The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Director James Hawes discusses his new film, The Amateur, with fellow Director Sarah Pirozek in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses insisting on the protagonist being geeky, clumsy, charming and smart to reflect his novice, utilizing his camera to capture the main character’s degrading perspective as the story unfolds, and how previously working on the show Black Mirror informed aspects of this film. The film tells the story of Charlie Heller, a brilliant CIA decoder whose world comes crashing down after his wife dies in a London terrorist attack. When his supervisors refuse to act due to conflicting internal priorities, he utilizes his intelligence as the ultimate weapon and travels across the globe to hunt down those responsible. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/May2025/The-Amateur_QnA_0425

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2025

Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen discusses their new film, Novocaine, with fellow Director Drew Hancock in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they discuss taking notes from 80s and 90s action movies to straddle the tonal line between comedy and action, their inspirations for casting Actors Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder in the lead roles, and finding a fighting style for a character not of your typical action hero makeup. The film tells the story of Nathan Caine, a man born with the rare condition where he is physically incapable of feeling pain. When the girl of his dreams is kidnapped by gun-wielding bank robbers, he turns his rare condition into an unexpected advantage in the fight to rescue her. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/May2025/Novocaine_QnA_0325

Transcribed - Published: 4 April 2025

Director Bong Joon Ho, accompanied by his translator Sharon Choi, discusses his new film, Mickey 17, with fellow Director Ava DuVernay in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how his storyboarding process covered every shot, how he approached having a love story for the first time, and the resonance of the film’s social themes with worldwide audiences. The film tells the story of Mickey Barnes, an everyman hired by a tyrannical government to work as an “expendable” - a human clone willing to die for one dangerous mission after another. Repeatedly meeting his end for the advancement of space exploration, the 17th Mickey survives a seemingly fatal expedition and comes face to face with a new problem: Mickey 18. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/May2025/Mickey17_QnA_0325

Transcribed - Published: 28 March 2025

Director Josh Ruben discusses his new film, Heart Eyes, with fellow Director Zelda Williams in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses balancing the tone of romantic comedy and horror while not trying to betray them, the behind the scenes of special effects work that went into the kills, and the creation and influences of the killer’s look. The film follows Ally, a cynical ad executive, and her hopelessly romantic colleague, Jay. After a meeting-turned-date, they accidentally become the next target of “Heart Eyes,” a masked maniac with glowing, red eyes who returns every Valentine’s Day to slaughter unsuspecting couples, and must fight for their survival. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/April2025/HeartEyes_QnA_0325

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2025

In a special Anniversary Series discussion, Director Martin Scorsese discusses his film, After Hours, with Actor Griffin Dunne and fellow Director Raymond De Felitta in a screening at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, Scorsese discusses original concepts for the film’s end, how he aimed to find humor in the film by playing it seriously, and the change in reception as time went on. The film tells the story of Paul Hackett, an office drone who has a romantic encounter with a girl in a Manhattan café and agrees to visit her Soho apartment. The seemingly simple trip descends into a series of awkward, surreal and life-threatening situations with a colorful cast of characters as Paul spends the rest of the night trying to return uptown. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/April2025/ERSP_AnniversarySeries_AfterHours_0325

Transcribed - Published: 24 March 2025

Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), Sean Baker (Anora), Edward Berger (Conclave), Brady Corbet (The Brutalist) and James Mangold (A Complete Unknown) engage in a conversation with moderator Jeremy Kagan for the 34th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film Symposium. Please note: spoilers are included. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/en/Events/2025/March2025/MTN_TheatricalFeatureFilm2025

Transcribed - Published: 1 March 2025

Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), Sean Baker (Anora), Edward Berger (Conclave), Brady Corbet (The Brutalist) and James Mangold (A Complete Unknown) engage in a conversation with moderator Jeremy Kagan for the 34th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film Symposium. Please note: spoilers are included. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/en/Events/2025/March2025/MTN_TheatricalFeatureFilm2025

