The Business

Latest Episodes:

Prolific TV producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage on ‘Looking for Alaska’ Oct 26, 2019

Show notes

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage made ‘The O.C.’ and ‘Gossip Girl’--some of the most defining young adult shows of the early 2000’s. They continue to create series about young-person angst, including a ‘Gossip Girl’ reboot for HBO Max. They tell us about their new young adult series on Hulu, ‘Looking for Alaska,’ which they first had dreams of making into a movie 14 years ago.

Syrian director Feras Fayyad on his new documentary 'The Cave' Oct 19, 2019

Show notes

Almost a decade ago, Feras Fayyad was imprisoned and tortured by the Assad regime in Syria for filming anti-government protests. But after his release, he kept making documentaries. Fayyad became the first Syrian director to be nominated for Oscar with 'Last Men in Aleppo.' His new film, ‘The Cave,’ profiles a courageous young doctor as she runs an underground hospital in a besieged area outside Damascus.

A tour through a transforming media world with analyst Rich Greenfield Oct 12, 2019

Show notes

With even more new streaming services launching in the months ahead, we talk with opinionated analyst Rich Greenfield about the transforming media landscape and the challenges facing giants Disney, Comcast and AT&T.

How Kevin Smith tried to rescue his hero Stan Lee Oct 05, 2019

Show notes

This week, how filmmaker Kevin Smith set out to rescue his hero, the legendary Stan Lee. Last year, Smith began to fear that the elderly Marvel creator was being abused. Smith acted, though felt strongly there could be no good outcome. He tells us about doing his best for Lee in what would be Lee’s final year. Plus, reporter Gary Baum on his investigation into the battle for control of Lee's life.

Kevin Smith on Weinstein and indie filmmaking 25 years after ‘Clerks’ Sep 28, 2019

Show notes

Twenty-five years after ‘Clerks,’ Kevin Smith is shook. Despite his insistence that he's behind the times, he's always found ways to get his movies made. Smith tells us about doing it his way--which includes embarking on a 60-date roadshow for his new movie, ‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.’ He also reflects on his long relationship with Harvey Weinstein and the heart attack that almost did Smith in last year.

Showrunner Susannah Grant on making the Netflix series ‘Unbelievable’ Sep 21, 2019

Show notes

The Netflix series 'Unbelievable' is based on a true story about how one team of cops pursued a serial rapist while another disbelieved and bullied a victim. Showrunner Susannah Grant tells us about turning a Pulitzer Prize winning news story into a scripted series. She also shares her thoughts on how to depict rape on screen and talks about speaking with the victim whose story is at the heart of the series.

Writer-director Lorene Scafaria on the fight to make ‘Hustlers’ Sep 14, 2019

Show notes

Hot off Toronto, where ‘Hustlers’ won raves, Lorene Scafaria tells us about her fight to direct the movie, which is based on her script about a real-life group of strippers who robbed their Wall Street clientele. She finally won that battle, then the picture got dropped by Annapurna and then saved by STX. Scafaria also talks Jennifer Lopez's intense training to do that insane pole dance.

The Battle for the WGA Sep 07, 2019

Show notes

Five months after firing their agents, members of the Writers Guild are still at war with the major agencies over packaging fees. In the heat of the ongoing union election, we explore a couple of perspectives on the two groups competing for Guild leadership.

Revisiting Ryan O’Connell on his Netflix comedy series ‘Special’ Aug 31, 2019

Show notes

For years, Ryan O’Connell was in the closet: not because he’s gay, which he is, but because he was ashamed of having cerebral palsy. His cover? He’d been hit by a car--which was true. But eventually, that lie took a toll. With his Netflix series ‘Special,’ O’Connell is out in a big way. He tells us about the 4-year struggle to find a home for his autobiographical comedy, which is now nominated for 4 Emmys.

In Ben Berman’s ‘The Amazing Johnathan Documentary,’ nothing is as it seems Aug 24, 2019

Show notes

When Ben Berman set out to make ‘The Amazing Johnathan Documentary,’ he figured it would be a poignant film about an ailing comedian and magician. But very quickly, Berman found himself wondering: was he making a movie about Jonathan, or was Johnathan roping him into a project of his own. Berman shares the crazy story of making ‘The Amazing Johnathan Documentary,’ which is now available on Hulu.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected