The New World Pictures Podcast

Interview Part 2 with director Fritz Kiersch (TUFF TURF, CHILDREN OF THE CORN)

A bucket list guest, director Fritz Kiersch, returns with the second half of our conversation that covers his move from the commercial world to the New World (ahem) of features starting with 1984's CHILDREN OF THE CORN and continuing with 1985's TUFF TURF as Fritz continued to deliver success after success for New World Pictures.  And because the movies Fritz directed were so well received, he was one of the few directors to get a three picture deal, which would eventually end with 1989's UNDER THE BOARDWALK (and, in our eyes, should have included 1987's WINNERS TAKE ALL).  We put CHILDREN OF THE CORN and TUFF TURF under the microscope and talk about the production of each, including casting, script changes, building a soundtrack, French New Wave, and what happened to the Cornmobile! As you will recall from the first part of our conversation with Fritz, he is as quick-witted and sharp as ever, so you don't want to miss this look back at two classic New World films.  Again, we cannot thank Fritz enough for sitting down with us for such an extended discussion of his career! Don't miss it!     For more about the New World Pictures Podcast, including previous episodes, t-shirts, mugs, sweatshirts, other merch and more, we DARE YOU to head here: https://newworldpicturespodcast.com/ [https://newworldpicturespodcast.com/] For all the shows in Someone’s Favorite Productions Podcast Network, head here:  https://www.someonesfavoriteproductions.com/ [https://www.someonesfavoriteproductions.com/%C2%A0]

Ep. 175: Nashville Girl featuring Tommy Bechtold

June Gloom 2: Down to Frown is upon us dear listeners, and things are dark. Lucky for you, and us, we are joined this week by special guest and NWPPVIP Tommy Bechtold! Tommy is a comedian, and actor, and if you have been fortunate enough to see Tommy perform stand up or listened to our episodes on DEF-CON 4 [https://www.newworldpicturespodcast.com/ep-90-def-con-4-featuring-tommy-bechtold/], BEVERLY HILLS VAMP [https://www.newworldpicturespodcast.com/ep-145-beverly-hills-vamp-featuring-tommy-bechtold/], TRIAL OF THE INCREDIBLE HULK [https://www.newworldpicturespodcast.com/ep-120-trial-of-the-incredible-hulk-featuring-tommy-bechtold/], you know he is hilarious. Truly a ray of sunshine in this otherwise gloomy month. In this episode we head down South to talk about 1976's NASHVILLE GIRL. Directed by Gus Trikonis (THE EVIL [https://www.newworldpicturespodcast.com/ep-19-the-evil/]), this 1970's hicksploitation film follows a 16-year-old runaway, played by Monica Gayle (SWITCHBLADE SISTERS), as she makes her way to the big city of Nashville (spoiler in the title!) to pursue a career in the music industry as a county singer.  In this episode,  we laugh, we cry, we ask whyyyyyy would anyone not listen to us explore diners, fashion, and the highly questionable choices of the 70s when newspapers were the gateway to all our dreams. And does this have anything to do with another film from the 70s with "Nashville" in the title? Listen and find out! For more about the New World Pictures Podcast, including previous episodes, t-shirts, mugs, sweatshirts, other merch and more, we DARE YOU to head here: https://newworldpicturespodcast.com/ [https://newworldpicturespodcast.com/] For all the shows in Someone’s Favorite Productions Podcast Network, head here:  https://www.someonesfavoriteproductions.com/ [https://www.someonesfavoriteproductions.com/%C2%A0]

