Figgis Unfiltered

Filmmaker Mike Figgis on happiness: why it's dangerous, the childhood moment that defined it, and why he distrusts happy endings. Figgis Unfiltered S2 E1. Season 2 of Figgis Unfiltered examines the human emotions, one at a time. In Episode 1, director Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas) begins with happiness — a kitchen table stripped at 3am, a boyhood night hearing Louis Armstrong's trumpet cut through the red velvet curtains of the Newcastle Odeon beside his father, and a lifetime spent watching people to understand what a genuine smile really is. He explores why happiness can only be measured against sadness (by way of John Berger's Ways of Seeing), the actor's exercise that exposes sadness as our default setting, the "mask of happiness" he strips away when taking portraits, and the newspaper photograph of a rescued Australian family that moved him to tears. Then he answers your questions — on what gets him out of bed, the spirituality running through his films, why he casts actors who've stepped away from the mainstream (Kim Novak, Nastassja Kinski, Richard Gere), and whether Leaving Las Vegas could be made in 2026. He closes with his own recommendations on happiness: two books, two live jazz recordings, and one perfect Hitchcock film. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Season 2 — what happiness really is 01:14 A boy, his father & Louis Armstrong at the Odeon 04:04 Edinburgh: a failed comedian and his father's cough 05:18 Why happiness is dangerous — John Berger 06:13 "Show me happiness": the actor's exercise 07:33 Portraits and the mask of happiness 08:36 The Australian beach rescue that moved him 12:10 Listener questions — Clarissa (Toronto): what gets you out of bed? 14:16 Happiness is meant to be shared 17:14 A people-watcher's joy: stations & airports 19:06 Sasha (Ukraine): spirituality in his films 23:01 Doug (Boston): casting actors who stepped away 26:28 Jay (Amsterdam): could Leaving Las Vegas be made today? 29:22 Recommendations — books, live jazz & a Hitchcock film 33:22 Final thoughts: don't plan happiness 📚 Mentioned in this episode Books — A Fan's Notes (Fred Exley) · Something Happened (Joseph Heller) · Ways of Seeing (John Berger) · Diary of a Mad Old Man (Tanizaki) Music — Louis Armstrong's 1948 live all-star concert · Duke Ellington at Newport '56, "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue" (Paul Gonsalves) Films — Notorious (Hitchcock) · Festen · and Mike's own Leaving Las Vegas 🎙️ Got a question for Mike? Send it as a voice note and it could feature in a future episode — DM us on Instagram: @figgisunfiltered 🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell for new Season 2 episodes across all podcast platforms and here on YouTube. Follow: Instagram → https://instagram.com/figgisunfiltered #MikeFiggis #FiggisUnfiltered #Happiness Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his new book, Stay Alive: Berlin, 1939-1945, Ian Buruma explores the complexities of survival and daily life under Nazi rule. He talks to Mike about the book, his longtime interest in China and Japan, and their shared experiences with a legendary Dutch avant-garde theatre. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike Figgis and Josh Karp talk about what AI means for the movie industry, and whether there’s a positive side to the disruption. They also talk about what to do when the artists you love have done harmful things. And Mike recounts his thoughts after a trip to Berlin for the 30th anniversary screening of Leaving Las Vegas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike and Josh Karp discuss the Oscar nominations, a favourite that didn’t make the cut, and what Mike learned from attempting to get MEGADOC into the Academy screening rooms. Then, Mike shares more strange stories from Hollywood, his performance art roots, and being a concerned dad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike keeps a notebook filled with memories – those strange, touching, unsettling or funny moments that stick with you for one reason or another. Today, he opens up the notebook and shares some of his favourites, including a couple of near-death experiences, the time he bought a bootleg DVD of his own movie, and an extreme art performance that ended with the destruction of a Picasso. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike and Josh Karp dissect Quentin Tarantino’s brutal comments about Paul Dano, the bizarre process of getting an Academy Award nomination, and what they’ve been watching. