Screenwriter Simon Uttley on Movies That Changed Your Life: Empire Strikes Back, LA Confidential, Planes, Train and Automobiles

3 FILMS THAT HAVE IMPACTED EVERYTHING IN YOUR ADULT LIFE: A Britflicks Podcast with screenwriter Stuart Wright

Join screenwriter Stuart Wright as he dives into movies that changed your life with fellow screenwriter Simon Uttley, in this engaging episode of 3 Films That Have Impacted Everything In Your Adult Life. Explore Empire Strikes Back analysis, LA Confidential influence, and Shaun Of The Dead impact on his personal growth and cinema’s transformative power. Simon also discusses how he wrote CLEANER starring Daisy Ridley and Clive Owen

Movies That Changed Your Life

Find out about how Simon Uttley wrote the Daisy Ridley and Clive Owen starrer CLEANER and the lasting impact of cinema with Stuart Wright’s movie podcast.

How Simon Uttley wrote CLEANER

[2:33] Brief synopsis of CLEANER

[3:53] CLEANER is an ode to DIE HARD

[6:00] What stage was CLEANER in when you got involved as the screenwriter?

[12:00] The moral maze of CLEANER – where do you draw your lines?

[15:30] Real life experiences and how do you authentically show autism in drama?

[21:50] Advice about writing action in your screenplays

[25:50] Process for unpacking ideas and building a story

[38:44] 3 Films That Have Impacted Everything In Your Adult Life

Empire Strikes Back Analysis

[39:44] Simon Uttley shares how Empire Strikes Back is his favourite film, but is also the first film he remembers seeing in the cinema – Odeon, Pilgrim Street in Newcastle. And then when he was 13, finding the video tape of it and he was hooked all over again. It’s everything he loves movies for.

LA Confidential impact

[46:10] Simon Uttley shares a story about watching LA Confidential when he was 19/20 out in France. Knowing very little about the film, but thinking Mike (Guy Pearce) from Neighbours, what’s that going to be like? And then watching three really divergent oppositional character, on totally different sides of this mystery. As a result he found that the many plot twists and turns really land.

Planes, Train and Automobiles Influence

[52:30] Simon Uttley shares how does not remember ever seeing Planes, Train and Automobiles for the first time, but it is one of those films that you remember always having known. When you get comedy right, there’s no better genre and you’ve got two comedy geniuses at the height of their powers.

Key Takeaways:

- Discover how movies that changed your life shape personal and professional growth.

- Learn about how Simon Uttley wrote the screenplay for the Daisy Ridley and Clive Owen starrer CLEANER

- Why autism can be shown authentically in drama.

- Understand cinema’s transformative power through Empire Strikes Back (1980), LA Confidential (1997), Planes, Train and Automobiles (1987)

- Full show notes and transcript:

About the Guest:

Simon Uttley is a screenwriter known for Cleaner (2025), James Hyde - The Very Thought of You and The Professionals..

CLEANER is out via Sky Cinema ⁠https://www.sky.com/watch/cleaner

Get Involved:

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Credits:

Intro/Outro music: *Rocking The Stew* by Tokyo Dragons (⁠https://www.instagram.com/slomaxster/⁠)

Written, produced, and hosted by Stuart Wright for [Britflicks.com](⁠https://www.britflicks.com/britflicks-podcast/⁠)

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