Transcribed - Published: 28 February 2025

Director Drew Hancock discusses his new film, Companion, with fellow Director Rob Savage in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses taking inspiration from grounded dramas instead of modern science fiction, working with Actor Sophie Thatcher to establish the feel of the robot character, and his process of discovering shots with his Actors instead of storyboarding parts of the film. The film follows Iris and her boyfriend Josh as they go on a weekend getaway to a remote cabin with a group of friends. When it comes to light that Iris is a companion robot, the vacation unravels into chaos as she goes haywire and exacts revenge. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/March2025/Companion_QnA_0225

Transcribed - Published: 26 February 2025

Director Neil Burger discusses his new film, Inheritance, with fellow Director Sarah Pirozek in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses the technical choices surrounding his decision to shoot the film on an iphone, how he achieved a “stolen” aesthetic by getting authentic hidden shots of his Actors in the real world, and how the blocking and compositional decisions of the film emerged from the limitations imposed by the “stolen” aesthetic. The film tells the story of Maya, who suddenly finds herself at the center of an international conspiracy when she learns that her father was once a spy. In her quest for answers, Maya becomes a target and must travel the globe, mastering her father’s skills and unraveling the mysteries of the past. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/en/Events/2025/March2025/Inheritance_QnA_0225

Transcribed - Published: 25 February 2025

Director Michael Gracey discusses his new film, Better Man, with fellow Director Jason Reitman in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses his intentions behind using a monkey as the lead to tell Williams’ story, his process for conceptualizing scenes that mix fantasy with reality, and the hurdles and successes behind pulling off the Regent Street musical number. Narrated by Williams, the film follows the singer from childhood outcast to music sensation, battling the demons of fame while finding his true voice as an artist. Soaring to new heights, Williams reaches stardom but never feels truly evolved from his younger self.

Transcribed - Published: 24 January 2025

Director Gia Coppola discusses her new film, The Last Showgirl, with fellow Director Francis Ford Coppola in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses how she approached Actor Pamela Anderson to take on the lead role, the method she used to have her Actors become familiar with one another, and working with her cinematographer to define a visual style that channels the Las Vegas aesthetic. The film tells the story of Shelly, a Las Vegas showgirl who’s performed with the same act for much of her career. When she’s told the show will be closing in the coming weeks, she struggles to cope with the impending change and her place in life. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/February2025/TheLastShowgirl_QnA_1224

Transcribed - Published: 14 January 2025

Director Shira Piven discusses her new film, The Performance, with fellow Director Jade Jenise Dixon in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses working with her brother as the lead Actor to capture authentic tap dancing performances, making a period piece movie on an independent film budget and mixing 8mm film and real footage from the era to capture a 1930s Berlin time period. The film tells the story of Harold, an accomplished tap dancer touring Europe with his troupe in the late 1930s. When they are scouted by a Nazi attache for an exclusive performance, he realizes they don’t know about his Jewish identity and is faced with the dangerous dilemma of performing in secret or staying true to himself. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/February2025/ThePerformance_QnA_1224

Transcribed - Published: 8 January 2025

Director Barry Jenkins discusses his new film, Mufasa: The Lion King, with fellow Director Ben Affleck in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses employing the VFX team from the Avatar films to create the world, working with both the Actors and Animators to realize his characters while filming in real time, and reaching out to artists and conservationists from various African countries for real references to the locations in the film. The film tells the story of Mufasa, an orphaned cub who befriends a lion destined as heir to a royal bloodline. The two become allies on a journey of adventure and self discovery as they seek to start a kingdom of their own. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/February2025/Mufasa_QnA_1224

Transcribed - Published: 6 January 2025

Director Tyler Perry discusses his new film, The Six Triple Eight, with fellow Director J.C. Chandor in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses the serendipitous moment when casting Actor Kerry Washington, enlisting Debbie Allen to help choreograph the marching scenes, and shooting at his own film studio which was formerly a military base. Inspired by the real-life story, the film recounts how the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-Black, all-woman unit, joined the war to fix a three-year backlog of undelivered mail for U.S. service members. Aiming to sort more than 17 million pieces of mail to their rightful servicemen, they work tirelessly in the face of discrimination and a country devastated by war. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/February2025/SixTripleEight_QnA_1224

