In this episode of 3 Movies That Changed Your Life screenwriter Stuart Wright talks to documentary filmmaker Simeon Halligan & Steven Balshaw about: Star Wars / 2001: A Space Odyssey & The Searchers / Vera Cruz, Don't Look Now & Performance, and Times Bandits / Brazil & Apocalypse Now. Discover how these films shaped her screenwriting journey, personal growth, and understanding of cinema’s power. Plus, Simeon Halligan & Steven Balshaw talks about pulling together this year’s Grimmfest: Manchester’s international festival of Fantastic Film which takes place 8-11 October 2026

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Movies That Changed Your Life  

Find out about Grimmfest: Manchester’s international festival of Fantastic Film which takes place 8-11 October 2026 and the lasting impact of cinema on Simeon Halligan & Steven Balshaw’s life with Stuart Wright on his movie podcast.  

[1:20] CELEBRATE: 50 Years of Punk

3 Movies That Changed Your Life

[19:24] Star Wars / 2001: A Space Odyssey & The Searchers / Vera Cruz 

[25:36] Don't Look Now & Performance (1980): Made Mark take up boxing

[35:20] Times Bandits / Brazil & Apocalypse Now

Key Take Aways:  

• Discover how movies that changed your life shape personal and professional growth. 
• Learn about they pulled together this year’s Grimmfest: Manchester’s international festival of Fantastic Film which takes place 8-11 October 2026
• Spanish and Victorian/colonialism strands at Grimmfest
• Understand cinema’s transformative power through Star Wars (1977) / 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) & The Searchers (1956) / Vera Cruz (1954), Don't Look Now (1973) & Performance (1971), Times Bandits (1981) / Brazil (1985) & Apocalypse Now (1979)

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, follow on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts for more movies that impacted your life! 

Share your favourite movies that impacted your life on X (@leytonrocks) and leave a 5-star review and tell us which 3 films impacted your adult life. Best ones get read out on the podcast

About my Guest(s):  

Simeon Halligan & Steven Balshaw at from Grimmfest: Manchester’s international festival of Fantastic Film which takes place 8-11 October 2026

For tickets and more details see https://www.grimmfest.com/

Credits:  

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of 3 Movies That Changed Your Life screenwriter Stuart Wright talks to documentary filmmaker Mark Sloper about: That’ll Be The Day, Raging Bull, and Withnail & I. Discover how these films shaped her screenwriting journey, personal growth, and understanding of cinema’s power. Plus, Mark Sloper talks about the making of his latest documentary CELEBRATE: 50 Years of Punk.

Movies That Changed Your Life  

Find out about Scriptology UK and the lasting impact of cinema on Mark Sloper’s life with Stuart Wright on his movie podcast.  

[1:20] CELEBRATE: 50 Years of Punk

3 Movies That Changed Your Life

[15:40] That'll Be The Day (1973): Mark thought the character played by David Essex was him

[21:20] Raging Bull (1980): Made Mark take up boxing

[26;33] Withnail & I (1987): Reflected Mark’s life living in unhygienic student squalor in Sheffield

Key Take Aways:  

• Discover how movies that changed your life shape personal and professional growth. 
• Learn about the making of CELEBRATE: 50 Years of Punk
• Gain authentic insider’s account of punk’s evolution and legacy 50 years on.
• Understand cinema’s transformative power through That'll Be The Day (1973), Raging Bull (1980), Withnail & I (1987)

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, follow on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts for more movies that impacted your life! 

Share your favourite movies that impacted your life on X (@leytonrocks) and leave a 5-star review and tell us which 3 films impacted your adult life. Best ones get read out on the podcast

About my Guest:  

Mark Sloper is the director of CELEBRATE: 50 Years of Punk. He also known for Billy Fury: The Sound OF Fury (2015), The Story of Skids: Scotland’s No.1 Punk Band 2025), Punk 76 (2013) and many more.

