BPS 118: From Short Film Script to Spielberg with Sacha Gervasi

Being a podcaster now for over 600 episodes I’ve heard all sorts of
stories on how people make it in the film business. From Sundance
darlings to blind luck. Now today’s guest story is easily one of
the most incredible and entertaining origin stories I’ve ever
heard. We have on the show today award-winning director, producer,
and screenwriter, Sacha Gervasi.

Sacha won the screenwriter lottery with his first-ever screenplay,
which was a un-produceable short film script, caught the eye of the
legendary Steven Spielberg. That script, My Dinner with Herve would
eventually be expanded and released in 2018 by HBO. The film stars
the incomparable, Peter Dinklage.

Unlike most writers/directors who go on to produce their debut
films, Gervasi’s 1993 entry project wasn’t made until just three
years ago. I promise you, Sacha spills every detail of the
fascinating story of his encounter with Hervé Villechaize, the
famous little person from shows like Fantasy Island and films like
James Bond’s The Man with the Golden Gun. Hervé was arguably one of
the most famous people in the world in the late ’70s and early
80’s. Sacha sat with Herve in a marathon interview, and the
connection they forge during their brief, yet impactful meet.

After his life-changing encounter with the Fantasy Island star,
which followed Hervé’s abrupt and unfortunate suicide, Sacha was
determined to get his story told in its entirety and justifiably.
He ditched his mid-level journalism job in England and moved to Los
Angeles to attend film school at UCLA after developing the script
for My Dinner with Herve.

While on the climb-up, Sacha wrote screenplays for The Big Tease
(1999) and The Terminal (2004) which was directed by Steven
Spielberg and starred Tom Hanks. The comedy-drama film grossed
$219.4 million at the Box office with a $60 million budget and has
become a holiday classic in the UK.

Tom Hanks played an Eastern European tourist who unexpectedly finds
himself stranded in JFK airport, and must take up temporary
residence there because he is denied entry into the United States
and at the same time is unable to return to his native country
because of a military coup.

In 2008, Sacha made his documentary directorial debut and executive
produced Anvil! The Story of Anvil.

The amazing documentary premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film
Festival about a heavy metal band that never gave up on their
dreams of being a successful band. Anvil was established in 1978
and became one of the most influential yet commercially
unsuccessful acts with thirteen albums. The documentary ranks at
98% on Rotten Tomatoes.

He also directed the 2012 film Hitchcock, a story about the
relationship between Alfred Hitchcock and his wife, Alma Reville
during the filming of Psycho (1969). It starred Anthony Hopkins,
Helen Mirren, and Scarlet Johansson.

I also interviewed Sacha and an old friend of his, Iron Maiden
heavy metal band singer, Bruce Dickinson on my new podcast, Next
Level Soul that you have to catch up with if you are down for more
knowledge bombs and cool stories from Sacha. That episode comes out
on Saturday.

Here’s a bit on my new podcast Next Level Soul.

The Next Level Soul Podcast is a self-help & spirituality
podcast that asks the big questions about living and thriving in
the world today by having candid and inspiring conversations with
thought leaders from every walk of life. The show covers
inspirational, motivational, spiritual, health-oriented, yoga,
meditation, wellness, and many more topics. New episodes of Next
Level Soul air every Saturday anywhere you listen to podcasts.
Let’s take your SOUL to the next level.

Sasha is such an interesting human being, I had such a ball talking
with him. We talk about the film business, his origin stories, his
screenwriting craft, what he’s doing now, and so much more.

Enjoy my entertaining conversation with Sacha Gervasi.

Become a supporter of this podcast:
https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.