MK3D Archives - HLA Agency

Mark Kermode Live in 3D

Mark Kermode Live in 3D is a monthly stage show at the BFI Southbank in which Mark Kermode welcomes a couple of guests onto the stage to have conversations about what has been happening in the world of film, and to delve deeper into particular movies or topics.

Affectionately known as MK3D, the show is lively and interactive. Mark brings his trademark wit and passion to the stage and talks to film stars and character actors, high-profile established directors and young aspiring talent. Diverse and eclectic, always passionate, informed and fun, with Q&As and clips, it’s guaranteed to rekindle your love for cinema, put a smile on your face and a spring in your step.

MK3D is an HLA Agency production.

Listen to the spin-off Kermode On Film podcast here.

Mark Kermode on stage at Mark Kermode Live in 3D on Monday 24 June 2019 at BFI Southbank, London. Picture by Julie Edwards.

Below is a list of the shows you missed – now available online as part of the Kermode On Film podcast.

Mark Kermode Online in 3D | Show 55 | September 2020

For September’s online edition of MK3D, Mark invites four fascinating guests on the show.

In response to a question from the virtual audience Mark looks ahead to the BFI London Film Festival (7 to 18 October 2020). As excited as Mark is for Steve McQueen’s opening film Mangrove and Francis Lee’s closing film Ammonite, he equally looks forward to stumbling upon unknown gems. Find out about Mark’s LFF experience in our next episode, out on 19 October.

Mark’s first guest is Be Manzini, founder of Caramel Film Club and trailblazing ‘film poet’. They talk about Chinonye Chukwu’s Clemency (2019), and Be recites her poetic response to the film. Based on real life events, Clemency follows the interweaving lives of the prison warden and her prisoner, an innocent man kept on death row for 22 years, and portrays the devastating effects of America’s death penalty system. Concluding with a look back on his illustrious career, Be pays an equally poignant poetical tribute to the late, great Chadwick Boseman.

Next up, Mark welcomes composer Segun Akinola to the screen. The two musicians get excited about tambourines and track Segun’s career. From Shola Amoo’s The Last Tree to the latest series of Doctor Who, there’s lots to unpack! Finally, you can find out what Segun thinks of Mark’s bass playing…

The final guests are writer-director Rose Glass and actor Morfydd Clark, who recently collaborated on Saint Maud. In this psychological horror a devout Christian nurse comes to believe that she must save the soul of her patient. Morfydd explains how she approached the titular role of Maud, and Rose talks about how she developed this sinister story.

To celebrate Chadwick Boseman Mark treats us to a clip of Chadwick’s role as James Brown in Get On Up (2014) for this show’s concluding musical moment.

Mark Kermode Online in 3D | Show 54 | July 2020

The fourth online edition of MK3D sees four big guests take to the screen to talk about the films that make them tick.

In response to questions posted on his Patreon page, Mark kicks off the show by discussing remakes of The Exorcist (again!), his desire for a TV adaptation of the story behind Stanley and Iris (1990), and his love for Altered States (1980).

Ahead of filming the next Mission Impossible, Mark talks to Simon Pegg about his latest two movies. Simon delves into his recent roles in Inheritance, about a girl who inherits a terrible secret from her father, and Lost Transmissions, a drama about a schizophrenic music producer. For ‘Guilty Pleasures’, Simon chooses Italian sub Romero horrors Zombi 2 (1979) and The Beyond (1981). This quickly escalates into a gleefully gory discussion of video nasties. Moving from barfs to laughs, Simon selects Raising Arizona (1987) by the Coen Brothers for ‘The Film That Changed My Life’ and explains how it has influenced his comedy filmmaking.

Up next is Salvador Simó who talks about his film Buñuel: in the Labyrinth of the Turtles (2018) following its release on BFI Player. Based on the graphic novel by Fermín Solís, this animated feature tracks the filmmaking journey of Luis Buñuel’s hard-hitting documentary in 1930s Spain. Salvador explains his motivation behind adapting this provocative true story.