CELEBRATE: 50 Years of Punk is out in cinemas. For dates and locations nearest to you see https://www.odeon.co.uk/films/50-years-of-punk/HO00009464/

Credits:  

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of 3 Movies That Changed Your Life screenwriter Stuart Wright talks with screenwriter and founder of Scriptology UK Alkin Emirali about: All Harry Potter Films, Consequences Of Love, and Napoleon Dynamite. Discover how these films shaped her screenwriting journey, personal growth, and understanding of cinema’s power. Plus, Alkin Emirali introduces us to the Scriptology UK method of learning how to write screenplays.

Movies That Changed Your Life  

Find out about Scriptology UK and the lasting impact of cinema on Alkin Emirali’s life with Stuart Wright on his movie podcast.  

[1:20] Scriptology UK method of learning how to write screenplays

3 Movies That Changed Your Life

[19:00] Do The Right Thing (2001-2011): social commentary that pays no attention to social realism

[24:35] Consequences Of Love (2001): humbling experience to watch as an early stage filmmaker

[30:00] Napoleon Dynamite (1996): prepared to push the narrative to the lowest priority to indulge in comedy and characterisation like few other films before or since

Key Take Aways:  

• Discover how movies that changed your life shape personal and professional growth. 
• Learn about the Scriptology UK method of learning how to write screenplays .
• Understand cinema’s transformative power through Do The Right Thing (1989), Consequences Of Love (2004), Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, follow on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts for more movies that impacted your life! 

Share your favourite movies that impacted your life on X (@leytonrocks) and leave a 5-star review and tell us which 3 films impacted your adult life. Best ones get read out on the podcast

About my Guest:  

Alkin Emirali is a screenwriter, founder & head scriptologist at Scriptology UK

For more information or how to sign up for Scriptology UK https://www.scriptologyuk.com/ 

Credits:  

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of 3 Movies That Changed Your Life screenwriter Stuart Wright talks with Director of East Midlands Film Office Emma Smith about: All Eight Harry Potter Films, Y tu mamá también, and Romeo + Juliet. Discover how these films shaped her screenwriting journey, personal growth, and understanding of cinema’s power. Plus, Emma Smith discusses the aims and ambitions of the East Midlands Film Office.

Movies That Changed Your Life  

Find out about the the East Midlands Film Office and the lasting impact of cinema on Emma Smith’s life with Stuart Wright on his movie podcast.  

[1:20] the East Midlands Film Office

3 Movies That Changed Your Life

[18:21] All Eight Harry Potter Films (2001-2011): Great to be a part of the communal analysis about whether the books translated accurately to what you imagined in your head

[29:20] Y tu mamá también (2001): A movie not watched for over two decades but left an indelible mark.

[34:35] Romeo + Juliet (1996): Went to watch it because of Claire Danes and Leonardo Dicaprio. Completely blind to the visceral experience this tragedy would put her through.  

Key Take Aways:  

• Discover how movies that changed your life shape personal and professional growth. 
• The aims and ambitions of the East Midlands Film Office and how to get in touch.
• Understand cinema’s transformative power through All Eight Harry Potter Films (2001-2011), Y tu mamá también (2001), Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, follow on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts for more movies that impacted your life! 

Share your favourite movies that impacted your life on X (@leytonrocks) and leave a 5-star review and tell us which 3 films impacted your adult life. Best ones get read out on the podcast

About my Guest:  

Emma Smith is the founder of Spin Off Studios and Director of the East Midlands Film Office, Attracting and supporting high-profile film, TV and commercial productions to the region. Overseeing everything from location scouting, permissions and casting to working with local authorities and crew, ensuring world-class filming experiences while showcasing the East Midlands’ unique talent and locations.

For more information or how to get in touch see https://eastmidlandsfilm.com/

Credits:  

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of 3 Movies That Changed Your Life screenwriter Stuart Wright talks with TV director George Kane about: Back To The Future, Monkey Business, and Faces. Discover how these films shaped his screenwriting journey, personal growth, and understanding of cinema’s power. Plus, George Kane talks about archiving his personal photographs and videos.

Movies That Changed Your Life  

Find out about why George Kane archives his photographs and videos and the lasting impact of cinema on George Kane’s life with Stuart Wright on his movie podcast.  

