Hollywood Obsessed

My conversation continues with filmmaker David Kittredge about his extraordinary documentary “BOORMAN AND THE DEVIL” and the troubled, fascinating history behind “Exorcist II: The Heretic.”

David takes me deep behind the scenes of his five-year labor of love, from discovering an incredible treasure trove of John Boorman’s production papers at Indiana University’s Lilly Library to recreating lost moments of the film through animation and motion graphics. He also reveals how the documentary made its way to the Venice Film Festival, why getting it ready for its premiere became a race against the clock, and the extraordinary technical achievements behind “Exorcist II”—including its groundbreaking early use of the Steadicam.

We also talk about David’s unforgettable interviews with Louise Fletcher and Linda Blair, and why revisiting such a painful chapter in their careers produced some of the documentary’s most moving moments. David opens up about Linda’s experience making the film at just 17 years old, the constantly changing screenplay, the infamous “void” ending that was ultimately abandoned, and the many things that went wrong during the production—fueling decades of talk that the movie was somehow cursed.

And then there’s the future! David reveals how filmmaker Mike Flanagan became part of the documentary, shares his enthusiasm for Flanagan’s upcoming “Exorcist” film, and talks about what he hopes to make next. Most importantly, David reflects on the lesson he learned from spending five years obsessed with a movie he simply believed needed to exist: sometimes you have to make the film you desperately want to see and trust that, if you’re passionate enough, audiences will find it. It’s a wonderful, candid conversation about filmmaking, obsession, perseverance, and the enduring legacy of “Exorcist II: The Heretic.”

DAVID KITTREDGE 
David Kittredge is a director, editor, writer, producer, and all-around cinema geek living and working in Los Angeles, with occasional time spent in New York. He spends way too much time reading about HDR cinematography and post-production workflows, waxing poetic about “Lost Highway”, “Dressed to Kill”, “The Red Shoes”, “Lawrence of Arabia”, and “Exorcist II: The Heretic”—and explaining why Sensurround was actually pretty cool.

In 2025, David’s latest documentary, “Boorman and the Devil”, had its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. The film is now receiving its national theatrical release, in theaters across the United States.

In 2015, David edited “54: The Director’s Cut”, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival. This new and vastly different version of the 1998 film features 44 minutes of footage not seen in the original theatrical release. The project took six months to recut, restore, and reconstruct. David also produced and edited the behind-the-scenes documentary “If You Could Read My Mind”, which appears on the Blu-ray and explores the process of creating the director’s cut.

In 2009, David wrote, directed, and co-edited the award-winning feature film “Pornography: A Thriller”. The film screened at more than 25 film festivals, winning multiple awards before its U.S. theatrical release.

David has also written and directed two award-winning short films that screened at dozens of film festivals: “Fairy Tale” and “Target Audience”, the latter of which was a Teddy Award nominee at the Berlin Film Festival.

Boorman and The Devil Official Website - https://yellowveilpictures.com/boorman-and-the-devil/

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On the latest episode of Hollywood Obsessed, Tony Miros sits down with acclaimed filmmaker David Kittredge, whose fascinating documentary “Boorman and the Devil” explores the troubled production and enduring legacy of John Boorman’s controversial film “Exorcist II: The Heretic.” Now playing in theaters nationwide, the documentary takes a thoughtful, deeply researched look at one of Hollywood’s most misunderstood cinematic experiments.

David shares his lifelong love of movies, his journey toward becoming a filmmaker, and his fascination with “The Exorcist” and its ambitious, unconventional sequel. He discusses why he believes “The Heretic” deserves more than the ridicule it received, the extraordinary risks John Boorman took, and the devastating audience backlash that followed the film’s release—including one of the most infamous preview screenings in movie history.

Tony and David also explore the inspiration behind “Boorman and the Devil”, including the encouragement of fellow documentarian Jeffrey Schwarz and David’s determination to preserve the stories of the filmmakers and crew who brought “The Heretic” to life. He reveals the challenges of making the documentary over nearly a decade, conducting interviews with John Boorman, Linda Blair, Louise Fletcher, and others, and shaping hours of fascinating material into a feature-length film.

