100 episodes! Not counting the pilot, which we called episode 00 because it was a guest-free test run. Still, this was episode 100 proper, and we had to find a suitable way to celebrate the occasion. So we invited Greg McLean, the writer/director of one of the most influential Australian films of all time, Wolf Creek, to join us on stage at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
Greg opted to talk about the great Ridley Scott, director of Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, The Martian, and a heap more beside. Greg's story of “seeing†Alien before he saw it is as great an origin story as they come. Talking all things Ridley Scott in front of a live audience with Greg was a thrill, and we reckon a pretty solid way to mark the milestone.
Long-time listeners may also recognise a couple of familiar voices at the top of the show, two interlopers who weren't there for the live recording, but nevertheless had to be included. When Paul revealed he was going to be in London at roughly the same time we were on stage in Melbourne, we decided we needed a reunion of departed Hi4H hosts, so set him up So up for a meeting/recording. Based on what they sent back, they had far too much fun doing something we intended to be work. Honestly, some people.
A huge thanks to Greg, and to Thomas Caldwell and everyone at the Melbourne International Film Festival, as well as the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. A lot of people came together to make this happen, and we're grateful to every single one of you.
Further reading:
- If you're in the mood to listen to some more milestones, we celebrated our 50th episode with Lexi Alexander (Green Street Hooligans, Punisher: War Zone) talking the films of Euzhan Palcy, marked our 3rd anniversary with Brian Trenchard-Smith (BMX Bandits, Dead End Drive-In) talking the films of Quentin Tarantino, and celebrated our 5th birthday with Thomas Caldwell (who you'll hear introducing us to the audience at the top of this show!) talking the films of David Lynch. Thomas was also our very first guest, so there's a very pleasing accidental symmetry to all this.
- And if you want to hear our first live show, we spoke with Michael Altman about the films of his father Robert Altman at the Sydney Film Festival in 2014.
- So mentions the time she talked to Jennifer Reeder at the BFI about the films of Alison Anders, and you can hear that here.
- Paul mentions his debut feature Trench, which you can learn about here!
- And if you want to see Paul stalking Agnes Varda, here's photographic proof. Parisian police, what more evidence do you need? Do your work.
- Speaking of interviewing Danny Boyle, here he is chatting to Lee on The Bazura Project. Coincidentally, he starts talking about the brilliance of Ridley Scott about halfway through! And because why not, here's Sarah Ward talking the films of Danny Boyle on Hyphenates.
- The Splat Pack is real, and you know it's real because it has a Wikipedia page. They don't do that for just anyone. Here's the Frat Pack, the Brat Pack, the Brit Pack, and in case you're in need of a really comprehensive primer, here's the Rat Pack.
- Even Ridley's commercials are still ingrained in pop culture. Here's that famous 1984 ad he made for Apple. And here's a really interesting making-of video, featuring Ridley talking about his approach to the ad.
- Here's Lee back in 2012 expanding on the Prometheus-as-fatherhood theory.
- Here's Ridley talking about changing the character of Ripley from male to female for Alien.
- If you want to hear the very first episode of Hell Is For Hyphenates, featuring that Robin Hood review, you can hear it here. And then keep going through them all until you get back to the Ridley show.
- Below is a side-by-side comparison of old Robin Hood (age: 46) and young Robin Hood (age: 46). Again, not shaming, not judging. Just showing.
And here's that Ridley Scott opening video you can hear in the show:
And check out the slideshow of images from the event, with photography by Clara Kosasih:
Outro music: score from Blade Runner, composed by Vangelis
The latest episode of Hell Is For Hyphenates, featuring Greg McLean talking the films of Ridley Scott, can be heard on Stitcher Smart Radio, subscribed to on iTunes, or downloaded/streamed directly from our website.