Transcribed - Published: 3 January 2025

Director Robert Eggers discusses his new film, Nosferatu, with fellow Director Chris Columbus in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses shooting in the real-world castle from the original story as well as channeling his Production Design team to create meticulous replicas of its interior, working with a Romanian folklore expert to bring out specific details that would authenticate the creature, and how he and Actor Bill Skarsgård worked together to find the exact presence that would bring the title creature to life. A remake of the 1922 classic, the film follows Ellen and Thomas Hutter, a young couple in 1860s Germany who contend with Ellen’s continuing nightmares of a ghoulish being. As Ellen is haunted by these dreams, Thomas sets out to Romania on business with a mysterious client- the enigmatic Count Orlok. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/February2025/Nosferatu_QnA_1224

Transcribed - Published: 26 December 2024

Director Rachel Morrison discusses her new film, The Fire Inside, with fellow Director Elizabeth Banks in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses working with her lead to make the fights look authentic on camera, balancing pace and visual variety in the boxing matches to make each encounter entertaining, and crafting a fight film with an atypical structure that puts the focus on a previously unseen conflict. The film tells the story of Claressa Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan, who pushes past all limitations to become the first American woman to win the Olympic gold in boxing. But even at the pinnacle of success, Claressa has to reconcile with the fact that not all dreams are created equal, and her real fight has only just begun. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/en/Events/2025/January2025/TheFireInside_QnA_1224

Transcribed - Published: 25 December 2024

Director Paul Schrader discusses his new film, Oh, Canada, with fellow Director Alex Ross Perry in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses casting multiple Actors in roles across timelines and how he played with this element visually, how as both the Writer Director, he works to include nothing that will make it to the cutting room floor so he can shoot economically, and how he chose to film in a variety of colors and aspect ratios to portray a story taking place over a long timespan. The film follows the Miller siblings, a former musician, a writer and an artist, who all contend with challenging shifts in their marriages. As their lives change, their relationships are put to the test, bringing them closer to their partners or pushing them further apart. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/en/Events/2025/January2025/Oh_Canada_QnA_1224

Transcribed - Published: 24 December 2024

Director Halina Reijn discusses her new film, Babygirl, with fellow Director Spike Jonze in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses finding a tone for what she describes as “a comedy of manners”, working with her Composer to create a soundtrack that follows the seduction over the drama, and finding Actors that could inhabit seductive roles with comedic turns. The film follows a high powered businesswoman who begins a taboo relationship with a much younger intern at her company. As the secret affair deepens, she puts her career and family on the line. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/en/Events/2025/February2025/Babygirl_QnA_1224

Transcribed - Published: 23 December 2024

Director Edward Burns discusses his new film, Millers in Marriage, with fellow Director Doug Atchison in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how he works as a Director while being one of the central Actors to the film, how he artfully utilizes locations and resources to work effectively on small budgets, and collaborating with his Actors to discover more authentic arcs from his characters. The film follows the Miller siblings, a former musician, a writer and an artist, who all contend with challenging shifts in their marriages. As their lives change, their relationships are put to the test, bringing them closer to their partners or pushing them further apart.

Transcribed - Published: 20 December 2024

Director James Mangold discusses his new film, A Complete Unknown, with fellow Director Guillermo del Toro in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how he intended on making the songs integral scenes instead of separating the drama from the action, how he sought to bring out the impact of Dylan through the figures around him, and the musical and acting performances of his ensemble Cast. The film follows a young Bob Dylan as he arrives in New York City, performing and forging relationships with his folk contemporaries of Greenwich Village. As he begins his meteoric rise, he strives to break free of his folk identity, culminating in a groundbreaking and controversial performance that reverberates worldwide. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/February2025/ACompleteUnknown_QnA_1224

