BRETT GOLDSTEIN
FILM FAN BRETT GOLDSTEIN TELLS OK!’S ANNABEL ZAMMIT ABOUT WORKING WITH THE OFFICE STAR AND CATHERINE TATE
He’s a comedian, an actor, a writer, a director and he loves film – so much so that Brett Goldstein, who played Tom in Ricky Gervais’s show Derek, started a podcast –
Films To Be Buried With. In the weekly show, Brett invites a special guest – so far the impressive list has included Ricky, James Acaster, Jack Whitehall and January Jones among many others – to talk about their lives through film.
Brett has also written Nan:
The Movie with
Catherine Tate and, alongside
Stranger Things and Black Mirror screenwriter
William Bridges, he’s created sci-fi series For Life, which is set in the future in a time where science can find your soulmate. Here, Brett talks to
OK! about writing with Catherine, on-set laughs with Ricky and, obviously, films!
You have an almost encyclopedic knowledge of films on your podcast, Films To Be Buried With.
How is that possible?
My brain has clearly decided to use all its memory for film. I don’t remember faces or the names of most of my family, but ask me what song Ursula sings in The Little Mermaid, I’ll scream with no hesitation Poor Unfortunate Souls!
You’ve mentioned on the podcast that you prefer going to the cinema alone. Why?
The cinema is one of the last places where you can really lose yourself. It’s the only place I can turn off my phone, be removed from the world and get lost in an experience.
Any embarrassing cinema experiences?
I once went to see Frozen on a Sunday morning, long after it had been out, because everyone was raving about it. The cinema was completely empty and I was delighted. I sat in the back row. Ten minutes into the film, a mother with four little girls came in. The little girls immediately ran straight up the stairs and took seats directly next to me. I looked at the mother like, ‘I didn’t plan this…’
You ask each guest which film means the most to them, not necessarily because of the film itself but the circumstances in which they saw it. What’s yours? I went to the surprise film at the London Film Festival many years ago with my dad. The film started and it was Pleasantville.
I’d seen a trailer and thought it looked rubbish. It turned out to be amazing and beautiful and surprisingly profound. On the drive home, we talked about it for hours. A lot of it is to do with the politics of ’60s America, which my dad knows a lot about. I’ll always remember that as a very special night where we really bonded.
You’ve written Nan: The Movie
[out next June] with Catherine Tate. How was working together? I’m very, very proud of the film. We set out to do something special – to tell the story of Nan’s life, how she came to be the woman she is. It’s very funny but also emotional and epic. I think people will be surprised how cinematic it is. It’s definitely not an extended episode – it’s a proper movie. As for working with Catherine, we’ve worked together for six years since we met on Superbob [the film Brett co-created and starred in] and I absolutely love writing with her. We spend 90 per cent of the day laughing, five per cent napping, and five per cent deciding what to have for lunch. It’s a perfect partnership.
You played Tom in Ricky Gervais’s Derek. It must have been fun to work on...
Most takes were ruined by Ricky laughing and making us laugh. It’s like he wants to ruin his own show but man, he is funny.
You’re writing For
Life, set 15 years in the future where science can find you a soulmate. What made you want to explore the topic? We wanted to make a show about modern relationships and were looking for a fresh way into it. The idea of the scientific discovery of a test that could find your soulmate and what that would mean to your current relationships, seemed a perfect way into those stories.
I wouldn’t take it right now because it would feel like an ending. I’m like Aerosmith, I believe, ‘Life’s a journey, not a destination.’ Isn’t the search the fun bit?
Lastly, Christmas is coming! What are your must-see films for the festive period?
Every year I see The Muppet Christmas Carol Singa-long screening. I believe it is one of the most perfect films ever made. In second place, Albert Finney’s Scrooge.
Then Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Then Bad Santa,
which is wildly underrated – see them all please! ‘FILMS TO BE BURIED WITH’ AVAILABLE VIA ACAST, SPOTIFY AND ITUNES ‘NAN: THE MOVIE’ AND AMC’S ‘FOR LIFE’ BOTH DUE OUT NEXT YEAR
CATRIONA INNES
Caitlin Carter is Britain’s answer to The Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stanger, but much less scary! Her clients are hoping to find the elusive ‘spark’ and aspire to have an idyllic relationship like Caitlin and husband Harry – except she isn’t telling the entire truth. As her perfect world crumbles, what will be left in its place? The book serves as an important reminder to be grateful for what we have, rather than comparing our lives to Instagram!