Shoot This Now

Fifteen miles south of Hearst Castle, home of "Citizen Kane" inspiration William Randolph Hearst, is perhaps a more impressive dwelling: Nitt Witt Ridge, the house that former garbageman Art Beale constructed by hand from cast-off beer cans, shells, and other cast-off materials.Beal, who once had a job hauling refuse from Hearst Castle, began work on Nitt Witt Ridge after his attempt at a normal life passed him by. In the 1050s, his neighbors mocked him as a "nitwit" as they watched him carve out his home with only a shovel and a device he called an "idiot stick."But by the 1970s, he had started to gain recognition as a non-conformist hero. And Nitt Witt Ridge, a monument to his artistic genius, still stands today.This week, we talk about why it's time to make a movie of Art Beal's life. And why only one actor can play him. (Okay, maybe two.)Here are the fascinating videos we mention in this episode:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAp3GPUo3sMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTwg9JFOIuc&t=8s See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 1989, Public Enemy broke up -- just after recording their signature song, "Fight the Power," and just before it became the musical centerpiece of Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing." The reason for their breakup, and the story of their reunion, is the subject of our latest episode.Our special guest this week is Dart Adams of the "Dart Against Humanity" podcast, and the author of the Okayplayer story "In the Summer of 1989 'Fight the Power' Saved Public Enemy & Almost Sank 'Do the Right Thing.'"Public Enemy had always been a team of rivals. Leader Chuck D managed both the flamboyant comedy of his legendary sideman, Flavor Flav, and the seriousness of Professor Griff, the group's designated "minister of information" and leader of the military-modeled step squad the S1Ws.But then Griff make anti-Semitic comments soon before the release of "Do the Right Thing." The ensuing protests threatened both Public Enemy and Spike Lee's hard-fought achievements.No one in the group condoned Griff's remarks. But no one wanted to be seen as kowtowing to critics, either, as a matter of principle. Chuck D had to decide whether to break with his friend to save the future.We hope you like the episode, and will be sure to check out the "Dart Against Humanity" podcast wherever you're listening to this. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Marlon Brando didn't attend the 1973 Oscars, but he did enlist Native American actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeather to reject his Oscar for The Godfather. This week, we talk about why Littlefeather's speech was an iconic moment for Native Americans in Hollywood and nationwide, and why it was so cruelly misunderstood. Littlefeather says she remembers John Wayne being so angry at her speech that he wanted to attack her.Every week on "Shoot This Now," we talk about stories that should be made into films. This episode, we also talk about why it would be poetic justice for Littlefeather's story to be made into a movie, nearly half a century after her speech to 85 million people. This episode features Clint Eastwood, Angela Lansbury, Roger Moore, and a cavalcade of other stars of the 1973 Academy Awards. We also talk about the Native American protests at Alcatraz and Wounded Knee, which factor heavily into our story. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nakano Takeko was a 21-year-old martial arts instructor who came to lead a battalion of women against the Emperor of Japan's Imperial Army, 150 years ago. On this week's episode of "Shoot This Now," we talk about how her story could be "The Last Samurai," minus Tom Cruise, with a huge influx of female fighters. It's a little bit "Kill Bill" and a little bit "Braveheart," with an incredible young front-and-center, wielding a bloody naginata.We also talk about the overuse of the word "dragon," a Darth Vader-like Big Bad who wields a remote control as a weapon, and justice for Japanese pop star Maho Yamaguchi. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Maurice Ward was a British hairdresser and amateur inventor who was inspired by a horrific plane disaster to invent a material that could withstand fire, nukes, and perhaps even the sun. His invention, which his granddaughter named "Starlite," drew the attention of Boeing, NASA, and the British military. Then it disappeared.What happened to Ward's invention after his death is a complete mystery. On this episode, we talk about whether Starlite was real or a hoax -- and note that many reputable scientists appeared to take the hairdresser very seriously. (Don't take our word for it; here's a video from the BBC.) We also talk about whether Ward's desire to do good was sidetracked by other motives, and whether some powerful force may have taken Starlite underground. