The Next Reel Film Podcast

What works better, Stan Winston’s creature effects or the actors performing David E. Kelley’s lines? How does Steve Miner handle the creature feature genre? And how great is Betty White in seriously everything? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!

Show Notes

“I know that, under the circumstances, biting my head off might seem viable, but it would cheapen you.”

When the name David E. Kelley pops up, its usually in relation to one of the many incredible TV shows he created – Ally McBeal, The Practice, Doogie Howser, M.D., etc. His name rarely pops up when it comes to films. That’s why it was likely a big surprise to crowds in 1999 to see his name pop up on a creature feature. Director Steve Miner, on the other hand – also someone whose name is attached to incredible TV like The Wonder Years – comes up more often when it comes to horror films, having started working with Wes Craven before jumping into the Friday the 13th films. But was this film what audiences were looking for? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Aquatic Killers series with Miner’s 1999 film Lake Placid.

We talk about the nature of this film and why it seemed so strange coming from Kelley. We look at how the characters work as compared to how the film works for us overall and find the creature feature portion is fun but some of the character writing feels far too stereotypical. We discuss the passion Stan Winston had for the project and how incredible his creation looks, particularly when paired with CG. Not to mention the cow. We touch on the complexities of filming in a lake and why they ended up making their own lake front in a giant tank up in Canada. We look at what the actors are doing – Bridget Fonda, Bill Pullman, Brendan Gleeson, and Oliver Platt – and how well they do with Kelley’s dated writing. And of course we discuss Betty White and what she’s bringing to the party.

It’s a fun romp that satisfies Andy a lot more than it does Pete, but we both have a lot of fun talking about it on this week’s show. Check it out then tune in! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!

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Creators and Guests

Host
Andy Nelson
With over 25 years of experience in film, television, and commercial production, Andy has cultivated an enduring passion for storytelling in all its forms. His enthusiasm for the craft began in his youth when he and his friends started making their own movies in grade school. After studying film at the University of Colorado Boulder, Andy wrote, directed, and produced several short films while also producing indie features like Netherbeast Incorporated and Ambush at Dark Canyon. Andy has been on the production team for award-winning documentaries such as The Imposter and The Joe Show, as well as TV shows like Investigation Discovery’s Deadly Dentists and Nat Geo’s Inside the Hunt for the Boston Bombers. Over a decade ago, he started podcasting with Pete and immediately embraced the medium. Now, as a partner at TruStory FM, Andy looks forward to more storytelling through their wide variety of shows. Throughout his career, Andy has passed on his knowledge by teaching young minds the crafts of screenwriting, producing, editing, and podcasting. Outside of work, Andy is a family man who enjoys a good martini, a cold beer, a nice cup o’ joe. And always, of course, a great movie.
Host
Pete Wright
#Movies, #ADHD, & #Podcasting • Co-founder @trustory.fm🎥 The Next Reel Family of #Film Podcasts @thenextreel.com🎙️ Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast @takecontroladhd.com📖 Co-author of Unapologetically ADHD • https://unapologeticallyadhdbook.com

What is The Next Reel Film Podcast?

A show about movies and how they connect.
We love movies. We’ve been talking about them, one movie a week, since 2011. It’s a lot of movies, that’s true, but we’re passionate about origins and performance, directors and actors, themes and genres, and so much more. So join the community, and let’s hear about your favorite movies, too.
When the movie ends, our conversation begins.