Ella McCay with James L. Brooks and Albert Brooks (Ep. 591)

The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Directors Guild of America

Tv & Film

4.6 • 848 Ratings

🗓️ 17 December 2025

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Director James L. Brooks discusses his new film, Ella McCay, with fellow Director Albert Brooks in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses his process of casting and how he found Actor Emma Mackey for the lead role, shares how he works with his Cinematographers and Actors, and takes time to reflect on his storied career and history with Albert Brooks. The film tells the story of Ella, a young politician who suddenly becomes the governor of her state after the longtime incumbent accepts a cabinet position with the president. Trying to navigate this new rough and tumble realm of politics, she finds that her fractured family relationships may pose an even bigger challenge. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/ellamccay_qna_1225

Transcript

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0:00.0	We were at it a hunk of time, and then we went to London, you know, and that's, and then she came in, and I was, at that point, I was despairing. And, and, you know, she was, she was sort of an unknown. She had the, the television series. And she, and she, and she did it. She did it live. And then I couldn't believe it because we had been at it six months and it just never worked.
0:46.6	Music Hello and welcome back to the Directors' Cut, brought to you by the Directors Guild of America.
0:53.6	In this episode, a young, idealistic politician juggles family and work, and director James L. Brooks's comedic drama, Ella McKay.
0:57.3	The film tells the story of Ella, a young politician who suddenly becomes the governor of her state
1:02.9	after the longtime incumbent accepts a cabinet position with the president. Trying to navigate
1:09.1	this new rough-and-tumble realm of politics,
1:11.8	she finds that her fractured family relationships may pose an even bigger challenge.
1:17.9	In addition to Ella McKay, Brooks' other directorial credits include the feature films,
1:23.1	How Do You Know, Spanglish, and I'll Do Anything.
1:27.6	He is a two-time nominee for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion
1:32.3	Pictures for 1997's as good as it gets and 1987's broadcast news, and won the DGA
1:39.6	award in the same category for 1983's Terms of Endearment.
1:45.7	Following a screening of the film at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles, Brooks spoke with
1:50.7	director Albert Brooks about filming Ella McKay.
1:55.2	Listen on for their spoiler-filled conversation.
2:04.4	Okay.
2:05.4	I've done these a thousand times,
2:08.0	but I've always been the A.
2:10.0	So tonight is my first cue.
2:13.7	Let's see how it goes.
2:15.5	James L. Brooks.
2:17.1	Good to see you.
	...

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