From Richard Burton’s complicated involvement to the documentary’s original 196-minute rough cut, David offers an entertaining and revealing behind-the-scenes look at the making of “Boorman and the Devil.” He also discusses the film’s unexpected audience reactions, his love of physical media, and the importance of celebrating filmmakers who dared to swing for the fences. Cinephiles and fans of Hollywood history won’t want to miss this fascinating conversation!
 
DAVID KITTREDGE 
David Kittredge is a director, editor, writer, producer, and all-around cinema geek living and working in Los Angeles, with occasional time spent in New York. He spends way too much time reading about HDR cinematography and post-production workflows, waxing poetic about “Lost Highway”, “Dressed to Kill”, “The Red Shoes”, “Lawrence of Arabia”, and “Exorcist II: The Heretic”—and explaining why Sensurround was actually pretty cool.

In 2025, David’s latest documentary, “Boorman and the Devil”, had its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. The film is now receiving its national theatrical release, in theaters across the United States.

In 2015, David edited “54: The Director’s Cut”, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival. This new and vastly different version of the 1998 film features 44 minutes of footage not seen in the original theatrical release. The project took six months to recut, restore, and reconstruct. David also produced and edited the behind-the-scenes documentary “If You Could Read My Mind”, which appears on the Blu-ray and explores the process of creating the director’s cut.

In 2009, David wrote, directed, and co-edited the award-winning feature film “Pornography: A Thriller”. The film screened at more than 25 film festivals, winning multiple awards before its U.S. theatrical release.

David has also written and directed two award-winning short films that screened at dozens of film festivals: “Fairy Tale” and “Target Audience”, the latter of which was a Teddy Award nominee at the Berlin Film Festival.

Boorman and The Devil Official Website - https://yellowveilpictures.com/boorman-and-the-devil/

Hollywood Obsessed Podcast Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hollywoodobsessedthepodcast.com/ ⁠⁠ ⁠ ⁠ 
 
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On Part Two of Tony Miros’ fascinating conversation with actress Dedee Pfeiffer, Dedee takes Tony behind the scenes of The All-Nighter, the 1987 comedy starring The Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs, and recalls becoming instant friends with Joan Cusack. She also shares some hilarious and outrageous stories from the production and what it was like working with a cast that included some wonderfully colorful personalities. Then there’s Red Surf, where Dedee reunited with her friend and former boyfriend George Clooney—long before he became, well… GEORGE CLOONEY. She reveals how they first met, how they dated on and off, and how George actually helped her prepare for the audition that landed her the role opposite him.

She also gets candid about her approach to acting and why she has always considered herself something of a “wild card” in the casting process. She recalls working with Joel Schumacher and Michael Douglas on Falling Down, where she completely reinvented the character of Sheila. She also takes us inside her unforgettable guest appearances on Friends and Seinfeld. And then there’s Cybill, where she landed the role of Cybill Shepherd’s daughter after going through the intense audition process of 1990s network television. She remembers working with the legendary Christine Baranski and explains why she still suffers from what she calls “imposter disorder.”

But beneath all the fun stories is an incredibly moving story of reinvention. She opens up about why she walked away from acting for nearly ten years, returned to college as a single mother, discovered she had dyslexia and a learning disability, earned her master's degree in social work from UCLA, and ultimately got sober. She explains how playing Denise Brisbane on Big Sky became particularly meaningful because it was the first character she ever played sober.

DEDEE PFEIFFER 
With a career spanning more than three decades, DeDee Pfeiffer has established herself as a versatile actress whose credits include cult classics, hit television series, acclaimed dramas, and working alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. The younger sister of Oscar-nominated actress Michelle Pfeiffer, she began acting at 21 making her feature-film debut in John Landis’ “Into the Night” (1985), alongside Jeff Goldblum and her sister Michelle. She soon landed starring roles in the cult favorite “Vamp “(1986), opposite icon Grace Jones, “The Allnighter” (1987), & “The Horror Show” (1989).

