In this episode of the podcast, Alex debunks three common myths about Mike Leigh’s process, on the occasion of the release of his new film Hard Truths
Legendary British filmmaker Mike Leigh has a new film out in cinemas called Hard Truths, which is one of the best films of the year.
What makes Mike Leigh’s films so good and so uniquely Mike Leigh Films is inextricable from the process he uses to make them. But there are quite a few common myths and misconceptions about his process, including that his films are improvised and, confusingly, that his films are rehearsed.
In this episode, Alex debunks these myths using research from her 2018 book Peterloo in Process: A Mike Leigh Collaboration, co-written and co-edited by Orla Smith. The book dives deeper into Leigh’s process through interviews with him and his collaborators on the film, both behind and in front of the camera.
You can purchase a copy of Peterloo in Process at https://mikeleighbook.com
Alex also briefly discusses myfrenchfilmfestival. For more information about the festival, sign up for the Seventh Row Newsletter.
Related Episodes to Mike Leigh’s process
TIFF 2024 #4: British social realism: Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths and Andrea Arnold’s Bird
Ep. 119 Mike Leigh’s Naked
Ep. 32 Sorry We Missed You and Peterloo
Ep. 11 Mike Leigh’s Peterloo
Podcast Credits
This episode was edited, produced, and recorded by Alex Heeney.
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An AI-generated transcript for the episode is available on Apple Podcasts.
