Join us on Half the Picture as your host Billy Barnell sits down with a different filmmaker, actor, or artist each episode for a relaxed, revealing conversation. Get the full picture on some of the most talented and noteworthy folks in showbiz and the long and winding roads of their careers. Expect candid stories, creative insights, and regular detours into the weird and wonderful corners of the film and pop culture world!
If you'd like to watch the episodes, check out our YouTube channel at the link below!
Half the Picture's second guest is Tristan Oliver BSC, cinematographer extraordinaire and arguably the leading DOP working in stop-motion animation today! Tristan joined us to chat about his experiences working with Wes Anderson on Fantastic Mr Fox and Isle of Dogs, making his start as an actor before switching to cinematography, shooting the iconic train chase in The Wrong Trousers and having lunch with the legendary Jack Cardiff, as well as to share advice for aspiring animator/cinematographers!
#1 - BRENDAN MCCARTHY
Season 1 · Episode 1
Thursday, September 12, 2024 • Duration 59:20
Half the Picture's first guest is Brendan McCarthy, Mad Max: Fury Road's brilliantly inventive co-writer and visual designer! Brendan joined us to for an in-depth chat covering all things Fury Road, from his experiences working closely with George Miller in pre-production on the scripting and storyboarding to Splendid's original (and much more hardcore) death scene that was cut from the film. He also delved into the original ending he and Miller had planned and even teased the upcoming and eagerly anticipated 'Furiosa!'
#4 - SPARKS
Season 1 · Episode 4
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 • Duration 31:13
Half the Picture's guests this episode are Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks, pop stars extraordinaire and writers/composers of the award-winning musical 'Annette' directed by Leos Carax and starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard!
Ron and Russell joined us to break down the making of 'Annette' and their close working relationship with Leos Carax as well as their most recent world tour for their latest album 'The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte' which saw them play the biggest venues of their career. They also talked telling stories through music, shared advice for young artists looking to break into film/music and even touched a little on 'X-Crucior', their upcoming movie musical collab' with John Woo!
For all this and more, listen on! #Sparks #Annette #HalfThePicture
This October also saw Ron and Russell release the original 2013 recording of the 'Annette' soundtrack, as a limited edition 3LP boxset on the band’s own label Lil’ Beethoven Records.
Writing in the sleevenotes of this boxset release Ron and Russell said “Annette was a divisive film, but we feel a great film, and directed with enormous artistic skill by Leos, with a magnificent cast. Still, we feel that this earlier version of Annette should be listened to not as the preparatory or demo step toward a filmed version, but rather as a complete and alternative version in itself. We are very proud of it.”
Annette - An Opera By Sparks (The Original 2013 Recordings) is available exclusively through Sparks’ store at www.store.allsparks.com, limited to 1,000 copies.
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*Note: This interview was recorded on March 22nd 2024.
Half the Picture's third guest is Jason Reitman, director of such modern classics as Juno, Up in the Air and his latest, Saturday Night: a visceral portrait of the 90 minutes leading up to the birth of the classic late-night comedy show!
Jason joined us to chat the length and breadth of his career, ranging from his exuberant debut ‘Thank You for Smoking’, to the life-changing impact of making ‘Juno’, up through the deeply personal journey he undertook making ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ with his father Ivan to working with the iconic J.K. Simmons and exec-producing Damien Chazelle's ‘Whiplash!'
For all this and more, listen on! #jasonreitman #saturdaynightmovie #ghostbusters
Make sure you SUBSCRIBE to the podcast so as not to miss any of Billy & Ahmed's interviews! *Note: This interview was recorded on July 27th 2024.
Half the Picture's guest this episode is the brilliant director Paul McGuigan, whose mercurial and vibrant talents have been gracing our screens, both big and small for over 25 years!
Paul joined us primarily to discuss the making of his cult classic British crime gem, 'Gangster No.1' featuring barnstorming turns from Malcolm McDowell, David Thewlis and a star-making performance by a then unknown Paul Bettany! He also delved into his approach to directing 'Sherlock', his pioneering use of onscreen text amongst other stylistic flourishes and his films 'The Acid House' and 'Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool.' For all this and more, listen on!
Half the Picture’s guest this episode is the legendary Walter Murch — Academy Award-winning editor and sound designer behind such cinematic milestones as The Godfather Trilogy, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now!
Walter joined us for a wide-ranging conversation that delved deep into his groundbreaking work with directors including Francis Ford Coppola, his pioneering approach to film editing and sound, and his thoughts on the evolving nature of cutting in the modern age. He also spoke candidly about his directorial debut ‘Return to Oz’, his new projects ‘Suddenly Something Clicked’ and ‘Her Name was Moviola’ as well as offered sage advice for aspiring editors. For all this and more, listen on! #WalterMurch #ApocalypseNow #TheGodfather #HalfthePicture
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Note: This interview was recorded on October 30th 2024.
