“This film played in my head for all these years. And, suddenly, I'm not a part of it.”
Getting a screenplay in to production is notoriously tough.
Writer Jack Barth came closer than most - scripting an episode of The Simpsons, and attracting the attention of Lord Puttnam at Columbia Pictures.
He achieved his dream after 40 years in the business, when his script ‘Cover Version’ was optioned by Working Title.
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But, as Jack explains in this interview with Olly, the journey from page to screen did not go entirely as he’d hoped…
His script was adapted into Yesterday, written by Richard Curtis and directed by Danny Boyle. The movie made over $150m, but Jack never received another penny, and watched from the sidelines as Curtis’ publicity interviews for the film implied he’d never read Jack’s script. At a screening, Jack’s ‘Story By’ credit was “buried” in the closing titles.
[We’ve asked Richard Curtis’ agent to comment, but have yet to receive a reply. In 2020, he told The 237: Film School Podcast: “We are well aware of Mr Barth’s claims and they are of course refuted, in general and in detail - as he knows. He was well paid for his work under the terms of the perfectly reasonable contract with Working Title and did receive a proper credit for his contribution - a contribution that I would say Richard has acknowledged often and enthusiastically”.]
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Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the world of non-fungible tokens by minting - and offering up for auction - the very first Modern Mann NFTs.
And - as is his wont - he’s taken to virtual reality to do it. Can he persaude a hardcore Mann-Fan snap up his digital wares? What is the environmental cost of trading with Ethereum? And are NFTs a fad - or here to stay?
The Zeitgeist is sponsored by Manscaped, the only men’s brand dedicated to below the waist grooming. Get 20% Off + Free Shipping, with the code ‘Mann’ at Manscaped.com
If you’d like to challenge Ollie to investigate a trend, fill out the Feedback form.
You can visit the virtual space Ollie set up at Spatial here.
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Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox investigates dating after divorce. At 40+, is it possible (or desirable) to leave the ‘baggage’ from your previous relationships at the door? Plus, she dishes out some advice for a listener considering dipping his toes in polyamory.
The Foxhole is sponsored by Handy - a WiFi-enabled sex toy for men, designed and developed in Norway. For free express shipping, use our code ‘Foxhole' at TheHandy.com.
Got a sex question for Alix? Reach out via the Feedback form.
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Finally, our record of the month is this soulful number from jazz powerhouse Poppy Ajudha, Holiday From Reality 👇
Her new album, The Power In Us, is out on 22nd April.
This episode is sponsored by:
• Pact, the speciality subscription coffee company. New customers get a free V60 filter kit (worth £11) when they sign up to a Pact plan at pactcoffee.com and enter the code MANN at checkout.
• Betterhelp, the world’s largest online therapy platform. Get 10% off your first month of affordable, private therapy at betterhelp.com/modernmann
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This show is free to download, but it isn’t free to produce.
If you can afford to, please buy us a beer once per month - or as often as you like - using our secure, customisable form here. Thanks!
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… And we’ll see you with something new on March 10th.
