Hello, and thanks for tuning in to another episode of The Directors' Cut, brought to you by the Directors Guild of America, featuring today's top directors sharing behind-the-scenes stories of their latest films and insights into the craft of directing.

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This episode takes us behind the scenes of director Todd Phillips' new dramatic thriller, Joker. The film tells the story of Arthur Fleck, a would-be comedian who is struggling to find his way in the fractured society of Gotham City. earning his living as a clown for hire, he seems trapped somewhere between apathy and cruelty

until one bad decision starts him on the path to becoming the criminal mastermind known as the Joker.

In addition to Joker, Mr. Phillips' credits include the feature films Road Trip, Old School, Starsky and Hutch, School for Scoundrels, The Hangover, Due Date, and Ward Dogs.

Following a recent screening of the film at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles, Mr. Phillips spoke with director

Ivan Reitman about filming Joker. Listen on for their conversation.

Hello, thank you.

Hi there.

This is a thrill for me because Ivan was the producer in my first two movies.

The only reason I make movies is because Ivan Reitman discovered me at Sundance Film Festival and asked me...

Thanks to my son, Jason, actually. He said...

Jason. It was 20 years ago. He said, you should come off to Sendance.

I just saw this documentary, Fred.

Frat House.

And then Ivan came up to me and he goes, can you write?

And I lied and said, yeah, I write.

The only thing I had written at that point was the narration for my documentaries.

And then you told me this idea of a movie you always wanted to make.

And it was called Road Trip.

And he said, I'll do this quick, because I know we're here to talk about this.

He goes, you know that part in Animal House?

...