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Half the Picture’s guest this episode is the legendary Grant Morrison — the award-winning comic book writer behind such classics as Batman: Arkham Asylum, The Invisibles, New X-Men, WE3 and Animal Man.
Grant joined us primarily to chat about their work on the iconic All-Star Superman that redefined the Man of Steel for the 21st Century and was a major influence on James Gunn’s new Superman film. They also spoke about their friendship with Gunn, writing a Flash film script with Ezra Miller, the taboo-busting magic of comics and why hope and optimism are radical but essential ideas in the world today.
If you'd like to watch our interview with Grant, check out the episode on YouTube at the link below!
Half the Picture’s guest this episode is the legendary Grant Morrison — the award-winning comic book writer behind such classics as Batman: Arkham Asylum, The Invisibles, New X-Men, WE3 and Animal Man.
Join us for part 2 of our conversation with Grant as we dive headlong into their Kathmandu experience in the 1990’s when they were abducted by higher dimensional aliens, their strangest fan encounter that occurred in late-80’s Sheffield (Billy’s hometown) and their upcoming Batman/Deadpool comic due out in November from DC Comics! For all this and more, watch on!
Half the Picture’s guest this episode is writer-director James Marquand, the man behind the new WW2 action thriller ‘The Partisan’ based on the life and exploits of Krystyna Skarbek.
James joined us on the show to chat about the making of the movie, his experiences working wit Morgane Polanski, Malcolm McDowell and the rest of the cast and his time spent working on his father’s (Richard Marquand) movies. For all this and more, watch on!
Half the Picture’s guest this episode is British national filmmaking treasure Mike Leigh, the man behind such social-realist classics as Secrets & Lies, Naked, Another Year, Vera Drake and Life is Sweet.
Known for his improvisational method of devising his films with a murderer's row of British actors, Mike’s approach to filmmaking is organic and utterly unique, resulting in works that are unflinchingly honest, deeply poignant and often hilarious. Join us as we chat to Mike in depth about his method as well as his casting process, the 20th anniversary of his unsung gem ‘All or Nothing’ and the implicit politics of his films. Also joining us for a surprise guest appearance is Mike’s partner and collaborator, actress Marion Bailey who breaks down her working relationship with Mike as well as her experience playing Carol in ‘All or Nothing.’
If you'd like to watch our interview with Mike, check out the episode on YouTube at the link below!
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31:53 - Francis Bacon's influence on Gangster No.1
33:17 - Cinema's influence on gangster culture
35:28 - Bettany & Marsan's Kitchen Scene
44:10 - Lenny Taylor's POV Murder Scene
51:28 - Working with Peter Sova A.S.C.
52:24 - Visual filmmaking
55:13 - Directing Sherlock & Text Onscreen
58:00 - Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool
01:00:32 - Sherlock & Transitions
01:02:10 - Critical Response to Gangster No.1
01:05:56 - Working with Steven Spielberg
01:06:47 - Sherlock Holmes in the 21st Century
01:10:25 - Fun and games on the Gangster No.1 set
01:12:40 - Outro
23:04 - Robert Duvall & Blinking
26:22 - Return to Oz
34:56 - Pitching Return to Oz to Disney
37:24 - The Wizard of Oz & Thomas Edison
41:02 - Male & Female Editors
46:55 - 21st Century Editing
50:42 - Fred Zinnemann & Cutting Julia
56:19 - Suddenly Something Clicked
01:00:13 - Her Name Was Moviola
01:06:03 - Advice to Aspiring Editors
01:11:06 - Editing and AI
01:15:34 - Outro
'Walter Murch in Conversation – The Godfather, Apocalypse Now & Suddenly Something Clicked' is a non-profit project intended for educational purposes only. No copyright laws were intended to be broken. All rights to any material used remain courtesy of their respective owners.
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Billy on Instagram: / billybarnel. .
Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
02:17- Mike Leigh Interview Begins
03:38 - All or Nothing’s 20th Anniversary
06:03- All or Nothing’s Conception
06:48 - Mike’s Casting Process
08:27 - Marion’s Experience Working with Mike
17:21 - Mike’s Improvisational Filmmaking Method
21:53 - How Mike Shoots His Movies
26:37 - The Implicit Politics in Mike’s Films
28:59 - Mike’s Movies Remaining Untitled Until Release
30:04 - Mike’s Editing Process
35:04 - Secrets & Lies
37:05 - Music in Mike's Films
40:56 - The Beatles and A Hard Days Night
42:17 - Naked
45:12 - Mike's Advice to Filmmakers
45:46 - Outro
'MIKE LEIGH talks Improvisation, Never Compromising & All or Nothing's Anniversary (ft MARION BAILEY)' is a non-profit project intended for educational purposes only. No copyright laws were intended to be broken. All rights to any material used remain courtesy of their respective owners.
