’s masterpiece for families? Could it work with a narrator? What would a no-budget version focus on? Would it be better as a multi-part Netflix series or a museum installation? The hosts also share their current viewing habits, including Herald and Maude and Exit 8, while referencing Star Wars, Interstellar, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut, Stalker, and Planet of the Apes in their discussion. Topics covered: Visual storytelling, the evolution of science fiction, artificial intelligence, the meaning of the monolith, ambiguous endings, and why some films are more about the experience than the plot.

    1 hr
  7. The Usual Suspects

    Apr 24

    The Usual Suspects

    Peter and Andrew unpack Bryan Singer's twisty 1995 crime thriller The Usual Suspects, exploring how its unreliable narrator and shocking reveals redefined the mystery genre. They analyze Verbal Kint, discuss the film's multiple layers of deception, and debate whether the movie's brilliant twists justify its narrative tricks or if it's all just an elaborate cheat. In their remake scenarios, they tackle a structural puzzle: How do you make a crime thriller family-friendly? Could it work as a school detention story? What would a no-budget interrogation room version look like? Would it be better as a TV series exploring the real Kaiser Soze story? The hosts also share their current viewing habits, including Hardboiled and Glengarry Glen Ross, while referencing Darth Vader, Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon, Fight Club, The Crying Game, The Sixth Sense, Citizen Kane, The Notebook, Saving Private Ryan, and Empire in their discussion. Topics covered: Unreliable narrators, twist endings, the art of misdirection, 1990s independent cinema, and whether some movies are too clever for their own good.

    1h 5m
  8. Nashville

    Apr 19

    Nashville

    Peter and Andrew take on Robert Altman’s sprawling 1975 classic Nashville, exploring how its ensemble cast and overlapping storylines create a vivid portrait of American culture at a crossroads. They discuss the film’s unconventional structure, its blend of country music and political satire, and why it feels more like a time capsule than a traditional narrative. In their remake scenarios, they face a structural challenge: How do you adapt a film with 24 main characters? Could it work as a family-friendly musical? What would a no-budget airport version look like? Would it be better as a prestige TV? The hosts also share their current viewing habits, including Chimes at Midnight and Veep, while also referencing The Wire, Singles, Deer Hunter, Taxi Driver, Arrested Development, and Woodstock in their analysis. Topics covered: Ensemble storytelling, the intersection of music and politics, 1970s American culture, documentary-style filmmaking, and why some movies are more historical document than entertainment.

    1h 6m
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About

In this podcast, we talk about our own approach to screenwriting and filmmaking, discuss great works of cinema, and blasphemously imagine how they could be remade. Each week we tackle a movie widely considered to be a "great film". We ask the important questions: How would you remake this as a family film? What's the no-budget version? How do you turn this into a 10-episode Netflix series? Join us as we walk through our creative process, share updates from our screenplay, and talk about what we've been watching lately.

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