Hollywood Gold

Producers Dan Cohen and Michael Clear recall the development and subsequent production of horror hit BACKROOMS. Cohen and Clear take us through the discovery of Kane Parsons' Backrooms web series, their shock at his young age, and his incredible ability to learn what it means to direct a project of this scale. The two also break down the unique production challenges the film presented, including the practical construction of the seemingly infinite Backrooms. Take a listen to learn how a small internet project became one of the summer's biggest films.

Producer Jeremy Thomas remembers the making of 1987's legendary film The Last Emperor. Jeremy was a young indie producer with an eager spirit and a history of ingenuity when iconic director Bernardo Bertolucci approached him about making a film about the last Emperor of China. Jeremy knew it would be a feat to accomplish such an undertaking, but instead of shying away from the challenge, he leaned in and got the support of the Chinese government. A true international collobration, the film's authenticity is evident and it remains a classic.

Welcome back to a brand-new season of Hollywood Gold! To kick things off, producer Riva Marker joins Daniela for a deep dive into the summer's biggest blockbusters. From sweeping epics like The Odyssey to horror box-office sensations such as Backrooms and Obsession, the two break down the hits, surprises, and industry trends that defined the season. Tune in for their candid takes on what worked, what didn't, and what this summer means for the future of Hollywood.

On this special episode of Hollywood Gold, Daniela, Vanessa, and Andrew gear up for summer as they discuss the most anticipated movie releases of the season. From showstopping sequels like Toy Story 5 and The Devil Wears Prada 2 to tales like Disclosure Day and The Odyssey, there’s no doubt this summer will bring some of the year’s biggest hits. To our loyal listeners, have a wonderful summer, and we’ll see you in the fall!

Producer Wendy Finerman discusses the making of 2006's Oscar-nominated classic The Devil Wears Prada. Wendy was confident in the unexpected casting of Meryl Streep in a role that many didn't think she would be funny in, and was proved right when Meryl truly embodied a role that immortalized Vogue's already famous Anna Wintour. Paired with the brilliance of Anne Hathaway and a young Emily Blunt in a role that would launch her career, the film went on to be nominated for two Oscars and become a critical and commercial success. Catch The Devil Wears Prada 2 out in theaters May 1st!

Producer Mason Novick recalls the making of 2007's unlikely cultural sensation Juno. Mason reached out to Wisconsin-based writer Diablo Cody whose edgy blog grabbed his attention. Diablo had written a book about her time as a stripper, but never a screenplay. A few years later, after securing huge stars Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman and the genius casting of Elliot Page and Michael Cera to star in Jason Reitman's groundbreaking film, Diablo and Mason found themselves at the Oscars. Juno resonates to this day and remains one of the only indie films to find massive success at both the box office and the Oscars.

Producer Nina Jacobson recounts the making of 2012's wildly successful THE HUNGER GAMES, the adaptation of the hit book series that became a cultural phenomenon and catapulted Jennifer Lawrence to superstardom. Nina, fresh off a gig as the head of Disney, used her studio experience to navigate the tricky road to successfully launch the first film of a female-centered action franchise that is still putting out new installments over a decade later.

Writer Kiwi Smith recalls the making of the 2001 classic LEGALLY BLONDE. Fresh off of her first hit 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU, Kiwi and her writing partner Karen McCullah were eager to find a story centered on female empowerment that was fun, fresh, smart, and accessible. She found all that and more in an unpublished manuscript about a sorority girl going to Stanford Law. Kiwi remembers wearing pink to their studio pitch and being fully committed to bringing Elle's story to the screen in the right way. A huge part of that was the casting. Among many others, Britney Spears was floated as a possible idea, but it was undeniably Reese Witherspoon's part. Reese emerged as a true leader and her turn as Elle is the stuff of movie legend and inspired a generation of beautiful, smart, and successful women.