With no shortage of talented guests, Mark then welcomes comedian, actor and writer Shazia Mirza to the show. Shazia tells Mark about seeing The Jungle Book (1967) on her first trip to the cinema, and offers two surprising choices for ‘Guilty Pleasures’ – she explains why she can’t stop watching the awful Bitter Moon (1992) and how Raging Bull (1980) inspires her comedy writing.

Mark’s final guest is the fantastic Brian Cox. Ever productive, Brian updates Mark on his recent and current projects, including his roles in the virtual lockdown film, The Agoraphobics Detective Society, the third season of Succession, and the upcoming Ian Rankin adaptation, Detention. Brian joyfully delves into his choice for ‘Guilty Pleasures’ – the quick-fire, mistaken-identity comedy The Court Jester (1955). And Mark rounds up the conversation by inviting Brian to the BFI Southbank in 2021 to celebrate his sixty-year career.

Lastly, as a tribute to the late, great composer Ennio Morricone, the show plays out to his music with a clip from The Mission (1986). For extended versions of tonight’s interviews, check out the Kermode On Film podcast on all platforms, or on Twitter and Instagram @kermodeonfilm.

Mark Kermode Online in 3D | Show 53 | June 2020

For the third online edition of MK3D, Mark welcomes five fascinating guests to the screen to chat about their careers and current projects.

Mark kicks off the show with a Q&A, answering questions from the Patreon page. He reveals the theme of his new book, discusses remakes, and considers rewatching Kansas City (1996).

For ‘Coming Attractions’, Mark’s first guest is Sam Riley, a winner of the prestigious (“better than an Oscar!”) Kermode Award for his role in Control (2007). Sam discusses co-starring opposite Rosamund Pike as the physicists Pierre and Marie Curie in the new biopic Radioactive. He also hints at what to expect from the upcoming remake of Rebecca.

Next up are Fyzal Boulifa, writer and director of Lynn + Lucy, and Roxanne Scrimshaw, who plays Lynn. The film tells the story of two school friends who fall out when one loses her child. Fyzal reveals the inspiration behind his tragic tale and Roxanne talks about the experience of being cast in her first professional role.

As Noel Clarke‘s self-proclaimed “biggest fan” Mark is delighted to talk to him in the wake of the second season of the hit detective series Bulletproof, which Noel created and stars in. They look back at the successes and challenges of Noel’s career so far, from Kidulthood (2006) to Doctor Who to Star Trek Into Darkness (2013). And as Mark hails Noel as “a one man film industry”, Noel reveals why this phrase highlights pressing problems within the British film industry. Finally, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, Noel discusses his own experiences of discrimination and racial profiling.

There is no shortage of brilliant guests as Mark welcomes Caitlin Moran to talk about her new, semi-autobiographical film, How To Build A Girl. Starring Beanie Feldstein as a working-class teenager from Wolverhampton, this coming-of-age story follows her boldly try to find her feet in the masculine world of ’90s music journalism. Caitlin cringes as Mark reminds her about the first time they met when she was just 16. She goes on to tell outlandish true stories behind How To Build A Girl and reveals that her next film will be sci fi with a twist.

Finally, ending with the usual celebration of sound and vision, Mark chooses a clip from Control showcasing Sam Riley’s unique rendition of Joy Division’s “Transmission”. For extended versions of tonight’s interviews, check out the Kermode On Film podcast on all platforms, or on Twitter and Instagram @kermodeonfilm.

Mark Kermode Online in 3D | Show 52 | May 2020

Following 50 entertaining live shows and a packed first Mark Kermode Online in 3D last month, the second online edition sees Mark welcome four talented guests to talk about the movies that are getting us through lockdown.

Mark’s first guests are Simon Bird, director of Days of Bagnold Summer, and Monica Dolan, who plays Sue Bagnold. The film tells an all-too-familiar story about a mum and her son who find themselves spending 6 weeks at home together after their summer holiday plans are cancelled. Simon and Monica explore the processes of adapting a graphic novel and giving ordinary lives a cinematic platform.

