Pop Culture Confidential

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Episode 148: Kaitlyn Dever, Susannah Grant, Sarah Timberman Netflix 'Unbelievable' Sep 10, 2019

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This week on Pop Culture Confidential: writer/creator Susannah Grant, producer Sarah Timberman and actor Kaitlyn Dever about their gripping, true crime, drama ‘Unbelievable’. The Netflix limited series is based on an explosive article from 2016 (ProPublica/The Marshall Project) called “An Unbelievable Story of Rape” that went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. We spoke to Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich) and Sarah Timberman (Justified) about making this gripping and important show, what they learned about rape victims and trauma as well as about sexual assault investigations, making this post- #metoo, believing women and more. We also spoke with actor Kaitlyn Dever, who we last saw in another stellar performance in Olivia Wildes ‘Booksmart’, about playing this difficult role and why it was important for her to be a part of it. Kaitlyn Dever turns in an incredible performance as Marie, an 18-year-old from Washington state, raised in the foster care system who claimed that she was raped by an intruder in the middle of the night. When police detectives, her trusted foster moms and friends begin to doubt her story, she begins to doubt herself. She is shaken and traumatized as she has to recount her story again and again. Later two female detectives in another state (Toni Collette and Merritt Wever) are following leads of what seems to be a serial rapist on the loose and connections to Maries case are made.

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Episode 147: Liz Hannah, Writer/Producer on Mindhunter Season Two Sep 03, 2019

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This week on Pop Culture Confidential we are thrilled to have screenwriter Liz Hannah in conversation about the incredible new season of Mindhunter, as well as working with Steven Spielberg on The Post and more! Liz Hannah burst onto the scene a couple of years ago when her first screenplay, a spec script about Washington Post owner Kay Graham and her decision to publish the Pentagon Papers, was picked up none other than Steven Spielberg. That became The Post starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. Liz Hannah went on the write the critically acclaimed comedy Long Shot starring Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen. Now she is onboard Mindhunter season two as a writer and producer. Liz Hannah talks to us about her career, working with David Fincher (exec producer and director on Mindhunter, writing and staging one of the most intense episodes of TV this year the Charles Manson episode, getting into the heads of serial killers and much more.

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Episode 146: Vilhelm Blomgren, 'Midsommar' Aug 20, 2019

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Join us for this great conversation as we dive deep into this seasons most buzzed about movie Ari Aster’s critically acclaimed ‘Midsommar'. Our guest is the very talented new star Vilhelm Blomgren. This summer Blomgren has starred in two major productions; HBOs ‘Gösta' by writer/director Lukas Moodysson and as the mysterious Pelle in ‘Midsommar’. Vilhelm Blomgren joined us to talk about the making of ‘Midsommar' and his incredible year! We talked about everything from working with the visionary director, Ari Aster, to interesting details about the long days filming in Hungary. We talked about the themes and layers in 'Midsommar’ like grief, immigration and loss. And what it was like for the Swedish actors to film some of the crazy things that go down in the movie. This and so much more. Welcome to Hårga!

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Episode 145: Barbara Ling, Production Designer on Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Aug 12, 2019

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Welcome back to PART 2 of our 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' special! This week are joined by the legendary production designer Barbara Ling (The Doors, Batman & Robin, Falling Down, Less Than Zero). Barbara Ling talks to us about her incredible work on 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’, turning back to clocks to 1969 and recreating some of LAs most iconic landmarks. From incredibly difficult face lifts on Hollywood Boulevard, to rebuilding Spahn Ranch, to how they used Tarantino’s massive memorabilia collection in their design work and much more.

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Episode 144: Mary Ramos, Music Supervisor on Tarantino's 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood' Aug 07, 2019

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One of our favorite guests returns to Pop Culture Confidential! Music Supervisor Mary Ramos has spent 27 years working with Quentin Tarantino, on every one of his films. Mary Ramos has expertly and painstakingly helped make Tarantino's soundtracks and epic musical choices a major part of his cinematic legacy. This week she talks to us about the incredible work she has done on his critical acclaimed new film 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood'. As always, in Tarantino’s films, the soundtrack on ‘Once Upon A Time in Hollywood’ is meticulously curated. And, as always, Music Supervisor Mary Ramos adds her genius to the mix. Ms Ramos talks to us about Tarantinos musical vision for the movie, his music room where they discuss all the details, her detective-like work tracking down the often forgotten tracks that the director wants and some incredible stories about working on this production!

