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The Filmumentaries Podcast – Exploring the Unsung Heroes of Cinema. Go beyond the credits and uncover the untold stories of the filmmakers, artists, and craftspeople who bring your favorite movies...
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The Filmumentaries Podcast – Exploring the Unsung Heroes of Cinema. Go beyond the credits and uncover the untold stories of the filmmakers, artists, and craftspeople who bring your favorite movies to life.
Hosted by filmmaker, author, and film historian Jamie Benning, The Filmumentaries Podcast offers in-depth conversations with the behind-the-scenes legends of Hollywood and beyond. Each episode features exclusive interviews with art directors, production designers, VFX artists and supervisors, editors, sound designers, animators, and other key creatives who shaped iconic films like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Blade Runner, Ghostbusters, and more.
Whether you're a die-hard cinephile, an aspiring filmmaker, or simply curious about the hidden artistry of moviemaking, this podcast is your all-access pass to film history.
What You’ll Discover:
Visit Filmumentaries.com for more exclusive content and behind-the-scenes insights!
show less
Hosted by filmmaker, author, and film historian Jamie Benning, The Filmumentaries Podcast offers in-depth conversations with the behind-the-scenes legends of Hollywood and beyond. Each episode features exclusive interviews with art directors, production designers, VFX artists and supervisors, editors, sound designers, animators, and other key creatives who shaped iconic films like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Blade Runner, Ghostbusters, and more.
Whether you're a die-hard cinephile, an aspiring filmmaker, or simply curious about the hidden artistry of moviemaking, this podcast is your all-access pass to film history.
What You’ll Discover:
- Rare insights into filmmaking from the people who were there
- Deep dives into classic and modern movie-making techniques
- Stories of innovation from Industrial Light & Magic, Lucasfilm, and beyond
- Exclusive discussions on practical effects, CGI, set design, and film scoring
- A celebration of cinema’s hidden heroes
Visit Filmumentaries.com for more exclusive content and behind-the-scenes insights!
Episodes & Posts
Episodes
Posts
Transcribed
8 JUL 2025 · Episode 130 – Laurent Bouzereau on “Jaws at 50” In this special episode, I catch up with the legendary documentary filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau to discuss his latest project, Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story, premiering Friday 11th July at 8pm on National Geographic and streaming the same day on Disney+. Laurent, whose behind-the-scenes work on Jaws, Indiana Jones, and Spielberg has inspired me for years, reflects on the challenges of revisiting Jaws 30 years after his original 1995 documentary. We talk about the new angles he explored, from Spielberg’s emotional recollections and rare 8mm footage to fresh perspectives from filmmakers like Guillermo del Toro, Jim Cameron, and Jordan Peele. Recorded on the fly on Martha’s Vineyard during the Jaws 50th celebrations, this short but meaningful conversation touches on the legacy of Jaws, the humanity behind the production, and how Laurent’s approach has shifted over the years. Also in this episode:
- An update on my Joe Alves documentary and the incredible support from GoFundMe donors
- A mention of my new two-part article on ILM's animation legacy: ILM Evolutions: Animation from Rotoscoping to Rango – now live on ILM.com
https://linktr.ee/filmumentarieshttps://linktr.ee/filmumentaries
https://www.patreon.com/c/jamiebenning
Transcribed
25 JUN 2025 · Episode 129 – The Star Wars Influence: Live at the BFI’s Film on Film Festival In this special live episode, I join Doug Weir—Remastering Lead at the BFI—and post-production veteran Paul Collard on stage for a panel titled The Star Wars Influence, recorded at the BFI’s Film on Film Festival. Curated and hosted by Doug, the panel explores how George Lucas’s frustrations with the Hollywood studio system led to a wave of technological innovation that forever changed the filmmaking landscape. From the creation of ILM to the invention of motion control, EditDroid, SoundDroid, and digital cinema tools, we look at how Lucas empowered a generation of problem-solvers and helped pioneer the digital workflow we now take for granted. This conversation took place just before a rare screening of Star Wars from a 35mm Technicolor dye-transfer print—an experience I’ll be covering in more detail in a bonus episode coming soon. Topics include:
- Lucas’s break from the traditional studio system
- The founding of ILM and the Dykstraflex motion control rig
- VistaVision, optical printers, and visual effects R&D
- The origins of EditDroid and non-linear editing
- The value of Technicolor dye-transfer prints
- Lucasfilm’s wider influence on Pixar, Avid, and beyond
Thanks again to Doug and Paul—and to the BFI for hosting such a thoughtful and inspiring event.