Throughout the 1990s, she continued building an impressive film résumé, appearing opposite George Clooney in “Red Surf,” Michael Douglas in “Falling Down,” and Keanu Reeves in “Tune in Tomorrow.” On TV, she became a familiar face as a series regular on the acclaimed sitcom “Cybill,” starring Cybill Shepherd, and later starred in “For Your Love.”

In 2010, she made the courageous decision to step away from Hollywood and focus on her recovery from alcohol addiction. She returned to school, earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and ultimately received her Master of Social Work from UCLA. She then dedicated herself to social services, working with people affected by mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness.

After nearly a decade away, she made a remarkable return to television in 2020 with ABC’s “Big Sky”, portraying Denise Brisbane, a role created specifically for her by series creator David E. Kelley, who is married to her sister Michelle. A single mother of two sons, DeDee’s Hollywood story is anything but conventional. 

DeDee Pfeiffer Official Facebook – ⁠https://www.facebook.com/dedeepfeifferofficial⁠
 
Hollywood Obsessed Podcast Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hollywoodobsessedthepodcast.com/ ⁠⁠ ⁠ ⁠ 
 
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Music by⁠⁠ ⁠⁠QubeSounds⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of HOLLYWOOD OBSESSED, Tony Miros sits down with the wonderfully candid and entertaining actress DeDee Pfeiffer, best known for playing Cybill Shepherd’s daughter on “Cybill” and, more recently, Denise Brisbane on ABC’s “Big Sky.” In this revealing first part of their conversation, DeDee takes Tony back to her childhood in Orange County, sharing hilarious memories of growing up in a very different Southern California. She also opens up about being the middle Pfeiffer sister and what it was really like having Michelle Pfeiffer as an older sister.

Then comes the Hollywood story! DeDee reveals how she went from dancing in a Disneyland parade and delivering radiators to deciding she wanted to become an actress. With Michelle’s encouragement, she moved to LA, slept on her sister’s couch, and quickly discovered that becoming an actress wasn’t going to be easy. She admits she was initially terrible at acting and struggled to remember her lines—but she refused to quit. Then comes the incredible story of how DeDee got her SAG card, involving a casting Catch-22, a little creative storytelling, John Landis, Michelle, and “Into the Night”.

DeDee also takes Tony behind the scenes of her first starring role in the outrageous 1986 cult classic “Vamp,” starring the legendary Grace Jones. She shares unbelievable stories about the chaotic nighttime production in downtown Los Angeles, production delays, disappearing cast members, wardrobe malfunctions, and so much more! And then there was Grace Jones, arriving on set covered in body paint by artist Keith Haring and delivering a performance that left the cast and extras absolutely stunned.

DEDEE PFEIFFER 
With a career spanning more than three decades, DeDee Pfeiffer has established herself as a versatile actress whose credits include cult classics, hit television series, acclaimed dramas, and working alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. The younger sister of Oscar-nominated actress Michelle Pfeiffer, DeDee began acting at 21 making her feature-film debut in John Landis’ “Into the Night” (1985), alongside Jeff Goldblum and her sister Michelle. She soon landed starring roles in the cult favorite “Vamp “(1986), opposite legendary icon Grace Jones, “The Allnighter” (1987), and “The Horror Show” (1989).

Throughout the 1990s, Pfeiffer continued building an impressive film résumé, appearing opposite George Clooney in “Red Surf,” Michael Douglas in “Falling Down,” and Keanu Reeves in “Tune in Tomorrow.” On television, she became a familiar face as a series regular on the acclaimed sitcom “Cybill,” starring Cybill Shepherd, and later starred in “For Your Love.” Her guest appearances included iconic series such as “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” “Ellen,” “ER,” “CSI,” and “CSI: NY.”