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It was March 22, 1976 -- the first day of shooting "Star Wars." As Mark Ramsey's new "Inside Star Wars" reimagines that day in the Tunisian desert, it included hours of falling droids, an unlikely cameo by Jesus Christ, and lots of doubt from Sir Alec Guinness. Ramsey, who also created "Inside Jaws," "Inside Psycho" and other podcasts, recently joined "Shoot This Now" to talk about Carrie Fisher's incredibly odyssey from reluctant actress to galactic icon. Ramsey also loaned us this brief excerpt of "Inside Star Wars," which you can subscribe to right here: https://wondery.com/shows/inside-star-wars/With meticulous research and George Lucas-like levels of imagination, Ramsey and producer Jeff Schmidt take you back to the start of "Star Wars": Inside George Lucas' doubts, Carrie Fisher's apprehension, and Sir Alec Guinness outright bewilderment. If you've forgotten why you loved "Star Wars," Ramsey's latest will remind you.And Tim and Deirdre will be back next week with an all-new "Shoot This Now." See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Mark Ramsey joins us to preview "Inside Star Wars," which debuts Wednesday, May 29 and which you should subscribe to right here. But he also tells the Carrie Fisher story, a tale of a nervous 19-year-old who doesn't know she's about to star in the biggest movie in the world.Carrie Fisher suffered a series of indignities for her role in "Star Wars" -- from scenes with a character everyone called "the dog" to a series of weird hairstyles to a pre-shooting trip to an icky 1970s institution known as a "fat farm."But through her performance as Princess Leia, she became a cultural icon. A month after her death, the 2017 Women's March included many posters Leia Organa -- and her famous headphones-style hair -- accompanied by slogans about rebellion and "The Force."She was also known for wit, humor, and dedication in the midst of struggle. She overcame her resistance to Hollywood and acting to fulfill her destiny as a movie star, writer, and symbol of the power of struggle. Her struggle with addiction set an example for many more people -- if someone as cool as Carrie Fisher could quit drugs and booze, so could they.She died in December 2016, one day before from her mother, Debbie Reynolds. But her force will be with us, always. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There aren't enough content warnings in the world for the story of Ed Kemper and Herbert Mullin, two serial killers who simultaneously stalked Santa Cruz in 1972 and 1973. Kemper posed as a wanna-be cop and Good Samaritan to lure hitchhikers into his car and do horrific things to his victims. Mullin believed his murders were human sacrifices to prevent earthquakes. Their paths eventually crossed.This episode, clinical psychologist Dr. John Meigs joins us to talk about how to stop the next Ed Kemper or Herbert Mullin. Both men have been diagnosed with the same mental illness, and we discuss whether better detection and treatment of serious mental illness in this country could prevent mass killings.We can't stress enough that most people with mental illnesses will never behave violently. As Dr. Meigs explains, they're far more likely to suffer a stressful and difficult effort to manage or overcome the situation. Illnesses don't discriminate, and any of us could suffer mental illness. So we need to remove the stigma attached to seeking help.But Kemper and Mullin are extreme outliers. And the failure to diagnose and treat similarly dangerous people could be calamitous. The mental health group the Treatment Advocacy Center reports that "at least one third of mass killings are carried out by individuals with untreated serious mental illness" -- a finding that cries out for better treatment.We talk this episode about whether our current emphasis on punishment over prevention makes sense. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You may have read news stories - or heard jokes - about the Indiana man who sued his parents this month for destroying his massive collection of porn. But his backstory is more complex and nuanced then the headlines and punchlines suggest. It's a complicated family drama we think is worthy of the big screen.On this episode, we delve deep into his life and his unapologetic about his love of porn. And we try to understand the family dynamic that we think led to his interest.As always, we have five segments: Why Now, Comps ("This story is THIS meets THIS!"), Key Scenes, Development (who should direct and star), and What Should We Call This Thing.Also: If you'd like to learn more about Paul Gonzenbach, the singer-songwriter we mention near the end of the episode, start here. He's fantastic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Irish famine killed a million people of Ireland, and scattered the islands hungry people across the world. It received a woefully inadequate response from the British Crown -- yet somehow drew the attention of the Choctaw, a Native American people thousands of miles away. We think the story would be an amazing movie. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Puerto Rico’s Madeline de Jesus was injured in the long jump, and found herself unable to run in the 4×400-meter relay. Fortunately she had a secret weapon: Her identical twin sister, Margaret, who took her place in a qualifying heat.The college admissions scandal and Jordan Peele's "Us" have us thinking about cheating and duality, respectively. Madeline and Margaret de Jesus' story has both. Join us for our very special 50th episode as we talk about their hilarious ruse, and also about Lori Loughlin and dystopian boy band Menudo.If you enjoy this episode, check out one of our sources, Yara Simon's story about the de Jesus twins for Remezcla. