The Interviews (ft. David Kittredge on Boorman And The Devil; Padraic McKinley on The Weight)
Summary
Host Chris Hewitt interviews David Kittridge, director of the documentary *Burman and the Devil*, which explores the making of John Burman’s *Exorcist II: The Heretic*. Kittridge discusses his extensive interview with Burman, the film’s catastrophic reception, and the importance of artistic risk-taking in cinema. The episode also features an interview with Padraic McKinley, director of the historical drama *The Weight*, who talks about his feature debut, working with Ethan Hawke, and the challenges of filming extreme wilderness sequences in Germany.
Topics discussed
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship cruise promotion
Introduction to interview with director David
Filming John Boorman and his health
Boorman's vulnerability and the film's impact
The single-day interview process
Boorman's life story and artistic ambition
The rejection of Exorcist II: The Heretic
Boorman as an interviewee and his legacy
Shifting focus to the meaning of artistic risk
The need for ambitious filmmaking today
Funding the documentary on a low budget
Editing process and casting other cast members
Mike Flanagan's involvement and new Exorcist
Marketing strategy and the film's title
Personal experiences watching the film
Audience reception and festival screenings
The end of the 1970s Hollywood era
Modern comparisons and closing remarks
Introduction to interview with director McKinley
Challenges of financing and casting Ethan Hawke
Collaboration with Ethan Hawke and character creation
Practical effects and adventure set pieces
Tone, lighting, and psychedelic sequences
Character dynamics and quiet moments
Future directing plans and conclusion
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