This month’s MK3D at the BFI Southbank saw another stellar array of guests and insightful conversations about Film and TV.
We are finally allowed to have roving mics again so we can do impromptu audience Q&As (hurrah!) Audience members asked about the canon of autistic films – which Mark agreed should NOT include RAIN MAN; the success of summer blockbuster TOP GUN: MAVERICK, and which ELVIS biopic is truly the best.
Our first guests on stage were BRIAN AND CHARLES co-writer and star David Earl and co-star Louise Brealey who talked about their brilliant new feature, which won the audience award at Sundance London last month. David talked about the film that has most influenced his work, director Chris Smith’s little-see documentary gem AMERICAN MOVIE (1999), and Mark reminded Louise of her experience of watching THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT at Cannes – her response to which was so powerful that it featured in Mark’s Channel 4 documentary THE BLAIR WITCH PHENOMENON.
The news in Here’s the Thing focused on James Caan, who sadly passed away recently – Mark especially celebrated Caan’s roles in MISERY and ROLLERBALL. Mark also looked ahead at our upcoming MK3D at Latitude on 22 July, where he will go head to head with Jack Howard about their very different responses to THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER.
Our second guest was director Charlotte Colbert who talked about her feature debut SHE WILL. Much to Mark’s surprise, the film that most influenced her was DEAD AGAIN. She explained that the themes of inherited trauma have very much influenced her work – but it was also influential because she repeatedly watched it secretly, because she wasn’t allowed to see it at a young and tender age. After the conversation Mark agreed that perhaps he had been wrong to dismiss the film – and Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson’s roles – and it might be due a rewatch.
After another Ask The Audience (we are so excited to be back to roving mics!) Mark welcomed his final guest, the magnificent Brett Goldstein, to talk about his pod FILMS TO BE BURIED WITH, about writing on and starring in the successful TV show TED LASSO – and about the final scene of THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER, in which the news drops that Brett is to be Hercules in the Marvel Universe. Brett is working out to get the right physique and Brett and Mark ended up doing synchronised push-ups on stage. A memorable moment for sure. Brett talked about The Film That Changed His Life, SHOPLIFTERS – which moved him deeply – and about his Guilty Pleasure, GREASE 2. Is it better than the original? It’s certainly more feminist, which is what Brett likes about it.