Episode 41: Films From Abroad

Cinema experiences, the world over. Sarah Watt, William Chen and Jeremy Downing discuss the various films and cinema experiences from their trips around the world. Sarah opens the discussion by outlining her trip around Europe. She mentions La Dolce Vita, Drive and Avengers: Endgame. She talked about multiple masterclasses, including with steadicam inventor Garrett Brown, one with Rutger Hauer, another with Joe Dante and later with Francis Ford Coppola. William then shared about his trip to the United States, highlighting Los Angeles and its focus on cinema. He watched Toy Story, Story 2 and Toy Story 3 on the plane, which guides the discussion for a while. We chat about Thor: Ragnarok, Eagle vs Shark, The Breaker Upperers, No. 2 and Whale Rider. William then chats about Hobbs & Shaw, as well as the Fast & Furious connections. We talk about the jarring feeling of hearing the New Zealand accent in big budget films, like Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Aquaman and in Hobbs & Shaw. This moves into a discussion around Pacific Island culture representation, including the final act of Hobbs & Shaw and Moana. This moves into a conversation about Vai, including the progression of Pasifika cinema. We highlight The Orator, One Thousand Ropes, Three Wise Cousins, Hibiscus & Ruthless, and Take Home Pay. We unpack the filmmaking of Vai, comparing it to Waru. William then brings up the brilliance of Idris Elba in Hobbs & Shaw, including the rap that he wrote for the film. William raps. It is quite glorious. We wrap up the episode with Sarah sharing her experience at Festival de Cannes 2019. She mentions multiple films and her involvement in press conferences and interviews. This includes lining up for two hours to see Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood, Sarah's husband Doug getting the opportunity to interview Joon Ho Bong, director of Palme d'Or winning Parasite, watching the films Les Misérables and Bacurau, as well as seeing conversation with Sylvester Stallone. Sarah had the opportunity to see Apocalypse Now: Final Cut, as well as taking part in a masterclass with Francis Ford Coppola. She also watched The Piano and The Devil Thumbs a Ride, finishing her trip with a visit to a Stanley Kubrick exhibition.