https://gofund.me/0c6924bf
https://linktr.ee/filmumentaries
Transcribed
10 JUN 2025 · In this special archival episode, I speak with actor and musician Anthony Forrest, best known to Star Wars fans for playing the sandtrooper who famously waved Obi-Wan and Luke past an Imperial checkpoint with the words: “These aren’t the droids we’re looking for.” Originally recorded over a decade ago, this conversation explores Forrest’s original casting as “Fixer” in the cut Tosche Station scenes, his time filming in Tunisia, and how George Lucas unexpectedly tapped him to suit up as a trooper. Anthony also reflects on working alongside Alec Guinness, the skepticism among the British crew, and the surreal experience of flying home with champagne and Star Wars stickers courtesy of Sir Alec himself. Beyond Star Wars, we also discuss Anthony’s career in music, his time busking in the London Underground, and his low-budget feature The Ballad of Bob’s Garage.
Listen in for rarely heard stories from behind the mask.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Deleted scenes from A New Hope
- Filming in Tunisia and London
- Busking and recording in the London Underground
- Alec Guinness and the 2007 Academy screening
- The Ballad of Bob’s Garage project
GoFundMe for our Martha’s Vineyard shoot — any support is greatly appreciated!
https://linktr.ee/filmumentaries
Transcribed
4 JUN 2025 · In this bonus episode of The Filmumentaries Podcast, I catch up with returning guest Paul King, who you might remember from our previous conversation about his Shining locations documentary, Shine On. This time, Paul’s back with another nostalgic deep-dive — his new short documentary Beneath London: The Story of Alien War. We talk about the origins of the Alien-themed walkthrough experience that terrified visitors to London’s Trocadero in the early 1990s, how Paul tracked down rare archive footage and the people who made it happen, and why he thinks this story still has the potential to grow into a feature-length film. Watch Paul’s documentary on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhVjadAGT2c In the episode, we cover:
- What Alien War was and how it came together
- The strange story of how the creators got official backing from 20th Century Fox
- How the experience pushed boundaries long before immersive cinema became a thing
- Paul’s process of turning archival material and interviews into a compelling short film
I also share an update on my own documentary, Not Your Average Joe, about legendary Jaws production designer Joe Alves. I’m heading to Martha’s Vineyard this June to film key interviews during the 50th anniversary celebrations — a rare and important opportunity to capture these stories on location. If you’d like to support that project, you can find the GoFundMe here:
https://gofund.me/13795716
Thanks for listening. More behind-the-scenes conversations coming soon.
Transcribed
27 MAY 2025 · --------------------------------------------------
https://gofund.me/c01f4b14
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Episode 129 – Max Evry on A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch’s Dune – An Oral History.
In this episode, I speak with film journalist and author Max Evry about his brilliant and in-depth book A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch’s Dune – An Oral History. What began as a 150-page entry in a cult film series soon grew into a 560-page epic — much like the film it covers.
Max and I talk about the origins of the project, how he managed to get David Lynch himself to take part, and why the oral history format was the right approach for telling this complex story. We also chat about the book’s structure, Max’s archive work, and how his own experiences as a filmmaker gave him a deeper empathy for the challenges Lynch faced.
There’s even a fascinating discussion about Max’s restoration of a long-lost scene featuring Molly Wryn — which you can now watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=dbaYiWE3Ttk:
You can find Max’s book https://amzn.to/4k41l5V
If you enjoy these behind-the-scenes deep dives, please consider supporting the podcast or sharing it with a film-loving friend - https://patreon.com/jamiebenning
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https://gofund.me/c01f4b14
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Transcribed
8 MAY 2025 · Episode 126 - Inside the BFI National Archives - Film on Film Festival - Special Episode
For this early release of the podcast, I’m taking you behind the scenes at the BFI National Archive in Berkhamsted. The reason for the early drop? Tickets for the BFI’s excellent Film on Film Festival go on sale to the public tomorrow, 9th May 2025, and I wanted to give you a bit of insight into what makes this event so special. The Film on Film Festival runs from the 12th to the 15th of June and is dedicated entirely to screenings on physical film – from 35mm to 16mm, and even nitrate. It’s a rare opportunity to experience films as they were originally shown, in all their analogue glory. While at the archive, I spoke with several of the experts who help make the festival possible and who work daily to preserve the history of cinema. You’ll hear from:
- James Bell – Senior Curator of Fiction and Programme Director, Film on Film Festival
- Chris Stenner – Film Laboratory Lead
- Sonia Genaitay – Curatorial Archivist
- Martin Coffill – Projectionist and QC
- David Jones – Film Scanning Lead
A huge thanks to Kieron Webb and Sarah Bemand for organising the day. It was a real privilege to explore the archive, meet the people who keep the machines running and the prints in circulation, and to share it all with you here. If you're attending the festival on the 12th, please do let me know and be sure to say "hi".
https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=foff25&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=
https://linktr.ee/filmumentaries
Transcribed
22 APR 2025 · Episode 125 – Walter Murch: Suddenly Something Clicked (And 5 Years of Filmumentaries!) In this special 125th episode of The Filmumentaries Podcast, I’m joined once again by the legendary Walter Murch — editor, sound designer, director, author, and true philosopher of cinema. This also happens to mark five years since I launched the podcast, so it felt only fitting to celebrate with someone whose insights have shaped not only cinema itself but how we understand it.