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's fitting that Michael Jackson's 2005 trial ended with a woman releasing white doves -- one for each count on which he was acquitted. Doves are a traditional part of many magic shows, and Jackson's trial was his greatest trick of all. On every episode of "Shoot This Now," we talk about true stories that should be made into TV shows and movies. This week, we talk about the 2005 Michael Jackson trial, which I covered from beginning to end for The Associated Press. As the new Dan Reed documentary "Leaving Neverland" makes clear, the trial continued a long Jackson tradition of manipulating the people around him. Wade Robson describes in the documentary how Jackson persuaded him to lie on the stand about being molested. And the news media (myself included) sometimes paid attention to his pajama-and-epaulette ensembles instead of everything Jackson wanted to hide. Will the trial ever get the "People v. OJ Simpson" treatment it deserves? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Born in Toronto to a black father and white mother, Angela James went from defending herself from bullies in the projects to becoming one of the first women ever inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. She was also the first openly gay athlete to be inducted into a major sports Hall of Fame, and is widely regarded as the "Wayne Gretzky of women's hockey." Her story has the grit of "Miracle" and "Warrior," with the fish-out-of-water and blue-collar racial dynamics of "8 Mile." We haven't seen a massive female-centered sports film since "Million Dollar Baby," and unlike that masterpiece of sadness, Davis' biography is happy and uplifting.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Six months ago, Raphael Samuel informed his mother over breakfast that he planned to sue his parents for bringing him into existence without his consent. His story should be a movie, obviously. Every week on "Shoot This Now," we talk about stories that should be made into TV shows or movies. This week, Trey Williams joins us to talk about the strange case of Raphael Samuel, whose story -- including the breakfast conversation -- is told in this BBC account. This episode includes a brief discussion of suicide. If you've given it any serious thought -- please don't do it. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Frédéric Tcheng's Sundance doc "Halston" is about an Iowa boy turned fashion icon who went from making hats for Jackie Kennedy to ruling Studio 54 to making clothes for J.C. Penney. No one in fashion had a wilder, more intoxicating ride. This week, Tcheng and producer Roland Ballester take us seamlessly through his famous friends (from Andy Warhol to Liza Minelli to Liz Taylor) to the heights of Wall Street and to the tragedy of the AIDS epidemic. There are a million Halston movies we want to see. We also talk about our favorite other Sundance films, from "Hail Satan!" to "I Am Mother." See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If the "Fyre" and "Fyre Fraud" documentaries made you think the Fyre Festival was the worst music-fest ever, may we introduce you to the nightmare that was Woodstock '99. Characterized by sexual assaults, rioting, and actual fires, Woodstock '99 celebrated an era when Korn and Limp Bizkit ruled music. We want to see a movie about Fred Durst and Kurt Loder battling for the soul of music. Recommended: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/woodstock-99-rage-against-the-latrine-182782/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/july99/woodstock29.htm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0Uhr5r6sUM&t=3s See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Harry Siskind is a photographer-turned-entrepreneur who made a lot of promises about his weight-loss company, Body Solutions -- including that it could help you lose weight as you slept. Maybe he made too many promises. Countless radio ads and more than $100 million later, the Texas high roller caught the eye of some feds who tore his diet empire down. Our music this episode is "3 Kinds of Sun" by Norma Rockwell. You can read more about Harry Siskind here: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Ex-CEO-of-San-Antonio-weight-loss-firm-gets-prison-1783806.php See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, aka Daniel Hernandez, Tekashi 69 and just 6ix9ine, is what The New York Times' Joe Coscarelli and Ali Watkins call a "human meme." This week, we talk about his journey from a nice kid in a bodega to a wildly successful rapper now facing RICO charges. Will his bid for authenticity land him in prison? It could. Read their definitive account of 6ix9ine's life here:  https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/29/nyregion/tekashi6ix9ine-jail-treyway.html   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the beautiful "Surviving Y2K" podcast, Dan Taberski talks about how a few incredibly compelling people prepared for what they thought would be Armageddon. And how his own life changed dramatically. It would make a GREAT movie. He also talks about "Missing Richard Simmons" -- and drops some hints about what he's doing next. Listen to "Surviving Y2K" here: https://www.headlongpodcast.com       See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the 1960s, '70s and '80s, C. Delores Tucker was best known as a politician, feminist, and Civil Rights activist who was friends with Rosa