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Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip
Craig Mazin: delivering script notes and dropping science on the small and big screen (Chernobyl / The Last Of Us / Scriptnotes Podcast) #642
Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip!
This week Pip is joined by the incredible screenwriter, showrunner, producer and dungeon master CRAIG MAZIN!
Craig is a self proclaimed Pipster! Which bodes incredibly well as an opening gambit right there... This is such a treat of an episode which anyone possessing an interest in the making of television (and cinema in general) will get an immense kick out of. Chances are you will know Craig from his recent work on The Last Of Us, some of you may go back to the Chernobyl miniseries times, and some even further to the Hangover movies, but none of these can be considered pigeonholes. There is so much in the craft of these projects, and as viewers of them will know - the humanity is undeniable, and that's something that just cannot be faked or phoned-in. So what you hear here is a conversation with someone who makes incredible shows and movies, informed by a love of the work, the people involved, and life in general. To hear that he was once blamed by a critic for being "singularly responsible for degrading Western Civilization" will make absolutely negative sense by the time you've heard this. Oh and stay for the shared Barney story too, cos that rules. Basically - too much to sum up here - just listen and enjoy, it's a classic DPP right here!
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RUTGER BREGMAN (Utopia For Realists / Humankind / Moral Ambition) • Friday Rewind
01:23:44|emocleW, emocleW, emocleW to the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip!This is your bonus FRIDAY REWIND episode! Today, we catch up with Rutger Bregman, originally episode 190 from 2018-02-21.Original writeup below:An absolutely massive episode covering - as said - some big topics and issues, which are immensely interesting and made a lot easier to understand with Rutger’s able guidance and explanation. His book ‘Utopia For Realists And How We Can Get There’ is available now (published by Bloomsbury), and this should be a good idea of what you can expect - Rutger tackles the issues of universal basic income, strikes, borders, how great art can be achieved by not having basic financial worries, how we need a return to utopian thinking, new ideas beginning at the fringes of society, how the US isn’t the beating heart of the entire world (as the news may have you believe), the ‘circle of bullshit’, and how we are working with “21st Century hardware on 19th Century software” - all of these are expounded on a great deal so this is a good one to really sit and take some time with. There is a kind of ‘Freakanomics’ approach to some of the points, which is fascinating - like the eventual financial cost of one element of one’s life, and the knock-on effects of doing one thing in particular and how it leads to what’s down the road. Just so much to enjoy, and all very positive too - certainly not a world of doom and gloom in this one, no way. Enlighten yourself and enjoy!PIP'S PATREON PAGE if you're of a supporting natureONLINEYOUTUBEPIP TWITCH • (music stuff)PIP INSTAGRAMSPEECH DEVELOPMENT WEBSTOREPIP TWITTERPIP IMDBPOD BIBLE
669. ADEEL AKHTAR • "dig where you stand" (Mass / Four Lions / Down Cemetary Road) #669
48:56||Ep. 669Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip!This week Pip is joined by acting great ADEEL AKHTAR!There's no doubt that this is a very special episode, as you have rightfully come to expect from Distraction Pieces. But there's a feeling of almost meditation on this one, a sense of two people building a very detailed structure of conversation and being in total flow state with it, while all the time the door is open for everyone listening (as opposed to two people having a locked-off personal catch up, you know?). Adeel has clearly done a lot of thinking and indeed meditating on this craft of acting, and so much of it is present here as he and Pip get into all aspects of the game, including the process itself and the myriad facets within, the art and mechanics of theatre acting versus screen acting and the subtle alterations that are necessary, and the idea of requiring permission to pivot or try something new when you might already be exactly where you need to be. As Adell quotes, "dig where you stand". What's also perfect is that he joined Pip for this chat while he was on break from rehearsing for 'Mass', which is also talked about in here. Pure craft on display. Oh and also please check the Music Boutique link below - more details in the ep. Enjoy!PIP'S PATREON PAGE if you're of a supporting natureINSTAGRAMIMDBMASS @ DONMARSAVE THE MUSIC BOUTIQUESPEECH DEVELOPMENT WEBSTOREPIP TWITCH • (music stuff)PIP INSTAGRAMPIP TWITTERPIP PATREONPIP IMDB
BOOTS RILEY (Sorry To Bother You / I Love Boosters / rap legends The Coup) • Friday Rewind