Catching up for the first time since MK3D’s epic 50^th episode celebration, Jason Isaacs has Mark in stitches as he shares what he has been up to in lockdown. They take their minds off the pandemic by talking about our favourite ‘meddling kids’ in the family feel-good animation Scoob. Jason discusses his voice-acting work and an impromptu encounter with his co-star Zac Efron in an elevator. And Jason asks Mark’s advice on the age-old dilemma of how to settle on what film to watch with your family, to which Mark offers a solution: Powell and Pressburger’s A Matter of Life And Death (1946).

Finally, Andy Serkis tells us when we can expect to see Venom 2 and shares his experience recording the Hobbitathon. He also takes part in two much-loved segments of the show, choosing apocalyptic comedy This Is the End (2013) for ‘Guilty Pleasures’ and all-time classic Apocalypse Now (1979) for ‘The Film That Changed Your Life’. The conversation rounds up with Mark and Andy discussing the technological advancements of the past few decades, which are leading to an exciting future in theatre and film.

As usual, the episode ends with its iconic celebration of sound and vision, playing out to the raucous ‘Boss Bitch Fight Challenge 2020’. For extended versions of tonight’s interviews, check out the Kermode On Film podcast on all platforms, or on Twitter and Instagram @kermodeonfilm.

Mark Kermode Online in 3D | Show 51 | April 2020

Our first ever digital edition of the duly renamed Mark Kermode Online in 3D was just as packed as our usual live shows. Joining Mark from across the globe, our seven guests brought the same animated brilliance to their video interviews as can be counted upon in an evening at the BFI Southbank.

Gugu M’batha Raw joined Mark first, talking about her starring role in the recently digitally released Misbehaviour. All the way from LA, she talked about the many-sided story of the 1970 Miss World protest told by the film, and its relevance to today. Plus, she and Mark revisit her breakthrough role in Amma Assante’s Belle.

Bringing the “party on the top, comfort on the bottom” with his tuxedo and PJs videocall combo, Jack Howard joined Mark next. They talked lockdown life, isolation film clubs, and in a truly shocking admission Jack revealed that he’d never seen The Exorcist. Frankly, we’re surprised Mark didn’t just hang up.

Sharing his film club choices too was comedy legend and ‘Smartest Man In The World’ Greg Proops. Another of our guests calling from California, he also gave us a peak at the surprising result of a garage clear-out – his lockdown ‘shrine’.

Show day marked the digital release of Calm With Horses, Nick Rowland’s gritty drama set amongst small-town crime in rural Ireland. Patching in its stars Niahm Algar and Cosmo Jarvis, Mark got the inside perspective on the development process behind their characters Ursula and Arm ̶ with the help of crisps and cans by the canal. That’s a method approach we could get behind…

Translating our regular ‘Here’s The Thing’ feature into the lexicon of lockdown, Mark interviewed brand new BFI CEO Ben Roberts, who’s had to incorporate a global pandemic into his handover. He shared details of the BFI’s Britain In Lockdown video preservation project, and offered his reassurances about the future of cinema beyond.

Meera Syal joined Mark for ‘The Film That Changed My Life’, choosing Douglas Sirk’s Immitation Of Life for itscompassionate approach to identity and belonging. Treating us to her ‘Guilty Pleasure’ too, she revisited the guiltlessly wonderful When Harry Met Sally.

The show stuck to its trademark ‘Sound & Vision’ finale, playing out to Frances Ha’s joyous invocation of Bowie’s ‘Modern Love’. We wish we could all skip down the Southbank again, but until then you can join us online for the next digital MK3D. For extended versions of tonight’s interviews, check out the Kermode On Film podcast on all platforms, or on Twitter and Instagram @kermodeonfilm.

Mark Kermode Live in 3D | Show 50 | March 2020

This month’s MK3D was an especially lively evening to mark a very special occasion: our 50^th show. A ‘Sound & Vision’ extravaganza, the night celebrated those golden moments when music and film intersect to create goosebumpy cinematic perfection ̶ and we were thrilled to share it with some exceptional guests dear to us at MK3D.

