Alien - Nostromo, A Very Bloody Birth

An Alien in Hollywood - Ronald Shusett

Highlights

• 00:16 – Robin tells the story of how she met Ron Shusett
• 02:58 – Introducing today’s episode, Alien: Nostromo
• 03:21 – Pre-production of Alien
• 04:56 – Casting Alien
• 05:46 – The controversy behind Sigourney Weaver landing the lead role of Ellen Ripley
• 09:27 – Figuring out the pacing of Alien
• 14:16 – An incredible crisis that developed among the actors of Alien
• 18:51 – Giving Hollywood executives an ultimatum
• 21:11 – The Chestburster Scene
• 25:29 – Shooting in chronological order from the Chestburster scene on
• 26:47 – Ron shares another behind the scenes moment from shooting Alien
• 29:14 – The nursery set
• 30:42 – The impregnation of the alien

Shareable Quotes

“Sigourney got it by giving a brilliant reading. She was off-Broadway in a hit and they gave her a cold reading and she knocked it out of the park.” (06:07)

“They were all not-name stars. They were all proven successes as character actors, but none of them could be prima donnas. But halfway through there became an incredible crisis with the whole cast. They almost all quit.” (14:28)

“And so I said, “The movie doesn’t seem to be working. It’s slow and plodding. It’s the right version of the script but the pacing is off. It’s funereal instead of suspenseful.” (10:17)

“And from then on, they were really scared of that monster. They’re performances showed it.” (25:08)

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Music by Vincent Covello and Vic Migenes

Artwork by Barbara Mastej

Listen to all episodes at AnAlienInHollwood.com

Discover Robin's books at RobinMaxwell.com

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