[1:20] Archiving your photographs and video

3 Movies That Changed Your Life

[15:08] Back To The Future (1985): this film is in his DNA

[20:20] Monkey Business (1931): Joke for joke is funnier than the more popular Duck Soup

[25:27] Faces (1968): Inspired a short film that was pivotal in his directing career  

Key Take Aways:  

• Discover how movies that changed your life shape personal and professional growth. 
• Learn about the benefits and delights of archiving personal photographs and videos.
• Understand cinema’s transformative power through Back To The Future (1985), Monkey Business (1931), Faces (1968)

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, follow on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts for more movies that impacted your life! 

Share your favourite movies that impacted your life on X (@leytonrocks) and leave a 5-star review and tell us which 3 films impacted your adult life. Best ones get read out on the podcast

About my Guest:  

George Kane directed episodes 1, 2 & 3 of season 2 of Ludwig. He is also known for Timewasters (2017), Flack (2019) and Crashing (2016).

For Ludwig season 2 see BBC iplayer https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m0022wvz/ludwig 

Credits:  

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of 3 Movies That Changed Your Life screenwriter Stuart Wright talks with journalist and author David Nolan about: The Street Fighter, Society, and Samsara. Discover how these films shaped his screenwriting journey, personal growth, and understanding of cinema’s power. Plus, David Nolan introduces the world to CULT MANCHESTER.

Movies That Changed Your Life  

Find out about why David Nolan created CULT MANCHESTER and the lasting impact of cinema on David Nolan’s life with Stuart Wright on his movie podcast.  

[1:20] What is CULT MANCHESTER

3 Movies That Changed Your Life

[12:45] The Street Fighter aka Hard Times (1975): Saw this at the cinema aged 10 but got in because his dad insisted he was 14, short for his age and was embarrassed to talk about it

[19:10] Society (1989): Saw this for the first time at a cinema in Ashton-under-Lyne as part of a Black Nights Film Festival

[25:32] Samsara (2023): A surprise cinematic experience like no other  

Key Take Aways:  

• Discover how movies that changed your life shape personal and professional growth. 
• Learn what is CULT MANCHESTER and where to find it
• Understand cinema’s transformative power through The Street Fighter (1975), Society (1989), Samsara (2023)

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, follow on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts for more movies that impacted your life! 

Share your favourite movies that impacted your life on X (@leytonrocks) and leave a 5-star review and tell us which 3 films impacted your adult life. Best ones get read out on the podcast

About my Guest:  

David Nolan is a journalist, author and founder of CULT MANCHESTER

For all your CULT MANCHESTER needs go to https://www.cultmanchester.co.uk/ and follow their activities on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cult_manchester/

Credits:  

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of 3 Movies That Changed Your Life screenwriter Stuart Wright talks with screenwriter Helen Tompson about: You've Got Mail, The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things, and The Truman Show. Discover how these films shaped her screenwriting journey, personal growth, and understanding of cinema’s power. Plus, Helen Tompson discusses why she chooses to share screenwriting scheme/assignment rejections and how it has aided her personal development as a writer.

Movies That Changed Your Life  

Find out about why she chooses to share screenwriting scheme/assignment rejections can aid your personal development as a writer and the lasting impact of cinema on Helen Tompson’s life with Stuart Wright on his movie podcast.  

[1:20] Mentoring

3 Movies That Changed Your Life

[23:20] You’ve Got Mail (1998): This is not a romcom

[29:20] The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things (2021): Such an underrated film

[34:35] The Truman Show (1998): The allegory of the cave  

Key Take Aways:  

• Discover how movies that changed your life shape personal and professional growth. 
• Sharing and discussing screenwriting scheme/assignment rejections can aid your personal development as a writer.
• Understand cinema’s transformative power through You've Got Mail (1998), The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things (2021), The Truman Show (1998)

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, follow on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts for more movies that impacted your life! 

