Screen Talk - Michael Hirst

Michael Hirst was born in Bradford, Yorkshire in 1952. He attended Bradford Grammar School, the London School of Economics, Nottingham University and Trinity College, Oxford. He has been a professional writer since 1980.
Film scripts include: Fools of Fortune, starring Julie Christie, produced by Working Title, 1990; The Ballad of the Sad Café, starring Vanessa Redgrave and produced by Merchant-Ivory, 1992; Meeting Venus, directed by Istvan Szabo, starring Glen Close, 1993 and Elizabeth, starring Cate Blanchett, produced by Working Title, 1996.
Television series include: The Tudors, for Showtime, 4 Seasons, 37 episodes, 2006-2009.
Vikings, for MGM and History, 6 Seasons, 89 episodes, 2012-2018.
the Screen Talk series was filmed by film and TV production students at the University of Bradford in 2019.

[@saolairde396]

Thanks for uploading, I love hearing Michael's process....

[@Saphrax89]

MH: "Is it plausible that the Rus were following Orthodox Christianity already in the 9th century and they invaded Norway?"
Historical advisor: "Well, actually..."
MH: "OKAY, THANKS! WE'RE DOING IT!!!"

[@lydiavanderhout2061]

Is he working on anything new? (I still have to finish this interview, but I was wandering if he's working on any other historical series!)

[@MrRokev]

There is a sequel for Vikings coming, called: Vikings: Valhalla, set 100 year after the end of Vikings show...

[@saolairde396]

@@MrRokev I don't believe this is produced or written by Michael H, nonetheless might be worth a watch...

[@alexman378]

Love how transparent he’s always been about the show not being 100% historically accurate and you still get morons who whine to no end about it, despite this show being the biggest reason that huge amounts of people got interested in this culture to begin with.

[@odostolzfu7775]

Being transparent about something doesn’t make it right or okay. He’s shit in history and shit in filmmaking.

[@alexman378]

@@odostolzfu7775 It sets your expectations for what you’re about to watch, and he’s not a filmmaker. Go cry elsewhere.

[@hanshandkante5055]

@@alexman378 If you don't see that Michael Hirst is the worst writer in the history of tv shows you are an idiot. Also this show was a sucess because so many people are fascinated with Viking culture NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. Michael Hirst is a complete moron who can't tell the difference between shit and scrambled eggs. The writing on this whole show was nothing but a bad joke.

[@odostolzfu7775]

@@hanshandkante5055 that’s a bit harsh dude.. but yes, @alexander Angelus comment is a bit strange as the problem with Vikings was not the filmmaking - the cinematography, camera work and acting where (very) good for the most part - but the writing. I’d argue that season 1-3 somewhat feel like coming from a saga and I enjoyed them BUT everything after that was just a total shitshow of horrible horrible writing. Drama just for the sake of drama, no reasoning and the characters seem to have lost their braincells.

[@hanshandkante5055]

@@odostolzfu7775 I couldn't agree more. The first three seasons were indeed okay, but after that it became a bad joke.