Ep. 174: Richard's Things

June Gloom 2: Down to Frown is officially underway, and we are kicking it off with the 1980 British drama RICHARD'S THINGS, starring Liv Ullmann and Amanda Redman. RICHARD'S THINGS is the story of Kate, a woman whose husband Richard has the decency to die before the movie even really gets going, leaving behind his things — and, as Kate slowly pieces together, his mistress. What follows is a methodical, quivering-lipped journey through grief, betrayal, and the unlikely friendship that blooms between a widow and her late husband's younger lover, Josie. United by their mutual loss, mutual exasperation, and a shared appreciation for lighting a cigarette without ever actually smoking it, the two women navigate the emotional wreckage of loving the same deeply average man. There's so much to uncover in RICHARD'S THINGS.  And by uncover, we don't mean nudity.  There's not much of that.  But there are omelets. There are hugs — intense, hard-R hugs. There is a burglar in slacks.  There are disgruntled in-laws. And eventually, there is a road-side breakup that may be the most efficient ending of a relationship in cinema history.  We discuss the film's notoriously deliberate pacing — which is to say, every line of dialogue arrives as though it has traveled a great distance and needs a moment to rest. We gush over the film's undisputed highlight: a gloriously civil home burglary committed by a man in a sport coat who would go on to play Emperor Palpatine in the STAR WARS franchise. For more about the New World Pictures Podcast, including previous episodes, t-shirts, mugs, sweatshirts, other merch and more, we DARE YOU to head here: https://newworldpicturespodcast.com/ [https://newworldpicturespodcast.com/] For all the shows in Someone’s Favorite Productions Podcast Network, head here:  https://www.someonesfavoriteproductions.com/ [https://www.someonesfavoriteproductions.com/%C2%A0]

Ep. 173: Spider-Man: Secret Wars featuring Karen Graci

Just as soon as it began, Marc's Miserable Marvelous May 4: EVER! has come to a close, but not before we do battle in a - shhhhh! - "secret" war with SPIDER-MAN: SECRET WARS! Stitched together with five episode of the Spider-Man Animated Series and released on home video, SECRET WARS sees Spidey go up against The Beyonder and Madame Web in a test to see if good can triumph over evil! Why did The Beyonder have to transport Spider-Man and other heroes onto a distant planet to watch that when they seem to do it on the regular on Earth? Who knows! All we know is there are some rules and also not some rules. Joining us in the adventure is Karen Graci, a writer and producer for My Adventures with Superman (check out Season 3 on HBO MAX and/or Adult Swim) and the Head Writer and Producer of the upcoming series My Adventures with Green Lantern! We discuss why Madame Web represents life goals, why it sucks to be pulled into an interdimensional battle when you're in the middle of something, and how easy it is to ruin an entire planet's existence! Was Marc miserable? Did he enjoy it? Which character was his favorite? You have to listen to find out! For more about the New World Pictures Podcast, including previous episodes, t-shirts, mugs, sweatshirts, other merch and more, we DARE YOU to head here: https://newworldpicturespodcast.com/ [https://newworldpicturespodcast.com/] For all the shows in Someone’s Favorite Productions Podcast Network, head here:  https://www.someonesfavoriteproductions.com/ [https://www.someonesfavoriteproductions.com/%C2%A0]

Interview with screenwriter/producer Craig J. Nevius (BLACK SCORPION, FANTASTIC FOUR)

We continue Marc’s Miserable Marvelous May 4: EVER! with an interview that dives deep into our Nearly New World selection from last week: 1995's BLACK SCORPION! Yes, we talk with screenwriter Craig J. Nevius about his career from writing plays in high school to casting Brad Pitt in his debut feature, 1989's HAPPY TOGETHER, to his beginnings with Roger Corman writing 1991's KISS ME A KILLER to 1994's FANTASTIC FOUR and, of course, the BLACK SCORPION franchise. Along the way we talk about the issues behind the infamous FANTASTIC FOUR production (and dispel some myths), what it was like working with Stan Lee, the difficulty in casting Adam West, what Craig learned from his years working with Corman, and, of course, Underoos. This is an amazing conversation filled with insight and stories never revealed before, so don't miss it! To learn more about Craig's Windmill Entertainment, go to the Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/WindmillEntertainmentCompany/]! For more about the New World Pictures Podcast, including previous episodes, t-shirts, mugs, sweatshirts, other merch and more, we DARE YOU to head here: https://newworldpicturespodcast.com/ [https://newworldpicturespodcast.com/] For all the shows in Someone’s Favorite Productions Podcast Network, head here:  https://www.someonesfavoriteproductions.com/ [https://www.someonesfavoriteproductions.com/%C2%A0] #fantasticfour #blackscorpion #RogerCorman #AdamWest