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Leaving Las Vegas became a surprise hit, Mike was a hot name in Hollywood. He talks to writer Josh Karp about the bizarre ritual of the Oscars ceremony, his brief entry into the Hollywood club, and why he ultimately decided not to pursue big budget studio movies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More recollections of Leaving Las Vegas, this time focusing on the cast, the feel of the movie, and the three-week shoot. Mike talks to writer Josh Karp about what it was like working with Nicholas Cage, Elisabeth Shue and a dream list of actors in smaller parts, as well as battles to maintain the film’s iconic sound, and shooting a movie in a city that didn’t want them there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike talks about how bad experiences in the Hollywood studio system led to his decision to make Leaving Las Vegas. The film was made with a small budget and crew, from a book that he thought was unadaptable at first read. He talks to writer Josh Karp about what drove him to independent cinema and how the classic movie came together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike continues his conversation with legendary editor and sound designer Walter Murch. They talk about Murch’s sound work on THX 1138 and Apocalypse Now, surround sound, editing in a foreign language, and some of the early movies that shaped him. Walter Murch’s new book is called Suddenly Something Clicked: The Languages of Film Editing and Sound Design . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three-time Oscar winner Walter Murch ( The Godfather Trilogy , Apocalypse Now , The English Patient ) joins Mike Figgis to talk about a lifetime spent reinventing how films are cut, heard, and felt, from his early experiments in sound design to the insights behind his new book Suddenly Something Clicked. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our third and final installment of Mike’s reflections from the set of Megalopolis, he talks to writer Josh Karp about what goes into editing a massive project like MEGADOC. He shares stories about how he learned to edit, his sometimes tense relationship with other editors on Hollywood projects, and insights on how the documentary industry has changed the craft. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike dives deeper into life on the set of Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis , this time turning his lens on the cast. From Coppola’s fiery love/hate dynamic with Shia LaBeouf, to unexpected moments of connection with Aubrey Plaza, to the quiet mystery of Adam Driver, Mike shares candid stories of how these larger-than-life personalities collide. Together, they reveal how Coppola’s unruly ensemble fuels the director’s anarchic vision. Writer Josh Karp joins Mike him once again. MEGADOC, the documentary about the making of Megalopolis, is in theatres. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Francis Ford Coppola spent over $100 million of his own money to make Megalopolis, an epic film set in an alternate future with a cast full of stars. When the movie came out, it was met with polarizing reviews. Some saw a master experimenting with form, and others saw an incoherent film jam-packed with competing ideas and styles. Mike was invited on set to make a documentary about the movie, and got extensive access to Coppola, the cast and the crew. He’s joined by writer Josh Karp to talk about watching Coppola make this passion project. MEGADOC, the documentary about the making of Megalopolis, is in theatres September 19. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Legendary filmmaker Mike Figgis pulls back the curtain on his life and work in Unfiltered: The Mike Figgis Podcast , a new series full of untold stories from a life in cinema. From behind-the-scenes access to his Megalopolis documentary to raw memories of Leaving Las Vegas and Timecode , Figgis offers rare insight into his creative world. With never-before-heard interviews and candid conversations, the podcast is part memoir, part masterclass, and wholly unfiltered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first interview from Mike's Hollywood Conversations series, recorded in the mid-90s, with legendary New Hollywood director Bob Rafelson (Five Easy Pieces, The King of Marvin Gardens, Stay Hungry). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Season 2 of The Mike Figgis Podcast kicks off with Mike and Ali discussing Coppola's Megalopolis, Mike's making-of documentary of the film, his dearly departed friend Julian Sands, departed legends Jean-Luc Godard and Jeff Beck, long form TV today, new K-Dramas and intimacy in film. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike's musical background, his fascination with audio and the GK4; the band members, the music and the joy of spontaneous playing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike talks about his lifelong fascination with sound, his first recordings, moving down to London, working with the People Show, starting to buy his own equipment, Coppola's The Conversation and eerie audio stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike and Ali talk Cannes Film Festival: Mike's several visits through the years, being on the red carpet, the politics of festivals, encounters with stars, trying to sell one's film and the evolution of the festival scene as a whole. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.