Walter and I discuss his new book, Suddenly Something Clicked, which is due for release on 8th May 2025 via Faber & Faber (thank you to them for kindly sending me a preview copy). The book is a rich mix of theory, practice, and history — true to Walter’s description of it as a “twisted rope” of ideas. We cover everything from the evolution of editing, cinema as a biological and neurological phenomenon, the mysteries of sound design, and even the mechanics of live television editing.
Walter reflects on the analog vs digital shift, why sound should be metaphorical as well as realistic, and how editing mirrors the way our own bodies process time and perception. We also get into Return to Oz, AI in filmmaking, and his thoughts on films like Adolescence and 1917 that attempt to eliminate the cut entirely.
As ever, it’s a joy to speak with Walter — and I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it.
https://linktr.ee/filmumentaries
https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571328857-suddenly-something-clicked/?srsltid=AfmBOopCb2LfCZ3G1qY8Aho-0fPTWPeAyqhecVEpuzPn6ZlJnWcHECSX
https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/bfi-film-film-festival-line-up-star-wars-twin-peaks
Transcribed
22 APR 2025 · Hi all,
Here's Rachel's second and final report from Star Wars Celebration Japan.
We hope you enjoy it!
Transcribed
19 APR 2025 · As promised, here's report of the goings on in Tokyo at Star Wars Celebration, day one and two from Rachel Pearson.
More tomorrow.
Transcribed
19 APR 2025 · In my previous episode I spoke with ADR specialist and dialoge editor Vickie Sampson. In that conversation she mentioned briefly about the time the Return of the Jedi audio recordings were stolen from her car. "That's a story for a whole other podcast", she remarked. So I contacted Vickie to ask her if she could record the story. She kindly obliged, and so here it is as a short Bonus episode for you folks!
The Filmumentaries Podcast – Exploring the Unsung Heroes of Cinema. Go beyond the credits and uncover the untold stories of the filmmakers, artists, and craftspeople who bring your favorite movies...
show more
The Filmumentaries Podcast – Exploring the Unsung Heroes of Cinema. Go beyond the credits and uncover the untold stories of the filmmakers, artists, and craftspeople who bring your favorite movies to life.
Hosted by filmmaker, author, and film historian Jamie Benning, The Filmumentaries Podcast offers in-depth conversations with the behind-the-scenes legends of Hollywood and beyond. Each episode features exclusive interviews with art directors, production designers, VFX artists and supervisors, editors, sound designers, animators, and other key creatives who shaped iconic films like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Blade Runner, Ghostbusters, and more.
Whether you're a die-hard cinephile, an aspiring filmmaker, or simply curious about the hidden artistry of moviemaking, this podcast is your all-access pass to film history.
What You’ll Discover:
Visit Filmumentaries.com for more exclusive content and behind-the-scenes insights!
show less
Hosted by filmmaker, author, and film historian Jamie Benning, The Filmumentaries Podcast offers in-depth conversations with the behind-the-scenes legends of Hollywood and beyond. Each episode features exclusive interviews with art directors, production designers, VFX artists and supervisors, editors, sound designers, animators, and other key creatives who shaped iconic films like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Blade Runner, Ghostbusters, and more.
Whether you're a die-hard cinephile, an aspiring filmmaker, or simply curious about the hidden artistry of moviemaking, this podcast is your all-access pass to film history.
What You’ll Discover:
- Rare insights into filmmaking from the people who were there
- Deep dives into classic and modern movie-making techniques
- Stories of innovation from Industrial Light & Magic, Lucasfilm, and beyond
- Exclusive discussions on practical effects, CGI, set design, and film scoring
- A celebration of cinema’s hidden heroes
Visit Filmumentaries.com for more exclusive content and behind-the-scenes insights!
Information
| Author | Chris Stachiw |
| Organization | Weirding Way Media |
| Categories | TV & Film , Film Interviews , Film History |
| Website | www.spreaker.com |
| info@filmumentaries.com |
Copyright 2025 - Spreaker Inc. an iHeartMedia Company
