The Business

Latest Episodes:

Rod Lurie and Jake Tapper’s ‘The Outpost’ Jul 18, 2020

Show notes

CNN’s Jake Tapper and director Rod Lurie discuss the making of “The Outpost,” a new film based on Tapper's book about American soldiers who faced a deadly Taliban attack in Afghanistan. The film ran into obstacles every step of the way — including the unexpected death of Lurie's son Hunter.

Peter Medak’s ‘The Ghost of Peter Sellers’ Jul 11, 2020

Show notes

In the new documentary “The Ghost of Peter Sellers,” director Peter Medak revisits the nightmarish production of his 1974 film, “Ghost in the Noonday Sun.” The biggest challenge was the behavior of Medak’s star, Peter Sellers. “The Ghost of Peter Sellers” reveals how Sellers stymied and manipulated Medak and his crew, even faking a heart attack to get time off.

David France’s ‘Welcome to Chechnya’ Jul 03, 2020

Show notes

David France’s new HBO documentary, “Welcome to Chechnya” looks at the ongoing campaign to eradicate gay people in the Chechen Republic. France talks about the dangers he faced in making the film, traveling to Russia on a tourist visa, shooting on iPhones and GoPros, and using digital face-swapping technology to hide his subjects’ identities.

Laverne Cox and Sam Feder on their Netflix documentary ‘Disclosure’ Jun 26, 2020

Show notes

The new Netflix documentary “Disclosure” examines Hollywood’s portrayal of trans people over the years. Director Sam Feder uses decades of archival footage and personal anecdotes from trans people who were deeply affected by these depictions to tell the story of the industry’s evolving relationship with trans representation. Feder and executive producer Laverne Cox, who is also featured in the film, share why these on-screen portrayals are so powerful, especially for trans people coming of age.

Judd Apatow’s ‘The King of Staten Island’ Jun 19, 2020

Show notes

Judd Apatow's latest film “The King of Staten Island,” stars comedian Pete Davidson in a story inspired by Davidson's real life. Apatow is a comedy icon but he’s admittedly not funny on Twitter. As his more than 2 million followers know, he rains scorn not only on Trump, but on Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch, whose news network relentlessly bolsters the administration. Apatow wonders why others in the entertainment industry don’t do the same.

Policing on television Jun 13, 2020

Show notes

As protests continue across the country, we look at the way policing is depicted on television. It's a topic dream hampton has spent years thinking about and worked on a recent report on the issue. It found that often, even good cops are shown trampling the rules, and that’s presented as heroism. And Dan Taberski made a podcast devoted to the reality show "Cops." What he found was disturbing. Now, "Cops" and its spiritual successor "Live PD" have been canceled.

AMC’s ‘Quiz,’ plus Hollywood’s response to protests Jun 06, 2020

Show notes

James Graham wrote the play “Quiz” — about an alleged cheating scandal on the British version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” — before he adapted it for TV. Graham talks about starting to doubt the conventional wisdom about Charles and Diana Ingram, a couple accused of cheating on the popular game show in 2001 and in effect stealing 1 million pounds in front of a studio audience. Plus, how is Hollywood responding to a week of protests and police brutality?

‘On the Record’ filmmakers talk behind-the-scenes drama of their Russell Simmons documentary Jun 01, 2020

Show notes

Veteran documentary filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering lived the dream of having Oprah Winfrey sign on as executive producer of their film “On the Record,” which focuses on several women who say they were raped by music mogul Russell Simmons. But the dream turned dark just days before “On the Record” was set to premiere at Sundance. Oprah withdrew her support and Apple dropped its deal to release the movie.

ESPN’s ‘The Last Dance’ chronicles Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls May 25, 2020

Show notes

ESPN’s Michael Jordan docuseries "The Last Dance" has wrapped. The series has drawn record-breaking ratings and given ESPN something to celebrate in a world without live sports. Radio host and sports fanatic Hayes Permar speaks with director Jason Hehir.

Alice Wu’s ‘The Half of It’ May 15, 2020

Show notes

The new Netflix film “The Half of It” is writer-director Alice Wu’s second movie. She wrote a $1000 check to the National Rifle Association, an organization she does not support, and told her friends if the script wasn’t done in five weeks, that check was going in the mail. Wu talks about her extreme method for overcoming writer’s block and picking Netflix as the home for her new movie.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected