I used her music as my guidepost.

So her music is deeply emotional.

Her music can be epic.

Her music can also be very intimate.

It can feel sometimes like she's singing to you alone in a room.

And I wanted that combination of feeling.

I wanted the movie to be unabashedly emotional because that is how her music is.

Hello, and welcome back to the director's cut, brought to you by the Directors Guild of America.

Today's episode takes us behind the scenes of director Liesel Tommy's new biographical drama,

Respect. The film follows the remarkable life of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin,

from her early days singing in her father's church choir, to her journey to find her voice in the midst of

the turbulent social and political landscape of 1960s America, to becoming a legendary

international musical superstar.

In addition to respect, Ms. Tommy's other directorial credits include episodes of

Dolly Parton's heartstrings, Mrs. Fletcher, Jessica Jones, The Walking Dead, Insecure, Dietland,

and Queen Sugar. Following a recent screening of the film at the DGA Theater in New York,

Ms. Tommy spoke with fellow director R Rada Blank, about filming respect.

Listen on for their spoiler-filled conversation.

Liesel, congratulations.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm saying that as your sister of cinema, your former flatmate, former golden girl,

...