About this episode
Today on the show, we’re joined by Samuel D. Hunter – playwright-turned-screenwriter of moving new drama, The Whale. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, the film tells the tale of Charlie (Brendan Fraser) – a reclusive former teacher who developed destructive eating habits following a devastating past tragedy. With seemingly days to live, Charlie desperately attempts to reconnect with a daughter who resents him, and is sinking into a cynicism that Charlie finds heartbreaking. It’s a film that, you may have heard, has stoked a wide range of reactions, which Sam and I get into in detail. We talk about its provoking title, which he explains was designed to prod at people’s prejudices before taking on a completely different context in the story. We discuss the challenges and opportunities presented to Sam when it came to adapting his stage play into a screenplay – and what the scarcity of media telling the tales of plus-size protagonists does for the fabric of our society. This is a spoiler-filled conversation so please be sure to watch The Whale before listening in. Script Apart is hosted by Al Horner and produced by Kamil Dymek . Follow us on Twitter and Instagram , or email us on thescriptapartpodcast@gmail.com. Support for this episode comes from ScreenCraft , Arc Studio Pro and WeScreenplay . To get ad-free episodes and exclusive content, join us on Patreon . Support the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.