Join Every Rom Com as we kick off our Sports Rom Com Series with Luca Guadagnino’s modern classic “Challengers”! Joined by podcaster, producer and filmmaker extraordinaire, Billy Ray Brewton, we’ll unpack the relationships in this complicated triangle, discuss how the game of tennis relates to the movie’s structure and themes, and bring you all the making of info currently missing from any “Challengers” physical media release! We’ll also reveal who’s #TeamArt, who’s #TeamPatrick and who’s #TeamNobody. Join us for this in-depth and at times adult conversation on one of the best movies of last year!

0:00-12:45 Welcome Back Billy Ray Brewton!, Favorite Sports Movies

BILLY RAY is a filmmaker and film programmer based in Los Angeles. He’s the Creative Director of Make Believe, a frequent heel on the Screen Drafts podcast, and the producer of the new documentary, CORONER TO THE STARS, currently on the film festival circuit, about the life and career of Dr. Thomas Noguchi, the former L.A. County coroner/medical examiner.

Check out “Coroner to the Stars”: https://www.coronertothestars.com/

Follow Billy Ray on Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billyraybrewton/?hl=en

Bluesky: https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/billyraybrewton.bsky.social

LIsten to Billy Ray’s other guest spot on “Dashing in December”!

https://www.everyromcom.com/podcast-1/episode/4e89dd30/every-rom-com-50-dashing-in-december

12:45-27:38 TRAILER, Basic Info, Interesting Facts

More Info on “Challengers”:

https://www.vulture.com/article/challengers-justin-kuritzkes-interview.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXmtHVtoyv0

https://deadline.com/2024/11/challengers-director-luca-guadagnino-interview-1236178882/

https://lwlies.com/interviews/luca-guadagnino-challengers/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRKYU7dHy4U

https://www.gq.com/story/how-challengers-umpire-darnell-appling-went-from-zendayas-assistant-to-internet-fave

27:38-36:02 General Opinion

36:02-54:54 Cast & Crew In-Depth

More Info on Luca Guadagnino:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/10/arts/television/luca-guadagnino.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4h3HGh4NiE&t=1519s

More Info on Zendaya:

https://www.biography.com/actors/zendaya

https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a39225786/euphoria-season-three-release-date-cast-news/

54:54-1:06:15 Opening of the Movie, Art and Tashi

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/challengers-writer-tennis-gay-zendaya-child-star-1235979690/

1:06:15-1:19:31 Patrick Zweig, Art and Patrick

1:19:31-1:28:05 Art, Patrick, and Tashi; Beach Scene

1:28:05 SPOILERS BEGIN

1:28:05-1:41:46 Sports Movie Tropes In “Challengers”, Tennis In the Movie, Meanings of the Title

https://scriptmag.com/interviews-features/mapping-the-structure-of-a-tennis-match-over-screenplay-structure-a-conversation-with-challengers-screenwriter-justin-kuritzkes

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/challengers-writer-tennis-gay-zendaya-child-star-1235979690/

1:41:46-1:56:20 Hotel Room Scene, Set Break

1:56:20-2:12:13 Churros!, Dorm Room Scene, The Injury and Aftermath

https://newyorktennismagazine.com/article/percentage-game/#:~:text=And%20that%20is%20where%20the,Playing%20the%20percentages - percentage tennis

https://oxfordsong.org/song/o-waly-waly

2:12:13-2:18:44 Applebee’s Scene, Patrick in the Alley

2:18:44-2:33:30 Atlanta, Sauna Scene, Tashi and Art

2:33:30-2:48:32 Tashi and Patrick Parking Lot, Match Point, Challengers Sequel Ideas, Costume Design

https://theasc.com/articles/challengers-intense-courtship

https://www.indiewire.com/features/craft/challengers-luca-guadagnino-director-tennis-movie-1234976272/

https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/luca-guadagnino-amy-pascal-challengers-most-iconic-moment-1235071209/

https://ew.com/challengers-ending-explained-luca-guadagnino-zendaya-mike-faist-josh-o-connor-8639336

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/challengers-ending-zendaya-tashi-reaction-final-moments-1235986896/

https://www.artofvfx.com/challengers-brian-drewes-production-vfx-supervisor-zero-vfx/

https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/luca-guadagnino-amy-pascal-challengers-most-iconic-moment-1235071209/

https://lwlies.com/interviews/luca-guadagnino-challengers/

2:48:32-2:57:44 Double Feature Recommendations