This is a music-only track. Blockbuster arrives April 16. Set in the 1970s, this six-part original series tells the story of two big-dreaming filmmakers and friends, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, and how their personal, career and health struggles led to a movie revolution, and the greatest box office flop-turned-triumph of all time: Star Wars. Blockbuster is presented ad-interruption free for your listening pleasure. Please consider a small donation to the creators at http://GetBlockbuster.com/support and receive bonus perks, and your name in the credits!
Season 1 Trailer. Set in the 1970s, this six-part original series tells the story of two big-dreaming filmmakers and friends, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, and how their personal, career and health struggles led to a movie revolution, and the greatest box office flop-turned-triumph of all time: Star Wars.
Steven and George become allies. A tragedy stuns composer John Williams. Producers at Universal take a risk on a big idea. Set in the 1970s, this six-part original series tells the story of two big-dreaming filmmakers and friends, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, and how their personal, career and health struggles led to a movie revolution, and the greatest box office flop-turned-triumph of all time: Star Wars.
The open ocean devours Steven. George finds a home for his space adventure. John Williams returns to film scoring with an inspired idea.
Jaws is an international sensation. John Williams attends the Oscars. George and Steven embark on rival projects out of this world.
George and Steven struggle with crews, imploding budgets and nature itself. A $40-million handshake. "The Star Wars" faces its biggest threat.
George Lucas screens his film for Steven Spielberg and his friends. John Williams records a masterpiece. Theaters reject Star Wars.
Season Finale. A startling surprise on Hollywood Boulevard. George and Steven build a sandcastle.
Before the release of Season 2, creator Matt Schrader is joined by sound designer Peter Bawiec and producer Elena Bawiec to discuss the origin of Blockbuster (new season coming June 2020) and discuss their own entrepreneurial struggles in this special release for Dell Technologies Small Business PodFerence, a virtual conference of podcast creators. Matt details how he left his career in broadcast journalism with CBS and NBC to self-finance his own feature documentary (2017's Score: A Film Music Documentary, a New York Times Critics Pick), and the challenges the Blockbuster team faced tryiing to create a new model of high-end "biopic podcast" (biopod) storytelling, which parallels some of the struggles of many entrepreneurs, not to mention filmmakers George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.
This award-winning 10-part original miniseries stars Ross Marquand (The Walking Dead, Avengers: Endgame) as up-and-coming writer-director James Cameron, and tells the story of how he fought through decades of personal struggles and career setbacks to assemble the most expensive and grueling movie production of all-time, Titanic, that nearly sank two film studios.
Premiere. 1977: College dropout James Cameron, a 22-year-old truck driver, aspires for something more. This award-winning 10-part original miniseries stars Ross Marquand (The Walking Dead, Avengers: Endgame) as up-and-coming writer-director James Cameron, and tells the story of how he fought through decades of personal struggles and career setbacks to assemble the most expensive and grueling movie production of all-time, Titanic, that nearly sank two film studios.
Bonus Interview. BLOCKBUSTER series creator Matt Schrader asks James Cameron friend and screenwriter Bill Wisher about their early interests and motivations, and about starring in James and Randy Frakes' short film Xenogenesis.
James Cameron excels at Roger Corman's film studio, meeting several people who will change the course of his life. An electric moment on set demonstrates James' filmmaking potential.
Bonus Interview. BLOCKBUSTER series creator Matt Schrader asks author and co-director of James' short film Xenogenesis Randy Frakes about James' early motivations, nearly electrocuting Bill Wisher on set, and James rising through the ranks of Roger Corman's studio.
Young James engineers a hot air balloon in Chippawa, Ontario. Tension builds on the set of Piranha II. James embraces his worst nightmare.
Bonus Interview. BLOCKBUSTER series creator Matt Schrader asks legendary producer and Academy Award honoree Roger Corman about James Cameron's rapid rise through New World Pictures in the 1980s, and about his disappointment with James being fired from Piranha II.
An up-and-coming Ridley Scott decides on a film that will revolutionize science fiction horror. James pitches The Terminator, and meets bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger.
James finishes filming on The Terminator, only to see the film disappoint. James marries his producer Gale, and fights for Sigourney Weaver's big payday in Aliens.
Bonus Archival. This special extended episode contains original news reports of the "greatest ocean discovery in history" on September 1, 1985. First is CTV's original report the evening of the discovery, and then ABC's World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, and the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. After this, CBS News and ABC News continue their coverage with the questions around who owns the ship, and excerpts from the 1986 documentary "Titanic: The Nightmare and the Dream." Lastly, Dr. Robert Ballard speaks about his discovery, and the top-secret military origins of the mission that found Titanic.
James' vision is threatened by a mutiny at Pinewood Studios. Pressure builds on composer James Horner. James' father declines an opportunity to celebrate his son's success.
Bonus Interview. BLOCKBUSTER series creator Matt Schrader asks friend Randy Frakes about James Cameron's frustrations filming Aliens, their discovery of the Fairlight Synthesizer for sound effects (or was it music?), and speaking with James' father Philip about his son's career.
James appears on Late Night with David Letterman, as The Abyss disappoints. The Terminator finally finds its fanbase. James rediscovers his passion in a documentary screening, and pitches Titanic.
Bonus Interview. BLOCKBUSTER series creator Matt Schrader asks college best friend and screenwriter Bill Wisher about co-writing Terminator 2: Judgment Day with James Cameron, and James' career trajectory leading into Titanic.
James makes several dangerous dives to the Atlantic Ocean floor to film the Titanic and clears the way for his next feature film.
Bonus Interview. BLOCKBUSTER series creator Matt Schrader asks underwater cinematography pioneer Al Giddings about working with James Cameron on The Abyss, filming the documentary that inspired Titanic, and his dangerous dives to the ocean floor with James.
James finds Titanic's lead actors. A drug-induced hysteria rocks James' film production, as budgets spiral out of control. James gives up his share in the film film to keep it afloat.
Bonus Interview. BLOCKBUSTER series creator Matt Schrader asks producer Bill Mechanic, former head of 20th Century Fox Motion Pictures, about the PCP incident in Nova Scotia, and the face-to-face confrontation in James Cameron's trailer that nearly shut down Titanic.
Finale. Press swarm to criticize Titanic after a bleak opening weekend at the box office. A humiliated James escapes to the desert to get away, and contemplate how to restart his career. Titanic refuses to sink.
Bonus Interview. BLOCKBUSTER series creator Matt Schrader reveals an interview with James Cameron from his film Score: A Film Music Documentary about the life and legacy of James Horner.