BARRY JENKINS - Director

Team Deakins

James Ellis Deakins

Tv & Film, Filmlighting, Deakins, Movies, Filmmaking, Production, Film, Cinematography, Film Interviews

4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 27 August 2025

⏱️ 82 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 156 - Barry Jenkins - Director

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with director Barry Jenkins (MUFASA: THE LION KING, THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, MOONLIGHT). How did Barry get from South Florida to Hollywood? What did he learn about himself on his walkabout around the country after leaving the industry? What did Barry struggle with in the gap between the release of his debut feature and MOONLIGHT? How did he survive the gonzo shooting schedule of THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD? Why MUFASA? Barry answers all these questions and speaks on craft, process, and so much more in this extended and enriching conversation about his life, his films, and the many years he spent not actually making anything. Barry and his film school friends Adele Romanski and Mark Ceryak also produce movies through their production company PASTEL, and we discuss why he feels it’s important to help introduce new filmmakers and new voices—particularly now. Plus, Barry reveals the premise of his unrealized Stevie Wonder time-travel script.

Recommended Viewing: THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, MOONLIGHT, MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY

This episode is sponsored by Barco & Aputure

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi and welcome to season two of the Team Deacons podcast, a collection of informal conversations between Roger and James Deacons and a guest.
0:13.7	We never know where the conversation will take us, so listen in and see where it goes.
0:21.5	This episode is sponsored by HDR by Barco, where the magic of cinema reaches
0:28.5	breathtaking heights with cutting-edge, high dynamic range, HDR, laser projection.
0:36.2	Don't miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in a spectacular world of deep shadows,
0:42.1	dazzling highlights, and vibrant colors at select theaters near you.
0:46.9	Buy your tickets, learn more, and experience extraordinary today.
0:51.8	Visit hDR by barco.com.
0:58.0	This episode is sponsored by Aperture and its new Storm XT52,
1:04.4	the industry's most powerful LED point source light.
1:08.6	Brighter than a 6K HMI empowered by Aperture's revolutionary Blair light engine,
1:15.2	the Storm XT-52 is both a tunable white light
1:18.8	and also the brightest ever adjustable color LED.
1:23.3	Storm XT-52, unrivaled output, only from Aperture.
1:31.6	Today we're speaking with the director.
1:34.2	His credits include Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk, and the Underground Railroad.
1:39.7	We're pleased to welcome Barry Jenkins.
1:42.4	Barry, thank you for doing this.
1:44.0	Welcome. Thank you for doing this. Welcome.
1:44.6	Thank you for having me, a long-time listener.
1:46.9	It's nice to be amongst the greats.
1:51.3	It's great to have you here.
	...

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