Today’s conversation is one I’ve had in the bag for a couple of months now . I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Andrew Whitehurst. Andrew’s journey into the visual effects industry is one that really resonates with me, especially when he talks about his childhood fascination with movie magic and a certain BBC documentary. Yes, THAT one! Like many of us, it all started with a spark of curiosity. He pursued that passion at art college and gained experience in various roles, which...

This is a short bonus episode in which I interview author Kelly Knox about her co-authoring of "Return of the Jedi - A Visual Archive". Kelly Knox discusses her love for the Star Wars movies, particularly the original trilogy, and her experience co-writing the visual archive book for Return of the Jedi. The book focuses on the behind-the-scenes details and connections that branched out from the film. Kelly shares her favorite discoveries while researching for the book and the challenge of...

In this episode, Jamie Benning interviews Doug Weir and Kieron Webb from the British Film Institute (BFI) about the restoration and screening of the 1933 classic film King Kong - 8th and 16th Sept 2024.  They discuss the historical significance of the film, its pioneering visual effects, and its impact on cinema. They also talk about the process of restoring and preserving old film prints, including the challenges and techniques involved. The conversation highlights the importance of film...

Jett Green shares insights into her upbringing and her journey into the world of matte painting, highlighting her work on Labyrinth, Howard the Duck, Temple of Doom, and The NeverEnding Story. She also discusses the collaborative and supportive culture at ILM, emphasizing the importance of teamwork in achieving remarkable results. Jett reflects on her transition from traditional painting to digital matte painting, as well as her current work as a fine artist in Maui. Links All the...

"Star Wars came and changed my life." Steve Sansweet, former bureau chief of the Wall Street Journal, shares his passion for movies and collecting, particularly Star Wars memorabilia. He recalls his childhood love for movies and science fiction, and how he started collecting science fiction toys and robots. He discusses the impact of Star Wars on his life and the collecting community, and his role in writing the book 'From Concept to Screen to Collectible'. Sansweet also talks about his time...

Last episode you heard part one of my conversation with Nilo Rodis Jamero, design legend and wonderful person. For this episode, number 106, the first of July 2024 you’ll be hearing part two of our chat… On entering the gaming industry Nilo's focus was always about inspiring and guiding production teams to craft original and iconic characters and worlds. He’s real advocate for originality and imagination in design, rather than leaning on copying existing designs or using AI to assist those...

In this episode of the Filmumentaries podcast, host Jamie Benning interviews Nilo Rodis-Jamero, a designer and production designer known for his work on films like The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Johnny Mnemonic. They discuss Nilo's experiences working with George Lucas, Phil Tippett, and Joe Johnston, as well as his collaborations with other renowned designers like Eiko Ishioka and Hayao Miyazaki. Nilo shares insights into his design process and the importance of...

Hi, this is a bonus episode.  Sometimes I get invited to interview a particular behind the scenes artist and I've decided I should say yes to them and get them out as bonus episodes.  So in this bonus episode, I spoke with stunt coordinator, Krista Perry. Krista is a, native Californian, who grew up travelling the country at the age of eight for competitive swimming. Finishing out her career as an All American Swimmer in the state of California. She is now a stunt performer and stunt...

Episoe 104 - This time I chat with Ahsoka producer and ILM VFX Supervisor, Richard Bluff along with his colleague Matthew Wood, Supervising Sound Editor. Key takeaways: The collaboration between sound and visual effects departments is crucial in creating a cohesive and immersive experience for the audience.Early involvement of sound in the production process helps inform the visuals and enhances the storytelling.The use of practical effects, such as miniatures, can provide a unique and...

My guest for this second episode of May 2024 is production designer Nathan Crowley. If you don’t know his name, you will definitely know and most likely love, his work.. Behind Enemy Lines (2001)Insomnia (2002)Batman Begins (2005)The Prestige (2006)The Dark Knight (2008)John Carter (2012)The Dark Knight Rises (2012)Interstellar (2014)Dunkirk (2017)The Greatest Showman (2017)First Man (2018)Tenet (2020)Wonka (2023) Nathan is an incredibly talented artist that is able to create amazing worlds...

For this episode, number 102, I am speaking to to gentleman that worked on the visual effects for Masters of the air, the Apple TV series which is a continuation of Band of Brothers and The Pacific. This time tackling World War Two airmen and their various missions.  So I chat with Xavier Bernasoni  who was one of the vfx supervisors on the show for DNEG and also two Steve jelly of Dimension studio who is responsible for a lot of the virtual production stuff, the big volume that you'll know...

In April 2024, I embarked on an unforgettable journey to California, starting with a visit to Skywalker Ranch, Lucasfilm and Rancho Obi Wan. And unfogettable three days. While at Skywalker Ranch I met with Sound Supervisor, Mac Smith and legendary Model Maker, Lorne Peterson. This episode is a report from those three days. Full written report with photos Donate Button All the links Skywalker Ranch Archives Fly-through from the blu ray boxset Archives Tour with Don Bies from the...