43:55|emocleW, emocleW, emocleW to the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip!This is your bonus FRIDAY REWIND episode! Today, we catch up with Boots Riley, originally episode 243 from 2018-12-05.Original writeup below:“…as I went on I realised the main thing that I needed to give people was passion…”Pip’s been lining this one up for a GOOD long while, before the hype was bubbling in the UK for Boot’s debut film as director, and the wonderful news is that it will be in the UK very soon! I for one am sick of reading tweets about how good it is from US people. So it’s great news that us UK folk get a piece… This is a perfect if slightly condensed connection with Pip and Boots, as they get into his desire to be Prince early on, theatre, film school, wanting to sound like Ice Cube, the mainstream-ness of documentaries, having faith in a great cast, his diverse cinematic influences, importance of wardrobe and “beautiful clutter”. Oh, and that whole Spike Lee thing too... Wonderful - enjoy, investigate the film ‘SORRY TO BOTHER YOU’ and go through the back catalogue of THE COUP at your nearest convenience!!!PIP'S PATREON PAGE if you're of a supporting natureI LOVE BOOSTERSSORRY TO BOTHER YOUTHE COUPBOOTS RILEY on TWITTERBOOTS on SPIKE LEEPIP TWITCH • (music stuff)PIP INSTAGRAMSPEECH DEVELOPMENT WEBSTOREPIP TWITTERPIP IMDBPOD BIBLE
668. GEMMA CAIRNEY • pre-order 'The Immortal Sisterhood' to ensure a gift of future happiness (radio / media / all things great) #668
01:21:12||Ep. 668Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip!This week Pip is joined by the necessary ray of light that is GEMMA CAIRNEY!A return mission from Gemma, as the last meeting was a good 9 years ago... Also "necessary ray of light", while a lovely sounding complement, doesn't actually inform you of what Gemma's up to at the moment or has been up to over those interveining 9 years, which is a huge amount! From the early years on radio right up to recent times, with a prolific range of projects and quests along the way, Gemma hasn't lost any sparkle or positivity, which is a rare thing in a world such as this. But as you can imagine, it does take energy an a psychic toll, and we hear about it in this awesome, inspiring episode. While there is a wealth of tangents born from her upcoming book release 'The Immortal Sisterhood', she and Pip cover a lot of ground including art and creativity and the class cross-section, patriarchy at large, motherhood (times two!), location, hwo and why love is just straight up better than hate, and altogether much too much to summarise in these notes. So just jump in and enjoy, and you're sure to come away from this one with a smile and feeling just a little bit taller. Or maybe floating a bit. Enjoy!PIP'S PATREON PAGE if you're of a supporting natureINSTAGRAMTHE IMMORTAL SISTERHOOD pre-orderTHE IMMORTAL SISTERHOOD LIVEGEMMA'S PATREONDREAM SPACESPEECH DEVELOPMENT WEBSTOREPIP TWITCH • (music stuff)PIP INSTAGRAMPIP TWITTERPIP PATREONPIP IMDB
NORMAN COOK (aka FATBOY SLIM!) • Friday Rewind
01:15:12|emocleW, emocleW, emocleW to the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip!This is your bonus FRIDAY REWIND episode! Today, we catch up with Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim, originally episode 268 from 2019-05-15.Original writeup below:“Fatboy Slim? Just a band…”It’s so great when these music based episodes come around, especially when Pip has had previous dealings with the guest in question which is exactly the case with Norman. In fact you will hear the evidence of which at the very end of the podcast so keep that in the treat bank for now eh! A truly great chat with the two down on the coast in Norman’s Brighton home, where they catch up on all sorts covering the past, the present and the future of his career. As you’ll hear, it’s really quite a monumental career at that - indeed, he goes decades deeper than a few hit singles. From an early start with his band The Housemartins, he’s had more pseudonyms than Kool Keith and played to more people than - well, you name em… The very definition of a superstar DJ, let’s say! From some podcast chatter up top, to some light Millwall vs Brighton banter, to his early days in Reigate being a punk up against a sea of teddyboys, the homogeneity of culture these days, the relationship dynamics of being in a band, how he’s always been into indie and dance music when the two were not as mixed up as the present day, that insane Brighton beach show, collaborating with previous DPP guest Ryca, being very much in the public eye via his marriage to Zoe Ball and SO much brilliant music talk throughout. Immense! Listen and love!PIP'S PATREON PAGE if you're of a supporting natureFATBOY SLIM ONLINE (everything is here)PIP TWITCH • (music stuff)PIP INSTAGRAMSPEECH DEVELOPMENT WEBSTOREPIP TWITTERPIP IMDBPOD BIBLE
667. ED GAMBLE • get your tickets now for his 2027 'Fresh Hell' tour (Off Menu / Traitors: Uncloaked / Taskmaster) #667