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Episode 143: Jeremy Strong, Succession Jun 11, 2019

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Ahead of the much awaited second season of Succession, we are thrilled to have actor Jeremy Strong join us to talk about his brilliant performance as Kendall Roy. The critically acclaimed series, also starring Brian Cox as the patriarch Logan Roy, follows a family-owned media conglomerate and the power struggle within. It’s high stakes Shakespearean drama, black comedy and the timeliest of themes of power and greed. Jeremy Strong (Zero Dark Thirty, Selma, The Big Short) talked to us while on location filming season two. We talked about researching media-moguls for the role, the shakespearian relationship between Kendall and his father Logan, Succession in the age of Trump, filming the very powerful last scene and how it almost made him quit acting, what's in store for Kendall in season two and so much more Succession was created by Jesse Armstrong (The Thick Of It, In The Loop) and produced by Adam McKay (Vice and The Big Short). Season 2 of Succession premieres on HBO in August.

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142: Brett Gelman on the genius of Fleabag, finding comedy in drama +taking a stand against misogyny May 30, 2019

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We are so happy to have actor, comedian and writer Brett Gelman with us this week to talk about one of the best shows on TV ‘Fleabag’, his great performance on it and so much more. Brett Gelman is everywhere! No doubt you've seen him on one or more of your favorite shows: The Office, Mad Men, Another Period, Love, Twin Peaks: The Return, Californication, Curb Your Enthusiasm, just to name a few. Brett Gelman will be starring on the upcoming season of Stranger Things and on the Stephen King adaptation Mr. Mercedes. In our interview we talk about the genius of Fleabag and creator/star Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Bringing to life his odious but still relatable character Martin. Also how Gelman in 2016 severed ties with the network Adult Swim over, among other things, the “misogyny of their policies” and the backlash he received after, including death threats. You can watch Fleabag season 1 & 2 on Amazon Prime.

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Episode 141: Jessica Yellin, former CNN Chief White House Correspondent. Author of Savage News May 10, 2019

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This week on Pop Culture Confidential awarding winning journalist and former CNN Chief White House Correspondent Jessica Yellin. Mr Yellin spent decades covering Capitol Hill, domestic policy, the White House, elections and more at MSNBC, ABC, CNN to name a few. Now she is on a mission to change how we receive and process the news. Recently she started a digital platform 'News Not Noise’, and using her instagram feed @Jessicayellin she reports video updates, bringing her followers the news “not a panic attack”. She has also just released her debut novel Savage News, the story of an ambitious journalist on the front lines of the new business and the White House, obviously built on many of her own experiences. Ms Yellin talks to us about her experiences as Chief White House Correspondent, misogyny in journalism, Savage News and her goal to bring hard hitting news not alarm to audiences.

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Episode 140: The Pop Culture Confidential movie preview special with critic Claudia Puig! May 03, 2019

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This week we are joined by the President of the LA Film Critics Association Claudia Puig who guides us through her most anticipated movie releases coming up this summer and fall. From Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart to Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, what to expect from the new Elton John biopic Rocketman, Scorsese's new Netflix movie and the new Lion King adaptation. And what is making the festival circuit this year and we talk Oscar frontrunners. Plus the conflict between the Writers Guild and the talent agencies has led to 7000 writers firing their agents, what does this mean for the industry going forward? Join us!

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Episode 139: Jared Harris star of HBO's 'Chernobyl' Apr 26, 2019

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This week on Pop Culture Confidential actor Jared Harris joins us to talk about his spectacular performance in the new HBO miniseries ‘Chernobyl’. We talk about researching his character, Valery Legasov, the real-life Soviet nuclear physicist who was one of the first to understand the scope of the destruction, the lies and conspiracy that surrounded the disaster, how Harris choses his roles and what he learned from his father, actor Richard Harris. Over the past years Jared Harris has given us some of the most interesting and versatile performances in film and TV, from Lane Pryce (Mad Men) to King George VI (The Crown). He has played Andy Warhol, John Lennon and Ulysses S Grant, opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in Spielberg’s Lincoln. Now he stars in ‘Chernobyl’ a 5 part miniseries that delves into one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history. 'Chernobyl' also stars Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson. Written by Craig Mazin, directed by Johan Renck. ‘Chernobyl’ premieres on HBO May 6th

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