Transcribed - Published: 19 December 2024

Director William Goldenberg discusses his new film, Unstoppable, with fellow Director Ben Affleck in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses coming into directing a feature for the first time after working as an editor, seeking to make the wrestling scenes as authentic as he could, and having the real Anthony Robles advise and even wrestle in some scenes of the film. The film tells the inspiring true story of competitive athlete Anthony Robles, who was born with one leg. With the unwavering support of his mother, the encouragement of his coaches, and his own indomitable spirit, Anthony fights through adversity and defies the odds to become an NCAA division 1 champion wrestler. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/January2025/Unstoppable_QnA_1224

Transcribed - Published: 18 December 2024

Director Pablo Larraín discusses his new film, Maria, with fellow Director Mike Mills in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses his process of finding the little details in his film worlds, the importance of architecture in the cinematography of his films, and how he worked with Actor Angelina Jolie to establish the presence of the titular character. The film follows the famed soprano as she retreats to Paris after a glamorous and tumultuous life in the public eye. With time to settle and reflect, she reckons with both her legacy and her identity. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/January2025/Maria_QnA_1224

Transcribed - Published: 18 December 2024

Director Marielle Heller discusses her new film, Nightbitch, with fellow Director Ritesh Batra in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, she discusses her unique approach to casting the child Actors in search of a more authentic onscreen relationship with their parents, finding filming locations that say a lot about her characters without delving into their backgrounds within the film’s story, and how she sought to achieve a deliberate level of ambiguity through her deconstruction of the traditional motherhood myth. Based on the novel by Rachel Yoder, the film tells the story of a woman who has paused her career to be a stay-at-home mom for her new baby. As she becomes increasingly overburdened with the stress of her new responsibilities, her maternal instincts begin to manifest in canine form. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/January2025/Nightbitch_QnA_1124

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2024

Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods discusses their new film, Heretic, with fellow Director Michael Mohan in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they discuss working with Actor Hugh Grant to establish the look, presence and psychology of the antagonist, making every shot intentional in order to mimic the theme of control in the film, and using sound and atmosphere to craft a horror movie that prioritizes dread over jump scares. The film follows two young women ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they knock on the door of the diabolical Mr. Reed. Trapped in his home, they must turn to their faith if they want to make it out alive. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/January2025/Heretic_QnA_1124

Transcribed - Published: 13 December 2024

Director Christine Swanson discusses her new film, Albany Road, with fellow Director Shaz Bennett in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses favoring snowy locations for a setting not typical for the story she wanted to tell, progressively adding color to the film’s palette to indicate the growth of the two leads, and how she aimed to tell a story featuring unsung character types she’s known in her life. The film tells the story of Celeste Simmons, a New York executive on her way to the most important meeting of her career. Forced to share a rental car with her ex-fiancé’s mother, she discovers that the mother is hiding a major secret about her ex. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/January2025/AlbanyRoad_QnA_1124

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2024

Director Jack Huston discusses his new film, Day of the Fight, with fellow Director Gus Van Sant in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how he aimed to turn a typical fight story on its head, how he worked with his Cinematographer to capture the black and white look of the film, and finding an Actor that could convey the range of pathos between fighting and interpersonal melodrama that the role demanded. The film shows a day in the life of Mikey “Irish Mike” Flanigan, a champion boxer getting ready for his first fight since leaving prison. As he prepares for the most important fight of his life, he reconnects with the people he was closest to and tries to make things right. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/en/Events/2025/January2025/DayOfTheFight_QnA_1124

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2024

Director Luca Guadagnino discusses his new film, Queer, with fellow Director Daniel Scheinert in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how he and Actor Daniel Craig worked together to discover the lead character, the importance of choreography in this and all of his projects, and how he worked with Composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to create a soundtrack with layers of meaning. Based on the novella by William S. Burroughs, the film follows William Lee, who recounts his life in 1950s Mexico City among American expatriate college students and bar owners. After he becomes infatuated with a younger man, they both set out to find a hallucinogenic drug in the amazon that will bring them closer together. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/en/Events/2024/Dec2024/Queer_QnA_1124