Parks and marched with Martin Luther King. But by the 90s, she was arguably the most hated woman in hip-hop, who would be called out by Tupac, KRS-One, Eminem, Lil Kim, and, most fiercely, by Sure Knight. Writer, musician and very smart guy Eric Steuer (@ericsteuer) tells us the sad story of C. Delores Tucker, and who would be the perfect director and actress to bring it to life. Get his latest song here: http://www.gold-robot.com/ongoing/grr059-buddy-peace--eric-steuer---la-looks/     See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, we pitched Emily Ratajkowski and Aaron Paul two ideas for stories we think should be movies: one about Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger, and one about Maud Gonne, the Irish revolutionary who also happened to be William Butler Yeats' muse. They liked one of them.  We also asked Aaron Paul about maybe playing Jesse Pinkman from "Breaking Bad" again. And you can read Emily's remarks at the Power Women Conference here: https://www.thewrap.com/emily-ratajkowski-says-feminism-is-great-for-everyone-misogyny-is-bad-for-everyone/ "Welcome Home" is out Nov. 16.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Harry Eastlack was only a child when he broke a bone that wouldn't heal. Instead, his skeleton began to grow abnormally, his bones doubling over one another, until he suffocated from his own bones. But with his final, heroic act, he did something to try to save anyone else from suffering as he did. We talk this week with Metabook creator Benjamin Alfonsi about "The Face Phantom," a project inspired by the macabre Mutter Museum -- where Eastlack's skeleton still resides.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week we talk with Karen Gillan (star of "Jumanji," "Guardians of the Galaxy" and the new "Avengers" films) about her debut as a writer-director, the comedy-drama "The Party's Just Beginning." She also shares two fantastic ideas for stories that should be movies... one of which involves a witch. Happy Halloween! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week: Oscar-winning director Charles Ferguson talks about his film "Watergate, or How We Learned to Stop an Out-of-Control President." We talk about why John McCain wanted to talk with him, all those Trump-Nixon parallels people keep making, and which young congresswoman deserves a movie of her own. Plus: We talk about William Goldman's amazing "All the President's Men," and how it created the impression that Woodward and Bernstein tag-teamed Nixon's demise. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Tom Arnold joins us to talk about Viceland's "The Hunt for the Trump Tapes." And we pitch him on why his producer's trip to her home country, in search of a "golden showers" tape that has never been proven to exist, would be a great movie. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Jeff Bridges (!) joins us to talk about his new films "Living in the Future's Past" and "Bad Times at the El Royale" -- and about "Crazyheart," "Starman," and why birds fly in formation. Also about why you should drink through a straw made of pasta or licorice. And we try to convince him to play President Ulysses S. Grant. Check this out: https://www.livinginthefuturespastfilm.com   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

"Slow Burn" host Leon Neyfakh tells us how he made the Clinton-Lewnisky scandal feel fresh, found common ground with Linda Tripp, and the possibility of a "Slow Burn" TV show. We also imagine what the world would be like if Clinton had stepped down after the Lewinsky situation and handed off to President Gore. Listen to "Slow Burn": https://slate.com/slow-burn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In May, a 30-year-old man named Michael Rotondo got evicted – by his parents. They took him to court as he pleaded for more time.  In some corners, his story turned into a referendum on millennials -- feeding into a stereotype about a generation of entitled freeloaders.  But what if it's actual a distraction from the real story of what's happening in America?  Read Eve Peyser's story for Vice: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/3k4kaw/the-millennial-who-wouldnt-move-out-of-his-parents-house-is-tragic-actually And David Leonhardt's piece for the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/14/opinion/columnists/great-recession-economy-gdp.html See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, we talk about a New York Times wedding story that needs to be a movie: The story of a man, put up for adoption by high school sweethearts, who reunited them after nearly 40 years... and even officiated their wedding. Read Natalie Shutler's beautiful story: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/31/fashion/weddings/son-given-up-for-adoption-leads-birth-parents-to-altar-36-years-later.html This week's outro music is "Love's Gonna Getcha (Material Love)," the best hip-hop song ever. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week we're joined by Peter Gould, one of our favorite writers. The co-creator of "Better Call Saul" talks about a project he almost made with HBO years before he joined the "Breaking Bad" writer's room. If you're enjoying Season 2 of "Slow Burn," we're pretty sure you'll love his idea to retell the Clinton-Lewinsky saga... with shadow puppets. We also talk about a great Pam Grier idea, what's up with Saul and Kim, and how to be a good writer and editor. