Juan Carlos Medina is a director and writer, known for “Painless“*, “The Limehouse Golem“* “and “A Discovery of Witches“*.
Based on the novel “Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem” by Peter Ackroyd, the script for the film adaptation “The Limehouse Golem” (2016) was written by Jane Goldman.
The film stars Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth, Daniel Mays and María Valverde.
In this (mini) episode of “Talks beyond time and place”, director Juan Carlos Medina explains how he projected Ackroyd’s visionary images on screen and how the illness and untimely death of Alan Rickman, who was originally cast as Inspector Kildare, affected the production and him personally. We also talk about his first feature film “Painless”, his current projects, William Blake and our admiration for Peter Ackroyd and his view on London.
And we mention LONDON BEYOND TIME AND PLACE’s upcoming self-guided walk along Nicholas Hawksmoor’s East End churches!
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Timestamps
00:00 What inspired you to become a film director?
03:20 Which directors inspired you?
08:39 Tell us a bit about the process of how “Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem” was turned into a script by Jane Goldman and then into a film – when did you enter the process?
14:01 What was your approach to recreating Victorian London onscreen, especially in comparison to all the Ripper productions and Sherlock Holmes productions?
19:45 Would you say “The Limehouse Golem” is a horror film?
20:31 Bill Nighy brilliantly played the character of Inspector Kildare, but originally the late Alan Rickman was cast to play the character. Can you tell us a bit about how his illness and untimely death affected the production?
24:03 What was working with Olivia Cooke like?
27:08 Enough of “The Limehouse Golem”, tell us a bit about your film “Painless”, which was also a shocker, especially as many of the protagonists were children.
30:00 What are you currently working on?
32:55 Would you like to do anything that moves a bit away from the morbid side of filmmaking?
The Limehouse Golem trailer
TALKS BEYOND TIME AND PLACE – Mini Episodes
Philipp Röttgers is a writer, journalist and musician and in constant search for London’s spirit. This search for the city’s “spirit of place” has led him on a journey beyond time and place. Along his way he has published a book, several articles and essays, walked the city alone and as a tour guide, founded the company “London beyond time and place” and conversed with authors, musicians, tour guides, historians, curators, entertainers and time travellers who all feel a deep connection to the city and are inspired by it.
This has turned into a successful series of interviews called “Talks beyond time and place”, in which London’s spirit is looked upon from different perspectives which allow you to feel the spirit of London in all its variety. Philipp feels deeply connected to London and the power emanating from this place. Therefore, he is fascinated by meeting people to tell him their personal “London story”.
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