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2024

Director Andrew Boodhoo Kightlinger discusses his new film, Lost on a Mountain in Maine, with fellow Director Laurie Collyer in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses taking influence from 80s and 90s backwoods films such as Homeward Bound and Stand By Me, emphasizing a use of practical effects and real locations for a tactile experience, and the process of casting the young lead with wilderness experience. The film tells the inspiring true story of 12-year-old Donn Fendler, who becomes trapped on a treacherous mountain when a fast-moving storm separates him from his family. With no food or proper clothing, he begins a desperate fight for survival in the unforgiving wilderness of northern Maine. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/en/Events/2025/January2025/LostOnAMountainInMaine_QnA_1124

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2024

Director Edward Berger discusses his new film, Conclave, with fellow Director Jay Roach in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses casting his Actors in roles playing in extremes from one another, how he collaborated with his Cinematographer to closely convey the protagonist’s point of view, and working with his Costume Designer to craft authentic and eye-catching designs reflective of their real-world influence. The film follows Cardinal Lawrence, who is tasked with leading one of the world’s most ancient events: the selection of a new Pope. Surrounded by powerful religious leaders in the halls of the Vatican, he soon uncovers a trail of deep secrets that could shake the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/en/Events/2025/January2025/Conclave_QnA_1124

Transcribed - Published: 6 December 2024

Director Malcolm Washington discusses his new film, The Piano Lesson, with fellow Director David E. Talbert in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses his process of expanding on a traditional play adaptation beyond the original text, searching for a “punchline” in the pacing of his editing, and shooting the film in sequence to allow his production to evolve in conjunction with the story. Based on the acclaimed play by August Wilson, the film navigates the lives and legacies of the Charles family. In the aftermath of the great depression, a brewing battle lurks over what to do with the family heirloom - a piano documenting the family history with carvings made by an enslaved ancestor. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/en/Events/2025/January2025/PianoLesson_QnA_1124

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2024

Director Levan Akin discusses his new film, Crossing, with fellow Director Victoria Hochberg in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how immersing himself in the community lead to him wanting to make this film, his control over the camera allowing the audience to feel as if they’re exploring the city on their own, and his thought process behind how he chose to handle the reveal at the end of the film. Screened as part of the DGA’s Global Cinema Series, the film tells the story of Lia, a retired teacher, who has promised to find her missing niece. Her search takes her to Istanbul, where she meets a lawyer fighting for trans rights, and gets closer than ever to finding her missing family. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/en/Events/2024/Dec2024/GCS_Crossing_1124

Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2024

Director Ridley Scott discusses his new film, Gladiator II, with fellow Director Fede Alvarez in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how he decided on casting Actor Paul Mescal in the lead role, how he distances himself from the post process so he and his team have space to do their best work, and which of his legacy films he would preserve if he could only choose one. The sequel to Scott's 2000 film Gladiator takes place years after the events of the first film and follows Lucius—who as a child witnessed the revered hero Maximus die at the hands of his uncle. As his home is conquered and he is forced to fight as a gladiator in the Colosseum, Lucius attempts to reclaim everything he has lost. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/January2025/GladiatorII_QnA_1124

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2024

Director Lynn Dow discusses her new film, Bull Street, with fellow Director Sarah Pirozek in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, she discusses casting her main character based on key scenes modeled off her own experiences, filming in significant locations in her family’s hometown, and the trials on set that allowed her to improve her directing technique as a first-time Director. The film tells the story of LouEster, a small-town personal injury lawyer who was raised by her grandmother after her mother died in childbirth. When an entitled Ivy League lawyer questions their ownership of their home and its surrounding land, the stage is set for a clash of privilege against family. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/en/Events/2024/Dec2024/BullStreet_QnA_1124

Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2024

Director Marc Levin discusses his new film, An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th, with fellow Director Alexandra Pelosi in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses the differences he encountered in returning to this subject with a fresh lens years later, taking the subject matter and using it as an examination of a bigger picture, and using the information he found to question about possible dangers in the future. Screened as part of the DGA’s Documentary Series, the film tells the story surrounding the deadliest act of homegrown terrorism in U.S. history. Featuring firsthand accounts from survivors and law enforcement, the film examines the lasting impact of the bombing and effects still felt today. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/en/Events/2024/Dec2024/DocSeries_AnAmericanBombing-1024

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2024

Director Jon M. Chu discusses his new film, Wicked, with fellow Director Shawn Levy in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses his process of conceptualizing the musical sequences in conjunction with the stunt work behind them, conceptualizing his vision for Oz and the kinds of sets for his film, recording almost all of the musical sequences live and authentically on-set. Based on the Tony Award-winning musical, the film is set years before Dorothy's arrival in Oz and follows the unlikely college-days friendship between popular girl Glinda and the misunderstood Elphaba. As their lives begin to take very different paths, an encounter with the famous Wizard of Oz puts their relationship at a crossroads. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2025/January2025/Wicked_QnA_1124

Transcribed - Published: 22 November 2024

Director Parker Finn discusses his new film, Smile 2, with fellow Director Mike Flanagan in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how he returned to the idea to explore the same concept through a vastly different lens, working with Actor Naomi Scott to bring the duality of her character’s public persona and isolation to life, and choreographing color-laden horror scenes for his pop star character in what he describes as “inspired by Wes Craven as it is Bob Fosse”. The film tells the story of Skye Riley, a pop star about to embark on a world tour when she begins to experience increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, she is forced to face her past. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/en/Events/2024/Dec2024/Smile2_QnA_1024

Transcribed - Published: 21 November 2024

Director RaMell Ross discusses his new film, Nickel Boys, with fellow Director Channing Godfrey Peoples in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses approaching his adaptation differently from the book while still trying to stay true to it, working with his actors and DP to capture his unique perspectives for the narrative, and his considered approach to imagery with this subject matter, given the historical imagery preceding it. Based on the novel by Colson Whitehead, the film tells the story of Elwood, who’s sentenced to the brutal reformatory Nickel Academy in Jim Crow South after an innocent misstep. Upon meeting Turner, a seasoned ward of the reformatory, Elwood learns the fundamental tips for survival while striving to hold onto his humanity- and forms a powerful friendship with Turner. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Dec2024/NickelBoys_QnA_1024

Transcribed - Published: 18 November 2024

The 500th episode of The Director’s Cut! To celebrate, we are highlighting some of our most notable discussions over our nine years on the air. We’ll be revisiting the futuristic dunes of Arrakis, the streets of 1970s Mexico City, the trenches of WW1-era Europe and more as filmmakers give insight into their process of building incredible cinematic experiences. Thank you so much to everyone who has participated in our conversation series over the years, and to you, our listeners, for supporting our show and our member’s work since we started this podcast in 2015. You can find links to our featured Q&As below, or you can check out our full catalog wherever you listen to podcasts: Everything Everywhere All at Once https://dga.org/en/Events/2022/May2022/EverythingEverywhere_QnA_0422 Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood https://dga.org/en/Events/2019/Oct2019/Tarantino_OnceUponATimeInHollywood_QnA_0919 Lady Bird https://dga.org/en/Events/2018/Jan2018/LadyBird_QnA_1117 Roma https://dga.org/en/Events/2018/Dec2018/Roma_QnA_1118 Dune https://dga.org/en/Events/2021/November2021/Dune_QnA_1021 BlacKkKlansman https://dga.org/en/Events/2018/Oct2018/BlacKkKlansman_QnA_0818 Wonder Woman https://dga.org/en/Events/2017/August2017/WonderWoman_QnA_0617 The Irishman https://dga.org/en/Events/2019/Dec2019/Irishman_QnA_1019 The Shape of Water https://dga.org/en/Events/2018/Jan2018/GuillermodelToro_ShapeofWater_QnA_1217 Bridge of Spies https://dga.org/en/Events/2015/Dec2015/BridgeofSpies_QnA_1015