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Every week we talk about stories that should be made into movies. This week, Up and Vanished and Atlanta Monster host Payne Lindsey explains why Up and Vanished Season 2 is so cinematic - and why you can't solve solve Kristal Anne Reisinger's disappearance by Googling. If you like this episode, check out our past episodes on Atlanta Monster, and listen to Up and Vanished here: https://season2.upandvanished.com   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Paul Scheer ("The League," "How Did This Get Made," "Unspooled," "The Disaster Artist") shares his amazing idea for a movie: The story of 19th century female con artist Bertha Heyman. Every week we pitch ideas that should be made into movies or TV shows. This week, we are awed and shamed at how much better Scheer is than us at the art of pitching imaginary movies. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jobriath was a '70s glam-rocker who, like David Bowie, Elton John and Freddie Mercury, sang songs about space. But unlike any of them, he was openly gay in the 1970s - long before the people of earth were ready to welcome him with open arms. This week we talk about his spiky piano music, his space-angel beauty, and the hype machine that set him up for a cruel downfall. His influence continues with artists from Morrissey to Def Leppard's Joe Elliott.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

in 1969, Native American activists took over Alcatraz and held the island for nineteen months. Though the famous former prison was known worldwide, they argued that they had "discovered it" - just as Europeans had "discovered" America. It was one of the wittiest protests in history, designed to raise awareness about the deplorable treatment of Native Americans. And to a large extent it worked. It drew attention from big names like Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda and Creedence Clearwater Revival, and inspired Nixon to change a horrible policy. This week, we talk about why it should be a movie.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 1979, NBC spent millions to produce a series that was supposed to save it from last place. Instead, it produced "Supertrain," a disaster of a drama that mixed railroads and disco. It baffled viewers, broke a TV icon's toe, and died a painful death. Our guest is Dan Delgado, host of the awesome podcast "The Industry," which ended its first season with a wonderful podcast on "Supertrain." Listen to "The Industry": https://industrypodcast.wordpress.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 1943, Nazi Germany made the world's most expensive propaganda film: "Titanic." The story of the Nazi Titanic ends even more tragically than the story of the real Titanic. We relied on Robert P. Watson's book "The Nazi Titanic," and this excellent article by The Times of Israel: http://www.timesofisrael.com/goebbels-titanic-cinematic-disaster-turns-70/?fb_comment_id=633081316715300_102564287 UPDATE: We just learned a "Nazi Titanic" movie is already in the works. We can't wait to see it.    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Thirty-three people are honored with plaques at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, but only one of them, Ira Aldridge, is an African-American. At a time when the United States still held black people in slavery, Aldridge's performances across Europe helped shatter the myth of white supremacy.  Our brilliant guest this week is author and screenwriter Andrea Chalupa, co-host of the must-listen "Gaslit Nation" podcast. Search for "Gaslit Nation" within this app you're using now, or check out "Gaslit Nation" here.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Because of our past episodes about the "Atlanta Monster" podcast, we've been given this opportunity to share with you the first track from the upcoming "Atlanta Monster" soundtrack. This track, "Theme From Atlanta Monster," comes from Makeup and Vanity Set (Matthew Steven Pusti). The AtlantaMonsterOriginal Podcast Soundtrack will be available on digital music platforms on Friday, July 13th, including iTunes, Apple Music, Soundcloud, and Spotify. Scroll through our past episodes to check out our interview with "Atlanta Monster" creators Payne Lindsey and Donald Albright and our episode on the time Frank Sinatra tried to catch the Atlanta Monster. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eugene Jarecki's Elvis Presley documentary "The King" argues that America in its Fat Elvis stage. He tells us why Chuck D of "mother--- him and John Wayne" fame was the film's key interview. We also talk about why Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker, needs a movie - and so do The Prisonaires, the African-American musical group who sang from behind bars and influenced Presley.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