In 2010, Pfeiffer made the courageous decision to step away from Hollywood and focus on her recovery from alcohol addiction. She returned to school, earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and ultimately received her Master of Social Work from UCLA. She then dedicated herself to social services, working with people affected by mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness.

After nearly a decade away, Pfeiffer made a remarkable return to television in 2020 with ABC’s “Big Sky”, portraying Denise Brisbane, a role created specifically for her by series creator David E. Kelley, who is married to her sister Michelle. A single mother of two sons, DeDee’s Hollywood story is anything but conventional. 

DeDee Pfeiffer Official Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/dedeepfeifferofficial
 
Hollywood Obsessed Podcast Website - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.hollywoodobsessedthepodcast.com/ ⁠⁠ ⁠  
 
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Titles VO Talent – Cam Frierson - ⁠⁠http://camfrierson.com/voice
 
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Now that we’ve heard about Don Stroud’s incredible journey from the beaches of Hawaii to Hollywood, the story continues with one of his most iconic films, “The Amityville Horror.” Don recalls working with Rod Steiger and Margot Kidder —and reveals what it was really like behind the scenes of the horror classic. He also shares stories from “Murder, She Wrote,” “Mrs. Columbo,” “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” ”Mike Hammer,” and “Hawaii Five-O,” including his friendship with Jack Lord and the unforgettable experience of working with Stacy Keach.

Don also opens up about returning to Hawaii to film “Gidget,” reconnecting with the legendary surfers who helped shape his life, and the special bond he had with the Hawaiian beach boys who looked out for him when he was young. He talks about his parents—his father a vaudeville performer and his mother a blues singer who toured with Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope—and how his unlikely path from surfing and playing bongos eventually led him to Universal Studios and a career in Hollywood.

Then comes James Bond! Don takes us behind the scenes of “License to Kill,” working with Timothy Dalton and Benicio del Toro, and recalls attending the film’s New York premiere. He also shares the frightening story of being stabbed while trying to help a woman being attacked in Greenwich Village—and how the scar that nearly ended his career ultimately became part of his screen persona.

And finally, Don reflects on the later chapter of his career, including his memorable appearance in Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained.” From nearly thinking Tarantino’s phone call was a prank to walking onto the set and feeling right at home, Don explains why working with Tarantino was such a special experience—and why he considers the legendary director one of the most important people in his career. It’s another wild, unforgettable ride through the life of one of Hollywood’s great character actors.

Don Stroud

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Stroud began surfing at age three, earned a black belt in Kajukenbo at 16, and at 17 won the Mākaha Junior Championship and placed fourth in the prestigious Duke Kahanamoku International competition. His path to Hollywood began while working as a lifeguard at the Kahala Hilton, where he was hired to double for Troy Donahue on Hawaiian Eye. Donahue encouraged him to move to Los Angeles, where Stroud worked as his fight double and bodyguard.

A chance meeting with Sidney Poitier at Hollywood’s Whisky a Go-Go led to an introduction to legendary agent Dick Clayton and launched Stroud’s acting career. He made his film debut in Games (1967) and quickly became a familiar face, often portraying tough guys and villains. His extensive film credits include Coogan’s Bluff, Joe Kidd, Bloody Mama, Von Richthofen and Brown, Murph the Surf, Death Weekend, The Killer Inside Me, The Buddy Holly Story, The Amityville Horror, Licence to Kill, and Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained.

Stroud has also enjoyed an equally prolific television career, appearing in more than 200 shows, including Hawaii Five-O, Barnaby Jones, Charlie’s Angels, Starsky & Hutch, The Streets of San Francisco, Mrs. Columbo, Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, Nash Bridges, Pensacola: Wings of Gold, and Magnum P.I. He also showcased his musical talent in The Buddy Holly Story, performing the drums live for the film’s concert sequences.

After decades in Hollywood, Stroud eventually returned to his beloved Hawaii while continuing to work in film and television.

Don Stroud Official Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/don.stroud.136329
 
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