First up, Mark’s partners in skiffle The Dodge Brothers – tonight consisting of guitarists Mike Hammond and Aly Hirji, with Neil Brand on the keys ̶ joined him onstage. Bringing back the magic of the pre-talkie era for a few moments, they performed a live improvised score to the 1930 silent film City Girl. Neil stuck around onstage to revel with Mark in his favourite musical screen moments, from the sweeping orchestral notes of Murder On The Orient Express to the spine-tingling synths of Close Encounters Of The Third Kind.

Director Amma Assante joined Mark next to discuss her upcoming project Mrs America, a 1970s-set drama about the backlash against the American Equal Rights Amendment. Like Neil, she shares her favourite movie music moment – an altogether more comic choice.

A Bond-themed number was the favourite of composer David Arnold, who also took to the piano to perform his own captivating piece inspired by the nation’s favourite secret agent. Sanjeev Bhaskar showed his range with picks from Hollywood and Bollywood alike, and final guest Jason Isaacs was his usual sweary self with a scene from The Godfather and a gangster anecdote to match.

A raucous rockabilly playout of Rocket In My Pocket saw the night end on a high note, with the whole gang – and producer Hedda – jumping onstage to join in. Here’s to the next 50!

Mark Kermode Live in 3D | Show 49 | February 2020

February’s MK3D show saw Mark chat to three brilliant and wildly differing guests.

First up was Finnish director J-P Valpeakää, whose unique new film Dogs Don’t Wear Pants makes a study of grief and BDSM. He describes the feature as “a romantic comedy”, but it’s certainly unlike any we’ve seen before. Dismissing Marathon Man’s infamously horrifying tooth-pulling scene as “too short”, and disdaining the much beloved Forest Gump as the worst film ever made, his searingly dry wit had the BFI’s NFT1 in stitches.

We also heard from the fabulous, filter-less actress and filmmaker Kerry Fox, who plays Bella in Jessica Hausner’s plant-based thriller Little Joe. Having worked with numerous female directors from Jane Campion to Billie Piper, she shared her experiences of women behind the camera ̶ and how they inspired her to realise her longstanding aspiration of becoming a director herself. As well as treating us to reminiscences of her work on Shallow Grave and Intimacy, she put to Mark her choice for ‘The Film That Changed My Life’: Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive.

The delightful James Norton was our final guest of the evening. Star of the new Soviet investigative thriller Mr Jones, he discussed his encounter with the grim history of the Holodomor and the real-life journalist Gareth Jones who struggled to break the story in the UK. We also heard tales from the set of Little Women, and of his role as Stephen Ward in TV’s The Trial Of Kristine Keeler. Plus, his pick has to go down with the best of the ‘Guilty Pleasures’: Robin Hood Prince Of Thieves, with special love for Alan Rickman.

With his signature musical hommage – this time from Little Shop Of Horrors and a plant even creepier than ‘Little Joe’ ̶ Mark wrapped up another buoyant night at the BFI.
Photos by Bethany Hobbs

Mark Kermode Live in 3D | Show 48 | January 2020

We kicked off the fifth year of MK3D in style with fantastic guests.

For Coming Attractions, our first guest was the honourable Kristin Scott Thomas, who talked about her new film, Military Wives, which is based on the incredible true story of a group of women who start a chair whilst their partners are serving in Afghanistan. Mark and Kristin also discussed her previous work, including Four Weddings and a Funeral and Leaving (for which she won a prestigious Kermode award). Kristin also took part in one of the show’s most-loved features, Guilty Pleasures, selecting Ridley Scott’s Alien.

Next up, we had another Coming Attractions in the form of Alfred George Bailey and his new documentary, Show Me The Picture: The Story of Jim Marshall. A film about the legendary photographer who captured some of the most iconic moments of the 60s and 70s from the heights of the Rock and Roll music era to the Civil Rights movement. Alfred discussed the journey to getting the film made, which included his previous film, Gregory Porter Don’t Forget Your Music. After the show, Alfred headed straight to the Royal Albert Hall for a private screening of the film, which follows an exhibition of Marshall’s photography in London.

In Here’s The Thing Mark paid tribute to the late Kobe Bryant, who tragically passed away very recently, mentioning his Academy Award winning Animated Short film, Dear Basketball. Mark also highlighted the current Save Prospect Cottage campaign to save Derek Jarman’s house. Mark welcomed Jack Howard on-stage to discuss the recent Kermode on Film Live recording at the IFFR in Rotterdam.

