PHIL ALDEN ROBINSON - Writer / Director

Team Deakins

James Ellis Deakins

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

4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 28 May 2025

⏱️ 72 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 143 - Phil Alden Robinson - Writer / Director

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with writer and director Phil Alden Robinson (THE GOOD FIGHT, THE SUM OF ALL FEARS, FIELD OF DREAMS) about many of his films. Phil was initially interested in politics and journalism, but he eventually made his way to Los Angeles and found his way into a writer’s room based on the strength of a spec script. Phil soon found two of his feature scripts in production, and he reflects on the impact of being treated as badly as possible and as well as possible simultaneously. Later, Phil breaks down how FIELD OF DREAMS came together as a project, and we learn how he overcame an overwhelming sense of stress through the support of his cast and key crew members, including cinematographer John Lindley (Season 1, Episode 34) and production designer Dennis Gassner (Season 1, Episode 131). In addition to his work in features, Phil also directed documentaries for Nightline in a number of war zones, and we discuss the value of living life and taking time off from making movies. We also discuss the ubiquitousness of VFX in cinema today, and Phil shares what he feels to be the real lesson to take away from a film like the original STAR WARS.

Recommended Viewing: FIELD OF DREAMS, THE SUM OF ALL FEARS

This episode is sponsored by Aputure & Profoto

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi and welcome to season two of the Team Deacons podcast, a collection of
0:08.8	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.
0:21.2	This episode is sponsored by Aperture, a premier manufacturer of LED lighting with the industry's
0:28.6	greatest variety of fixtures for your complete lighting needs.
0:33.7	Aperture recently announced the new storm family of lights.
0:37.9	With LED white light quality that matches natural daylight and classic tungsten bulbs,
0:43.6	plus extreme low-end dimming while maintaining color quality.
0:48.2	Discover more about the new storm lights and the complete Aperture lighting ecosystem at Apertor.com.
0:58.8	This episode is sponsored by Prophoto.
1:02.5	Prophoto, the light shaping company, renowned for its high-end lighting equipment used by the
1:08.1	world's best photographers and brands, has now expanded into the world of
1:13.0	cinematography with uncompromising speed of use and limitless creativity. The L-1600D is a high
1:21.7	output with no ballast LED light. Its dual mount makes it compatible with 50 plus pro photo modifiers and hundreds of
1:31.5	Bowen's mount modifiers, making it a breakthrough product for cinematographers and gaffers
1:37.9	seeking speed and efficiency on set with the highest degree of creative light-shaping possibilities.
1:47.5	Today we're speaking with a director and writer. His credits include
1:51.8	Field of Dreams, the Sum of All Fears, and the Angriest Man in Brooklyn. We're pleased to
1:58.0	welcome Phil Alden Robinson. Phil, thank you for doing this.
2:01.9	Yes, welcome. I'm so happy to see you both. Roger, it's been a long time.
2:06.2	Yeah, I was on the board of governors, one that we met there. Right.
2:10.6	But that was a long time ago.
	...

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