Share your favourite movies that impacted your life on X (@leytonrocks) and leave a 5-star review and tell us which 3 films impacted your adult life. Best ones get read out on the podcast

About my Guest:  

Helen Tompson is a screenwriter

You can find Helen’s posts about rejection and other aspects of screenwriting on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-tompson/

Credits:  

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of 3 Movies That Changed Your Life screenwriter Stuart Wright talks with legendary screenwriter Steven E De Souza (DIE HARD, RUNNING MAN) about: The Treasure Of Sierra Madre, North By North West, and Citizen Kane. Discover how these films shaped his filmmaking journey, personal growth, and understanding of cinema’s power. Plus Steven E De Souza discusses how he wrote the iconic eighties action movie COMMANDO (1985) for Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

Movies That Changed Your Life  

Find out about how Steven E De Souza wrote the iconic eighties action movie COMMANDO; and the lasting impact of cinema on his life with Stuart Wright on this movie podcast.  

[1:20] How Steven E De Souza wrote the Arnold Schwarzenegger action movie COMMANDO (1985)

3 Movies That Changed Your Life

[44:45] The Treasure Of Sierra Madre (1948): Saw this movie when it was re-released in 1955

[49:50] North By North West (1959): The first movie Steven could not second guess where the story was heading

[55:10] Citizen Kane (1941): Cemented Steven's desire to be a filmmaker

Key Take Aways:  

• Discover how movies that changed your life shape personal and professional growth. 
• How Steven E De Souza wrote the Arnold Schwarzenegger action movie COMMANDO (1985)
• Rewriting someone else’s screenplay
• Understand cinema’s transformative power through The Treasure Of Sierra Madre (1948), North By North West (1959), Citizen Kane (1941)

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, follow on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts for more movies that impacted your life! 

Share your favourite movies that impacted your life on X (@leytonrocks) and leave a 5-star review and tell us which 3 films impacted your adult life. Best ones get read out on the podcast

About my Guest:  

Steven E De Souza is a screenwriter known for COMMANDO, RUNNING MAN, DIE HARD and much more.

Find him on Twitter at https://x.com/StevenEdeSouza 

Credits:  

3 Movies That Changed Your Life Podcast is written, produced, and hosted by Stuart Wright see https://linktr.ee/stuartwright 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of 3 Movies That Changed Your Life screenwriter Stuart Wright talks with actor/filmmaker Cameron Francis about: Persona, Barton Fink, and Halloween. Discover how these films shaped his filmmaking journey, personal growth, and understanding of cinema’s power. Plus Cameron Francis discusses the making of his neo-noir micro budget thriller COVER. 

Movies That Changed Your Life  

Find out about how Cameron Francis made his neo-noir micro budget thriller COVER; and the lasting impact of cinema on his life with Stuart Wright on this movie podcast.  

[1:20] BLOOD SECRET World Premiere at Frightfest 2026

[2:20] The making of Cameron Francis’s neo-noir micro budget thriller COVER

3 Movies That Changed Your Life

[19:30] Persona (1966): Watched, restarted it and watched it again. It just hit so hard.

[27:15] Barton Fink (1991): The creepy beach in Blood Secret was influenced by the beach scene at the end of Barton Fink

[32:15] Halloween (1978): As a person trying make stuff with little money, there’s indelibly images in this movie that are so inspiring.

Key Take Aways:  

• Discover how movies that changed your life shape personal and professional growth. 
• How Cameron Francis made his neo-noir micro budget thriller COVER
• Understand cinema’s transformative power through Persona (1966), Barton Fink (1991), Halloween (1978)

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, follow on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts for more movies that impacted your life! 

Share your favourite movies that impacted your life on X (@leytonrocks) and leave a 5-star review and tell us which 3 films impacted your adult life. Best ones get read out on the podcast

About my Guest:  

Cameron Francis is an actor and filmmaker known for Cover (2025) and Blood Secret (2026); and his work in "Never Back Down" (2008), "Frank v. God" (2012), and the Kevin Smith film "Killroy Was Here.”