Transcribed - Published: 13 November 2024

The 500th episode of The Director's Cut! To celebrate, we are highlighting some of our most notable discussions over our nine years on the air. We'll be revisiting the futuristic dunes of Arrakis, the streets of 1970s Mexico City, the trenches of WW1-era Europe and more as filmmakers give insight into their process of building incredible cinematic experiences. Thank you so much to everyone who has participated in our conversation series over the years, and to you, our listeners, for supporting our show and our member’s work since we started this podcast in 2015. You can find links to our featured Q&As below, or you can check out our full catalog wherever you listen to podcasts: Everything Everywhere All at Once https://dga.org/en/Events/2022/May2022/EverythingEverywhere_QnA_0422 Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood https://dga.org/en/Events/2019/Oct2019/Tarantino_OnceUponATimeInHollywood_QnA_0919 Lady Bird https://dga.org/en/Events/2018/Jan2018/LadyBird_QnA_1117 Roma https://dga.org/en/Events/2018/Dec2018/Roma_QnA_1118 Dune https://dga.org/en/Events/2021/November2021/Dune_QnA_1021 BlacKkKlansman https://dga.org/en/Events/2018/Oct2018/BlacKkKlansman_QnA_0818 Wonder Woman https://dga.org/en/Events/2017/August2017/WonderWoman_QnA_0617 The Irishman https://dga.org/en/Events/2019/Dec2019/Irishman_QnA_1019 The Shape of Water https://dga.org/en/Events/2018/Jan2018/GuillermodelToro_ShapeofWater_QnA_1217 Bridge of Spies https://dga.org/en/Events/2015/Dec2015/BridgeofSpies_QnA_1015

Transcribed - Published: 13 November 2024

Director Hallie Meyers-Shyer discusses her new film, Goodrich, with fellow Director Max Minghella in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses creating the titular role with Actor Michael Keaton in mind, having audiences react in the way she hoped after modeling the film off of personal experiences, and assembling a crew that helped her craft her desired feel for the film. The film tells the story of Andy, whose wife unexpectedly checks herself into rehab, leaving him to take care of their two young children. When Grace, his daughter from a first marriage, steps up to help him, she watches him evolve into the father she never had. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Dec2024/GoodRich_QnA_1024

Transcribed - Published: 4 November 2024

Director Jason Reitman discusses his new film, Saturday Night, with fellow Director Guillermo del Toro in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses originally conceptualizing the film as a one-take to play out in real time, recording the score live on set with the film's Actor and Composer Jon Batiste, and casting his Actors for how well they understood their characters' deeper interests over their recreations of sketch work. Seen through the eyes of a young Lorne Michaels as he juggles equipment failures, actor fights and producers pushing for reruns, the film follows Lorne and his troupe of trailblazers behind the scenes leading up to the landmark show’s first airing. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Dec2024/SaturdayNight_QnA_1024

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2024

Director Marc Forster discusses his new film, White Bird, with fellow Director Michael Pressman in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses the use of magical realism in the visuals of the film, filming in an empty Prague during the pandemic and working with young Actors to find character growth between the film’s time jumps. The film follows Julian, who struggles to fit in to his new school after being expelled for bullying a student. When his grandmother hears of his expulsion, she attempts to transform his outlook on life by sharing the story of her youth in Nazi-occupied France. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Dec2024/WhiteBird_QnA_1024

Transcribed - Published: 28 October 2024

Director Ellen Kuras discusses her new film, Lee, with fellow Director Phillip Noyce in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses how her skillset as a cinematographer informed her directing, how she aimed to reach beyond the constraints of a typical biopic to create something more complex and working with Kate Winslet to capture Lee as a multidimensional character. The film tells the true story of Lee Miller, who in the 1940s decides to abandon her career as a fashion model and become Vogue’s war correspondent during World War II. Capturing the extremes of the human experience in some of the most indelible images of war, Lee cements herself as one of the greatest war photographers of the 20th century. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Dec2024/Lee_QnA_1024