For this the 100th episode it seems fitting that it’s someone who’s name I’ve known since I was 4, 5 and 6 when my imagination was first sparked, looking through my Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi comics and magazines. That name is of course Phil Tippett, one of those incredible artists whose work transcends the films he’s worked on. His work is always full of a singularly tactile, grunginess that I love. Whether it’s the chess pieces in Star Wars, the Tauntauns or Walkers on...

For episode 99 I interviewed friend, David Whiteley. If you don't know David, you should! He's a news presenter, but also a huge Star Wars Fan. And, has made two fantastic documentaries about the subject. Firstly "The Galaxy that Britain Built" and secondly "Toy Empire". Both are a must-watch for fans like us. David also produced a book which gathers together the interviews his conducted for "The Galaxy that Britain Built". It's available on Amazon here. Check it out! And then BUY...

For episode 98, I am joined by my guest from episode 2, Giles Terera, actor, writer, musician and great friend of mine. He suggested to me a few months back that we should do a commentary on The Empire Strikes Back. So last month that's just what we did. I went up to central London to his flat, armed with two mics and we sat at watched and waffled over our favourite film. I hope you enjoy the episode. If you want to watch along, hit play on the movie just as the intro music (after my spoken...

In episode 97 of the Filmumentaries podcast, I interview helicopter stunt pilot Fred North. Fred shares his journey from a childhood fascination with helicopters to becoming a successful stunt pilot in Hollywood. He emphasizes the importance of creating opportunities for oneself and having a shark-like drive to keep moving forward. Fred also discusses the art of flying a helicopter and the importance of connecting with the machine. He shares insights on working with directors and...

I hope you enjoyed my archival interview episodes in December 2023, one with Producer Robert Watts, the other with actor Garrick Hagon. Well now we are back to some recent interviews, I can tell you I’ve been busy lining these up ready for 2024! So… for the first, its a pretty big one, well it’s a very big one - Thanks to the lovely folks at ILM, I was given the chance to interview director Gareth Edwards and his FX crew on The Creator. I’d be trying to get Gareth on via a mutual friend...

Ok, this is another one from the archives, but as with the Robert Watts recording, I’ve been wanting to put this one out in podcast form for a while too. This is a conversation I had with actor Garrick Hagon back in 2015. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, how about Biggs Darklighter. Yes, Garrick is well known for his mostly deleted scenes from Star Wars in which he plays Luke’s best pal. I’d met Garrick in the green room at a Star Wars Trilogy day at the BFI southbank earlier that year....

This is one from the archives, but I’ve been wanting to put this out in podcast for for some time now. Its my interview with the legendary producer Robert Watts from back in July 2018. My cameraman buddy Paddy and I visited Robert at his home, and a lovely home it was too. He was on such great form and just a delight to be with. We arrived armed with some F1 signed caps from Hamilton and Vettel because a little birdy had told us he was a motorsport fan. And he was absolutely delighted....

Uncover the secrets of Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1's breathtaking visual effects. VFX supervisors Jeffrey Sutherland and Simone Coco share insights on collaboration, challenges, and the art of crafting cinematic magic. Step behind the scenes and explore the dynamic world where reality meets creativity. I was recently given the opportunity, by the folks at ILM, to talk to two VFX supervisors that worked on Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1. Namely Jeff Sutherland and...

Now, for this exciting episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Tom Spina. Tom is an avid Star Wars enthusiast, restoration specialist, and the founder of Tom Spina Designs and Regal Robot. In our conversation, we delve into his early love for Star Wars and those toys, his passion for computer graphics on his Amiga, his brief stint as a TD in live TV, and his current work in restoring historical movie props. We also touch on his Star Wars Celebration panel, his interactions with the film...

For this episode, the second of November 2023, I spoke with director, producer and editor Jeremy Coon. Jeremy was the producer on the 2007 film Napoleon Dynamite. But I spoke to him in his editor director capacity about the new documentary “A Disturbance in the Force’, which I was lucky enough to see at the UK premiere in London last week. The documentary chronicles the story behind the bizarre and legendary Star Wars Holiday Special. The 1978 TV special full of growling wookies, odd dance...

In this episode (number 90!!), I share an enlightening conversation with the creators of the "RoboDoc" series - a comprehensive documentary on the iconic sci-fi film, RoboCop. The team includes directors Chris Griffith and Eastwood Allen, and producer Gary Smart. The trio talks in-depth about how they transformed their passion project into a widely acclaimed series over several years. They reveal that their journey was far from smooth, battling legal issues, budget constraints, and meeting...

In this episode (number 90!!), I share an enlightening conversation with the creators of the "Robodoc" series - a comprehensive documentary on the iconic sci-fi film, Robocop. The team includes directors Chris Griffith and Eastwood Allen, and producer Gary Smart. The trio talks in-depth about how they transformed their passion project into a widely acclaimed series over several years. They reveal that their journey was far from smooth, battling legal issues, budget constraints, and meeting...