What is your favorite snippet from all six episodes?

Schrader: In the final episode, Steven and George sit together in Hawaii, dreading Star Wars opening weekend box office numbers. George was convinced it was going to be a flop after risking his own money and health to make it. At that lowest-of-low moment, sitting in the sand on a beach, they come up with the idea for Indiana Jones. It still gives me goosebumps that that actually happened.

Holmes: Without revealing too much, when George and Steven share the moment of first hearing John Williams’s Star Wars theme, it’s freaking magic. Plus, Matthew Bohrer as John Williams somehow makes me like Williams even more than I did before, if that’s even possible.

What are three fun facts that we’ll learn from the podcast?

Schrader: George helped Steven cast Jaws. Steven insisted George hire John Williams for Star Wars. And the two were each other’s closest confidants even as Jaws and Star Wars fell apart, only to later become surprise breakout hits. This is also a deep dive into the world’s most famous film composer, John Williams. I had no idea before embarking on this that John’s breakthrough success came immediately after the tragic loss of his wife. Most people have no idea, and it’s an incredibly powerful and moving story.

What makes this podcast stand out?

Schrader: We were really inspired in making the first scripted biopic for the podcast platform. We took a large-scale “feature film” approach to research, script development, casting, design and music, and really wanted to create a 2.5-hour movie for your ears. It’s such a rich story arc to begin with, but it still gives me goosebumps hearing certain moments, like hearing Carrie Fisher cry the first time she heard the Star Wars music.