01:07:18||Ep. 667Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip!This week Pip is joined by the always welcome and always funny ED GAMBLE!Ed Gamble in the building! It's always a great day when Ed comes knocking. This is one of those episodes where topics could have been randomly picked out of a hat and it would have still been fantastic, but of course that's not how things went down (and topics remained organic to the conversation). Whether you know Ed from Off Menu or more recent ventures, or you've been a fan since the good old days, it's a lovely chat which factors in all sorts including early nu-metal days, the almight companion show 'The Traitors: Uncloaked' and the always cooking 'Taskmaster', the process of comedy and showmaking, being in support of comics, the consistently top 10 podcast 'Off Menu' with co-host genie James Acaster, the whole pivot to video movement within podcasting, and wrestling. And so much more! But that's for you to discover. ENJOY!PIP'S PATREON PAGE if you're of a supporting natureONLINE & TOUR DATESONLINE STORE (vinyl still available)INSTAGRAMOFF MENUSPEECH DEVELOPMENT WEBSTOREPIP TWITCH • (music stuff)PIP INSTAGRAMPIP TWITTERPIP PATREONPIP IMDB
JAMIE DEMETRIOU (Stath Lets Flats / Fleabag / Paddington 2) • Friday Rewind
01:14:07|emocleW, emocleW, emocleW to the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip!This is your bonus FRIDAY REWIND episode! Today, we catch up with Jamie Demetriou, originally episode 212 from 2018-06-20.Original writeup below:You’re going to be seeing a LOT more of Jamie over the next month or two as he’s about to unveil his new series ‘Stath Lets Flats’, which is part of Channel 4’s ‘Comedy Blaps’ vehicle - in the meantime, enjoy this proper get together with Pip and Jamie, as the two cover a ton of ground in the cosy but apparently humid Acast studios to discuss the use of the not often utilised Greek accent in comedy, working on a small scale as a jumping board for larger scale work, the fact that he’s “Always done idiots”, working with and promoting his comedian sister, the heightened but committed character, reactions to comedy within the actual scenes, improv and the importance of casting, the insanity and craziness of the Edinburgh Fringe, the idea of ‘anti-comedy’, and it’s important to point out that while this episode features reference to David Earl throughout, the podcast is not sponsored nor overseen by him. But check him out whenever you can, of course. He’s awesome. So’s Jamie. Enjoy!PIP'S PATREON PAGE if you're of a supporting natureSTATH LETS FLATSINSTAGRAMIMDBPIP TWITCH • (music stuff)PIP INSTAGRAMSPEECH DEVELOPMENT WEBSTOREPIP TWITTERPIP IMDBPOD BIBLE
666. DAVID DASTMALCHIAN • the LA vampire with an attitude of gratitude (Late Night With The Devil / One Piece / Oppenheimer) #666
54:09||Ep. 666Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip!This week Pip is joined by the excellent and truly unique actor DAVID DASTMALCHIAN!The perfect guest for this episode 🤘 as the Iron Maiden classic spins in the background... David is a fantastic presence who has awesome stories but it's not just that, it's the whole vibe. Some might say "essence", if they're feeling snooty. But whatever the weather - always a good hang. There is a HUGE amount of covered ground here as you'd hope, including a hot off the press movie recommendation, some Cyndi Lauper business up top, music recommendations, loving LA as a vampire (complete with black umbrella), early Chicago days artistry, craft, process, gratitude and reckoning with past addictions having been in recovery for almost 2 decades. And, as Pip hints, tales for days. Really great stuff, proper Distraction Pieces goodness or - if you will - Dastmalchian Pieces, as it shall be known for this episode. Thank you.PIP'S PATREON PAGE if you're of a supporting natureIMDBINSTAGRAMLATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVILSTREET FIGHTERPRISONERSPIP AT PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA • 9th April!SPEECH DEVELOPMENT WEBSTOREPIP TWITCH • (music stuff)PIP INSTAGRAMPIP TWITTERPIP PATREONPIP IMDB
GEORGINA CAMPBELL (Barbarian / Cold Storage / Black Mirror) • Friday Rewind
01:00:06|emocleW, emocleW, emocleW to the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip!This is your bonus FRIDAY REWIND episode! Today, we catch up with Georgina Campbell, originally episode 90 from 2016-03-23.Original writeup below:(welcome) WELCOME w-e-l-c-o-m-e (trying to match Pip's impulse to change that cadence at the start) to your 90th episode of the Distraction Pieces Podcast, featuring the wonderful and crazy skilled Georgina Campbell! A bright and breezy chat to match the time of year, with a super nice back and forth between Georgina and Pip covering all the good stuff, from her being talent-scouted in the street, to her earlier roles and influences, her awards win for 'Murdered By My Boyfriend', and the back catalogue of goodness as well as the - forward? - catalogue of greatness down the road... Such a nice, uplifting and inspiring chat from one of the UK's finest. Georgina Campbell is your new best friend!PIP'S PATREON PAGE if you're of a supporting natureIMDBINSTAGRAMBARBARIANCOLD STORAGEPIP TWITCH • (music stuff)PIP INSTAGRAMSPEECH DEVELOPMENT WEBSTOREPIP TWITTERPIP IMDBPOD BIBLE