Mark turned to the audience for Ask the Audience, and answered questions about what films to see in 2020, whether or not the infamous Kermode awards are making a return (which they are), and if he could elaborate further on his five-star review of Armando Iannucci’s new film, The Personal History of David Copperfield. This led very nicely to…

Our final guest of the night was the hilarious Armando Iannucci, who joined Mark on-stage to talk about his new film, which stars Dev Patel, Tilda Swinton, and Hugh Laurie. Mark and Armando discussed the film and the outstanding Chaplin-esque lead performance given by Patel, as well as the terrific performance from Jairaj Varsnai, who plays the young David Copperfield. Mark also talked with Armando about his previous films including The Death of Stalin and his hugely successful television show The Thick of It, which included a comical cameo of Mark and his “massive hands”. For his Guilty Pleasure, Armando selected Roland Emmerich’s Independence Day starring Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum.

Finally, Mark ended the show with a poignant and hilarious tribute to the late Terry Jones, who passed away last week.

Mark Kermode Live in 3D | Show 47 | December 2019

Rounding off the show’s fourth year, the final MK3D of 2019 featured great guests and some festive treats. Thank you to our special supporters, Kodak.

Mark welcomed the audience and began the show with a Q&A, which saw the audience quiz Mark on various topics, including Spielberg’s upcoming West Side Story remake.

Our first guest was the terrific Taron Egerton, star of Rocketman, for which he received rave reviews and nominations for an array of awards, including a Golden Globe. Taron talked about his performance in the Elton John biopic directed by Dexter Fletcher (who came on the show last month). Mark and Taron talked about how the film came about, and the preparation involved in taking on the role. They also talked about Eddie the Eagle, Kingsman, and Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and discussed how monumental Rocketman has been, and how it will influence the choices Taron makes going forward.

Up next in Here’s The Thing Mark discussed the impending release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, taking the opportunity to reiterate how brilliant The Last Jedi was, despite the nasty criticism it received both during and after its release. Mark also paid tribute to Danny Aiello, star of Do The Right Thing and Moonstruck, who sadly passed away earlier in the month.

Next up, actress Emily Beecham came on to talk about her new film, Little Joe, for which she won the Best Actress prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Directed by Jessica Hausner, the film opens in February and sees Emily play a single mother who works in plant breeding facility. Emily talked about her Cannes win and the extraordinary experience of making the film. Mark also talked to Emily about her role in Hail, Caesar! alongside Ralph Fiennes and Alden Ehrenreich, and asked about Emily’s upcoming films, including Cruella which stars Emma Stone and Emma Thompson and is a live-action origin tale of Cruella de Vil.

To get in the festive spirit, and inspired by the recent success of Knives Out, Mark played a Christmas parlour game with the audience in which various pictorial clues came up on-screen and the audience could guess which whodunnit film they related to!

In last month’s show, Mark exclusively revealed that the BFI are hosting a screening of Mark Jenkin’s Bait in January featuring a live-score by award-winning Cornish-Welsh musician Gwenno Saunders. Gwenno joined Mark on-stage to talk about writing the score, and her relationship with Cornish music. Gwenno treated the audience to a performance of her song Tir Ha Mor (land and sea) which features on her album Le Kov, which is sung entirely in Cornish. Gwenno returned to the stage and taught the audience her infamous, vegan friendly Cornish cheese chant, Eus Keus?

Continuing with the musical theme, Mark talked about his upcoming ‘A Hollywood Christmas’ concert at the Royal Albert Hall, and treated the audience to an exclusive preview of his rendition of Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town on the double bass.

This month’s List-O-Mania was a festive extravaganza which saw Mark give his Top Twelve Christmas musical moments from the movies. The list included choices from lesser-seen Christmas films including Tangerine and Black Nativity, as well as songs from The Snowman, It’s A Wonderful Life, Love, Actually and Meet Me in St. Louis.

Mark ended the show in style with an audience singalong of Blue Christmas, accompanied by Mark on the piano.