"Inside Jaws" isn't just the story of the first summer blockbuster - it's also the story of how Steven Spielberg found his voice and his courage. "Inside Jaws" host talks to us about Jaws, recreating shark attacks using only sound, and how Spielberg represents the creator in all of us. Listen to it here: https://wondery.com/shows/inside-jaws/     See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We need a proper Bruce Lee biopic, one that addresses his profound influence on race relations and celebrity. This episode, "Bruce Lee: A Life" author Matthew Polly talks about Lee's influence on Quentin Tarantino, the Wu-Tang Clan, and all of us. (And why Chuck Norris hates talking about him.) Buy "Bruce Lee: A Life": https://mattpolly.com     See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Teal Swan is an internet guru who finds followers largely online. She presents herself as a healer, but critics say she is playing with fire and has dangerous ideas about treating people who may be suicidal. She's the subject of Gizmodo's excellent The Gateway podcast. We're joined by host Jennings Brown and producer Jessica Glazer to talk about the trouble with Teal Swan. Check out The Gateway: https://gizmodo.com/weve-launched-an-investigative-podcast-about-a-controve-1826416613   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 1973, a robber who looked like Bill Skarsgard took hostages in a Swedish bank. He demanded money, a fast car, and the release of a "pop gangster" prison buddy who looked like Armie Hammer. The Swedish government delivered. Reunited within the bank, the criminals quickly won over their captives -- a situation that coined the phrase "Stockholm Syndrome." We sometimes hear it today in reference to Patty Hearst and everyone living in America in 2018. If you enjoy this episode, we recommend Jeffrey Toobin's terrific "American Heiress," his account of Patty Hearst's kidnapping. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In February, we talked about why "Dear David," BuzzFeed writer Adam Ellis' internet ghost story, should be a movie. This week, we found out it's going to happen. Special guest Beatrice Verhoeven joins us to talk about why she knew "Dear David" should be a movie, and how she exclusively broke the news that it will be. Here's our episode from February: http://shootthisnow.libsyn.com/the-dear-david-story-feat-beatrice-verhoeven   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Neff Davis met Anna Delvey when Anna gave her $100 for a restaurant recommendation. Anna soon drew Neff into a moneyed game of trying to conquer New York City. Imagine if the Great Gatsby passed the Bechdel test. Jessica Pressler's New York Magazine story about their relationship is a sensation, one that's drawing "a lot of interest" from Hollywood. Read it here:  https://www.thecut.com/2018/05/how-anna-delvey-tricked-new-york.html See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Antonia Brenner wasn't the most likely woman to become a nun, much less a nun who moved into a Tijuana prison: Born into a wealthy family in Beverly Hills, she was a twice-divorced mother of seven when she chose to live in Tijuana's notorious La Mesa to care for its forgotten inmates. In 1994, she single-handedly stopped a Halloween-night prison riot. She became known as the Prison Angel.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Every week on "Shoot This Now" we talk about a different story that should be a movie. This week: That time "wickedest man in the world" Aleister Crowley and poet Victor Benjamin Neuburg to bring a demon into the world using "sex magick" We learned about this incident from Dan Cummins' wonderful "Timesuck" podcast: https://timesuckpodcast.com/Episodes See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this special bonus episode, we talk to "Atlanta Monster" host and co-creator Payne Lindsey and co-creator Donald Albright about the odds of an "Atlanta Monster" TV show, the frustrations of talking to Wayne Williams, and whether Williams' musical group, "Gemini," ever had a chance. "He lied to me about some very crucial things," Lindsey says. They also talk about the status of their "Up and Vanished" TV show. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this, our name-droppingest episode ever, we discuss Gwyneth Paltrow and Blythe Danner's Goop Podcast discussion of the time 19-year-old Gwyneth shared a stage with a drunken Christopher Walken. Then, Tim recounts another embarrassing tale of ingenue meets drunkard at an "SNL" cast party, which spurs Trey and Matt to describe encounters with "Entourage" cast members. Finally, Tim talks about meeting Michael Jackson.   Email: tim@thewrap.com Twitter:  @mattdonnelly @trey3williams See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Every week we talk about stories that should be movies. This episode: TheWrap film reporter Trey Williams tells us about 23-year-old slave Robert Smalls, who seized a Confederate ship to free his family and crewmembers - then helped win the Civil War and integrate the Navy. We also talk about Kanye West, why so many movies about slavery follow the same Oscar-baity but predictable formula, and the "This American Life" account of how an Oakland student inspired Steven Spielberg to make "Amistad." Follow us on Twitter:  @Trey3Williams @MattDonnelly @TimAMolloy   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We talk about stories that should be movies. This week, Matt and Tim have a healthy, no-dumb-jokes discussion about a "This American Life" episode in which menstrual blood almost gets a woman in trouble with the NYPD. We also play "Know Your Hemsworths."   Check Jillian Welsh's story, "Aunt Flo," here: http://risk-show.com/podcast/unthinkable/ ...and email us at tim@thewrap.com   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.