Transcribed - Published: 25 October 2024

Director Steve McQueen discusses his new film, Blitz, with fellow Director Barry Jenkins in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses portraying the hidden voices of all those affected by the real life London Blitz, casting the lead child actor as a silent vessel for the audience while being a distinctive character, and utilizing music and dancing throughout the film as a way to reclaim humanity in the face of war. The film tells the story of George, a nine-year-old boy who is separated from his mother, Rita, amid the devastation of the London Blitz capital bombings. As George embarks on a journey to find the family he left behind, Rita embarks on her own journey to track down her son. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Dec2024/Blitz_QnA_1024

Transcribed - Published: 23 October 2024

Director Mohammad Rasoulof discusses his new film, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, with fellow Director Ramin Bahrani in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses his utilization of modern online spaces in the film as a reflection of current sentiments, shooting the film clandestinely to avoid castigation, and using his own personal experiences as reference for events within the film. Screened as part of the DGA’s Global Cinema Series, the film tells the story of Iman, an investigating Judge of Tehran’s court system who becomes increasingly paranoid after his gun goes missing. With his wife and daughters as the prime suspects, he grapples with distrust in his household as political unrest unfolds in the streets. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Nov2024/GCSNY-SeedOfTheSacredFig_0924

Transcribed - Published: 11 October 2024

Director Azazel Jacobs discusses his new film, His Three Daughters, with fellow Director David Zellner in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how his personal experiences informed the film, working with his cast to capture performances against their usual types, and shooting scenes in the same order as they happen in the film to allow the performances to evolve with the story. The film tells the story of Katie, Christina and Rachel, who reunite for the first time in many years at their dying father’s New York City apartment. Over the course of three claustrophobic days, the sisters unearth past grievances, traumas and hang-ups as they learn to coexist before their father’s departure. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Oct2024/HisThreeDaughters_QnA_0924

Transcribed - Published: 4 October 2024

Director Matt Tyrnauer discusses his new film, Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid!, with fellow Director Ondi Timoner in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses his cinema verite approach to the nuances of Carville’s life, puzzling where and how to include Carville’s wife, Mary Matalin in the film, and finding a new wind in his documentary following Joe Biden’s exit from the presidential race. Screened as part of the DGA’s Documentary Series, the film follows the Democratic consultant’s career, from his rise to fame in 1992 to his current effort with Kamala Harris’ campaign. As he navigates America’s tumultuous 2024 election cycle, Carville is portrayed not only in his political element, but also in his personal life. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Oct2024/DocSeries_CARVILLE-0924

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2024

Director Megan Park discusses her new film, My Old Ass, with fellow Director Siân Heder in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses finding and the means of capturing her tone, discovering scenes with the help of scouting the locations and the process of casting of Maisy Stella and Aubrey Plaza as the two leads. The film tells the story of teenager Elliott who, after her first time taking mushrooms on a summer vacation, is visited by a 39-year-old version of herself. Through this apparition of her older self, she learns valuable lessons about family, friends, love and coming to terms with her sexual orientation. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Oct2024/MyOldAss_QnA_0924

Transcribed - Published: 27 September 2024

Director Austin Peters discusses his new film, Skincare, with fellow Director Mimi Cave in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses striving for a more authentic LA than the Hollywood image, creating something within the “Sunshine Noir” genre and working with Elizabeth Banks to discover her character. The film tells the story of skincare mogul Hope Goldman, whose business is thrown off the rails when a rival beauty parlor arrives in her neighborhood. With the help of her friend, Jordan, she seeks to uncover the person intent on ruining both her business and her reputation. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Oct2024/Skincare_QnA_0924

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2024

Director Fede Alvarez discusses his new film, Alien: Romulus, with fellow Director Leigh Whannell in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses his process for crafting scenes, creating a believable relationship between a human and android character, and working with the effects team from previous films. This continuation of the Alien franchise tells the story of a group of young space colonizers with a plan to scavenge a derelict space station. Instead, once they arrive, they discover they might not be alone. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Oct2024/AlienRomulus_QnA_0824

Transcribed - Published: 9 September 2024