Popcorn Taxi TV

John Cleese – Living Legend (Part 2)

James — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 05:17:44 +0000

Author, actor, comedian, producer, python – John Cleese, in part 2 of our exclusive interview, gives Oscar Hillerstrom his recollections on a life in show business.
Covering everything from failed US Fawlty Tower adaptations to projects unable to find a green light (Roald Dahl’s ‘The Twits’) Cleese left no stone unturned in a fascinating one on one.

John Cleese – Living Legend

James — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:49:44 +0000

John Cleese stars in ‘Spud’, the South African film based on the best-selling autobiographical novel by John Van Der Ruit. During his recent tour of Australia he spoke with Popcorn Taxi’s Oscar Hillerstrom about the film (which releases in Australia on April 19) and his career, that encompasses such milestones in the history of comedy as Monty John Cleese stars in ‘Spud’, the South African film based on the best-selling autobiographical novel by John Van Der Ruit. During his recent tour of Australia he spoke with Popcorn Taxi’s Oscar Hillerstrom about the film (which releases in Australia on April 19) and his career, that encompasses such milestones in the history of comedy as Monty Python, Fawlty Towers and A Fish Called Wanda.

This is Part One of an enthralling interview. If you’re a fan of John Cleese’s work, delve into some areas that he doesn’t cover on his ‘Alimony Tour’ and get to know a living legend slightly better.

Battleship: The Peter Berg Interview

James — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:47:34 +0000

http://www.popcorntaxi.com.au Peter Berg talks emotional logic versus actual logic in making a Summer blockbuster like ‘Battleship’.

He also discusses paying homage to the classic boardgame, the reality of being a naval historian’s son when reality is no longer a filmic option and his upcoming film, ‘Lone Survivor’ which stars Taylor Kitsch, Ben Foster and Mark Wahlberg as a besieged group of soldiers fighting to literally the last man in a film based on an epic true story.

In reality, it takes 118 men to fire a single gun on the USS Missouri, the director knows this, and yet has to continue on to make a film that creates entertainment whilst skating around ‘logic’. It’s just a movie, after all.

Jeremy Thomas: A Dangerous Method (Part 2)

James — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 06:23:50 +0000

Oscar Winner Jeremy Thomas continues the tales of his rise in the film world. In part 2, we discover how he met famed director David Cronenberg (A History of Violence, Crash, Videodrome) and how their relationship developed to bring us a chronicle of the friendship and bitter separation of 19th Century psychoanalysts Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud – ‘A Dangerous Method’.

Jeremy Thomas: A Dangerous Method (Part 1)

James — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 06:20:02 +0000

There is only one Jeremy Thomas – Industry veteran, Oscar winner and all-round purveyor of stories from a career spanning close to four decades. From his first producing credit in the Aussie-western ‘Mad Dog Morgan’ (starring a very ‘not with it’ Dennis Hopper) to his close relationships with directors Bernardo Bertolucci (Little Buddha, Stealing Beauty, The Dreamers and their Oscar-Winning ‘The Last Emperor’) & David Cronenberg (Naked Lunch, Crash and A Dangerous Method) Thomas took time out of his jet setting obligations to break the proverbial bread with Popcorn Taxi’s Oscar Hillerstrom and a sold out Sydney audience.

The Adventures of Tintin with Simon Pegg

James — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:23:14 +0000

The ever busy, always enjoyable Simon Pegg continued his one on one with Popcorn Taxi’s Oscar Hillerstrom – this time focusing on the upcoming big budget, Steven Spielberg-helmed The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn. We got the low down on working with the one of the world’s greatest directors, the effort that goes into motion capture performance and just why Pegg himself was overlooked for the role of Tintin, despite baring a remarkable resemblance.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol with Simon Pegg

James — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:31:43 +0000

Simon Pegg, back in Australia to promote his second outing (and the fourth in the series) of the Mission films – Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol – sat down with Popcorn Taxi’s Oscar Hillerstrom to discuss Tom Cruise, Dubai, indoor skydiving and reprising his role as ‘hacker-for-hire’ Benji Dunn.

Courtney Solomon: After Dark Interview

James — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:03:07 +0000

Courtney Solomon – Founder and present head of After Dark Films and pioneer of the annual Horrorfest film festival was in Australia to discuss his latest series of projects – After Dark Originals: 8 Films to Die For. In this exclusive Q&A and Interview, Courtney tells of his ability to succeed in low budget production, just how to get your ideas out there and reveals candidly his drive and his passion for the genre and the business. Warts and all from financing examples to casting, much like his films, Courtney isn’t afraid to take us into territory others wouldn’t dare.

Jon Hewitt: X Interview

James — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:13:02 +0000

Independent Aussie writer/director Jon Hewitt speaks to Popcorn Taxi’s Oscar Hillerstrom on the use of Kings Cross as a creative catalyst for his upcoming dark thriller ‘X’. Always brutally honest, Hewitt gave some insight into the not so glamorous world of feature film production. A must watch for any aspiring filmmakers out there.

Jonathan Teplitzky: Burning Man Interview

James — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 01:19:00 +0000

Writer/director Jonathan Teplitzky (Gettin’ Square, Better Than Sex) and actor Bojana Novakovic (Edge of Darkness) speak to Popcorn Taxi’s Oscar Hillerstrom on the dramatic symphony that is Burning Man.

Jesse Peretz: Our Idiot Brother

James — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:40:04 +0000

Music-clip pioneer turned filmmaker, Jesse Peretz stopped by the Popcorn Taxi offices to talk with Rolling Stone Editor-in-Chief Matt Coyte. Among the topics of discussion, his work with ’90s rockers The Lemonheads, the clips of the Foo Fighters and his upcoming feature ‘Our Idiot Brother’ starring Paul Rudd.

The Hunter Q&A with Willem Dafoe and Daniel Nettheim

James — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:15:43 +0000

In town to promote his Tasmanian set thriller ‘The Hunter’ – the actor’s actor Willem Dafoe and director Daniel Nettheim participated in a ‘Meet The Filmmaker’ – hosted by Popcorn Taxi creative director Chris Murray at the Apple store in Sydney. Star of such classics as Platoon, The Last Temptation of Christ, American Psycho and Wild at Heart – Dafoe enlightened the audience with his love of the craft and the personal journey involved in becoming an artist.