COVER is out now on TUBI. https://tubitv.com/en-gb/movies/100052894/cover 

For more behind the scenes discussion follow Cameron Francis on instagram https://www.instagram.com/cameronfrancis5/?hl=en 

The world premiere of BLOOD SECRET is at Frightfest 2026, Thursday 27 August at 10:45pm see website for details https://frightfest.co.uk/LondoN2026/blood-secret.html 

Credits:  

3 Movies That Changed Your Life Podcast is written, produced, and hosted by Stuart Wright see https://linktr.ee/stuartwright 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of 3 Movies That Changed Your Life screenwriter Stuart Wright talks with Stay Safe screenwriter Rolando Viñas about: Misery, Shawshank Redemption, and Pulp Fiction.

Discover how these films shaped his screenwriting journey, personal growth, and understanding of cinema’s power. Plus Rolando Viñas discusses how, as a writer for hire, he wrote the sci-fi horror STAY SAFE. 

Movies That Changed Your Life  

Find out about how Rolando Viñas wrote the sci-fi horror STAY SAFE; and the lasting impact of cinema on his life with Stuart Wright on this movie podcast.  

[1:20] Writing STAY SAFE

3 Movies That Changed Your Life

[13:40] Misery (1991): Fortunate to be a teenager in the 1990s

[19:35] Shawshank Redemption (1994): It is a perfect film

[27:30] Pulp Fiction (1994): A breath of fresh air to see this movie

Key Take Aways:  

• Discover how movies that changed your life shape personal and professional growth. 
• How Rolando Viñas wrote the sci-fi horror STAY SAFE
• How to be a writer for hire
• Understand cinema’s transformative power through Misery (1991), Shawshank Redemption (1994), Pulp Fiction (1994)

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, follow on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts for more movies that impacted your life! 

Share your favourite movies that impacted your life on X (@leytonrocks) and leave a 5-star review and tell us which 3 films impacted your adult life. Best ones get read out on the podcast

About my Guest:  

Rolando Viñas is known for Investigation 13 (2019), Stay Safe (2025) and Arcana

STAY SAFE is out now on TUBI. https://tubitv.com/en-gb/movies/100053997/stay-safe 

Credits:  

3 Movies That Changed Your Life Podcast is written, produced, and hosted by Stuart Wright see https://linktr.ee/stuartwright 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of 3 Movies That Changed Your Life screenwriter Stuart Wright talks with Balagan Productions film & commercials producer Jonathan Weissler about: Aliens, JFK, and Fight Club. Discover how these films shaped his screenwriting journey, personal growth, and understanding of cinema’s power. Plus Jonathan Weissler discusses the state of indie film financing in the age of the streamers and how to navigate post-production deals. 

Movies That Changed Your Life  

Find out about the state of indie film financing in the age of the streamers and how to navigate post-production deals; and the lasting impact of cinema on Jonathan Weissler’s life with Stuart Wright on his movie podcast.  

[1:20] Indie film financing in the age of the streamer

[7:00] What are the challenges of post-production deals and how can filmmakers navigate them to get the best outcomes?

[16:00] The importance of knowing how to make film… Seems obvious, right? 

3 Movies That Changed Your Life

[24:13] Aliens (1986): One of the most exciting movies ever put on film

[29:30] JFK (1991): Part of my filmmaking culture

[35:15] Fight Club (1999): It spoke to me.   

Key Take Aways:  

• Discover how movies that changed your life shape personal and professional growth. 
• The state of indie film financing in the age of the streamers.
• How to navigate a post-production deal
• Understand cinema’s transformative power through Aliens (1986), JFK (1991), Fight Club (1999)

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, follow on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts for more movies that impacted your life! 

Share your favourite movies that impacted your life on X (@leytonrocks) and leave a 5-star review and tell us which 3 films impacted your adult life. Best ones get read out on the podcast

About my Guest:  

Jonathan Weissler is film and commercials producer at Balagan Productions https://www.balagan.biz/ 

Notes for the interview

In reference to my comments about THE SNOWMAN production issues. Here’s the news story as reported by Indiewire - https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/the-snowman-director-explains-movie-terrible-tomas-alfredson-1201888133/ 

Credits:  

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices