<p>Hello! Welcome to another edition of the exclusive audio commentary podcast hosted by me, David Hughes.  </p> <p>This episode is really personal for me, not only because Rupert Wainwright has been a good friend of mine for 25 years, but because Stigmata is the reason we met. While working on <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0353365/reference/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><em>Divine Rites: The Story of Stigmata</em></a><em>, </em>a documentary about the film and the phenomenon, I wrote and pitched to Rupert a pilot script designed to be a spin-off of the film, using the Congregation of the Causes of Saints as a kind of X-Files show in which our hero would travel the world investigating mysteries and miracles. </p> <p>Although we didn’t end up making the show, Rupert liked the script enough to give me a shot at writing a film for him, based on his own idea, which we almost got to make with Matthew McConaughey about 20 years ago, and we’ve been working on projects together ever since – and more importantly, we’ve enjoyed an enduring friendship which has outlasted our Dante-esque trudges through Development Hell.</p> <p>Revisiting Stigmata for its 25th anniversary, I was delighted to discover that the film really holds up, which is a testament both to Rupert’s skill as a director and the casting of some very talented and committed actors, including Patricia Arquette, Gabriel Byrne, Jonathan Pryce and our mutual friend Rade Serbedzija.</p> <p>Massive thanks to Rupert for lending his time and his memories to our 40th episode.</p> <p>Comments? Feedback? Suggestions? Email David *at * Rogue-Commentary *dot* com or send us a <a href="https://twitter.com/RogueCommentary" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tweet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>.</p> <p>We have lots of exciting episodes in the works, so if you like what you hear – or just the idea – please subscribe, and remember to rate us wherever you hear this podcast – it'll really help us to keep going. Oh, and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/RogueCommentary" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> and/or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/roguecommentary/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> to stay up-to-date on our forthcoming releases.</p> <p>Thanks for listening!</p> <p>A <a href="https://www.synccorp.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Synchronicity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> production, conceived and presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/davidhughestwit" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David Hughes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>. Produced by Sam Ibrahim. Music by Olli Oja.</p> <p>All content © 2024 Synchronicity II Ltd. All rights reserved.</p>