Episodes
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Following the widely successful stage production of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, Malcolm Washington has chosen the story as his feature directorial debut, with the film produced by his father, Denzel Washington, and Netflix.
Three actors reprise their roles from the stage production, bringing their immense talent to the screen: Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, and, last but not least, today’s guest, Ray Fisher!
Ray was kind enough to join us on the show to discuss the evolution of his relationship with the character of Lymon, the importance of the collaborators and peers who surround him, and his journey through the ever-changing waves of the entertainment industry. -
Without a doubt one of 2024’s biggest cinematic events is The Substance. Coralie Fargeat’s body horror premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival to great critical acclaim and has been gathering more and more attention ever since. We managed to sit down with the film’s cinematographer Benjamin Kračun for an interview.
If you’ve seen the film, you surely know just how gripping it looks and feels. The Substance has a very distinct visual style, and Ben was kind enough to share some behind the scenes looks on prepping, shooting, and working with Coralie.
During our discussion we go through how they planned to differentiate the two main characters with lighting and colors, how the story set in LA was actually shot in France, and of course, the extreme body horror elements. -
Despite Sean Baker’s impressive track record, his seventh feature, Anora, might be what brings him the next level of critical- and, more importantly, commercial- success.
Baker, who shoots his projects on film, reteamed with DoP Drew Daniels for the second time after Red Rocket. Drew, whose work you might know from projects such as Waves or It Comes at Night (both directed by Trey Edward Shults), was kind enough to join us for an extensive conversation and gave a detailed rundown of the challenges posed by circumstances and other factors while filming Anora, as well as the synergy between him and Sean. -
If you're wondering what legendary director Sam Raimi is up to these days (besides prepping his next project Send Help, rumored to star Rachel McAdams), he’s busy producing films. His latest project is Don’t Move, directed by Brian Netto and Adam Schindler, and headlined by Kelsey Asbille.
In our conversation with Type AB, we touch on the duo's directing history, the production set in Bulgaria, and the thematic exploration of distances within the story and its characters.
(Photo credit: Vladislav Lepoev / Netflix) -
Spending too much time within the confines of your home, in front of your computer, might lead some to tell you to “touch some grass”. But what do you do when that’s not an option? You touch others’ hearts in the world of World of Warcraft and make a difference in the digital world that translates into the real one. That’s exactly what Mats 'Ibelin' Steen did during his short yet impactful life. His story came to life in director Benjamin Ree's genre-bending documentary The Remarkable Life of Ibelin.
In our interview with Benjamin, we dive deep into both the emotional and technological sides of crafting this touching story, which reveals the unexpected surprises a physically and temporally limited life can hold.
(Photos: Courtesy of Benjamin Ree & Netflix) -
No story is easy to tell, and you can always complicate it for yourself, but that might be beneficial for your purpose.
Taking on the conflicting institution of fraternities presented a similar challenge for first-time director Ethan Berger, who remained committed to his vision and wasn’t afraid to make changes to his script as time passed and life evolved.
Ethan’s film, along with our conversation with him, explores feelings of responsibility, the limits we push within ourselves and each other, and what the future might hold.
(Photo credit: Courtesy of Empirical) -
A directorial debut is always a significant event, not just for the director, but for everyone involved in the project. And no film can truly succeed without a strong script, which is the case for Woman of the Hour, starring and directed by Anna Kendrick, and written by our next guest, Ian McDonald.
In this episode, we explore the film, based on the true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala and his appearance on a televised dating show. Ian shares insights into his script's journey from page to screen, discusses the similarities shared between relationships in the '70s and today, and outlines the necessary changes made to the characters' personalities.
(Photo credit: Courtesy of Julia Max) -
We all have our 'most anticipated films' that we can't wait to be released, but of course, sometimes filmmakers have to wait for their projects to see the light of day. The incredibly talented director duo, Celine Held and Logan George, shot Caddo Lake three years ago, and now we finally get to see it!
In our little conversation with them (0:57), we cover the dynamics of their directing relationship and M. Night Shyamalan's involvement in the project.
Then, providing context to the entirety of the shoot and the incredible team behind Caddo Lake, we are joined by cinematographer Lowell A. Meyer (8:38). Lowell has been a part of Celine and Logan's works since forever. His participation in the development and evolution of their visual language is beyond doubt.
Our chat with Lowell varies in topics, from the logistics of shooting on the water to his future projects.
(Photos: Courtesy of Celine Held and Logan George) -
If you’re wondering where the term “anxiety chic” comes from, It’s What’s Inside!
This time around on the show, you can listen to our conversations with the film's writer-director Greg Jardin (0:52), and actor David Thompson (17:32).
First up, Greg shares his experience working on trailers, the core idea's journey from script to screen, and creating a comfortable atmosphere for actors on set. Then, David joins us to talk about the contradictions in acting, ownership over characters, and the concept of a body swap - from the casting process to the final performance.
(Photo credits: Erica Hernández / Courtesy of Netflix) -
Following the release of Sing Sing, another breakout title from last year’s TIFF is finally here, in the form of His Three Daughters! This three-hander, starring Natasha Lyonne, Carrie Coon, and Elizabeth Olsen, is written and directed by Azazel Jacobs. Harrowingly gorgeous and at times lovingly funny, the film offers a subtle depiction of grief, mortality, and familial dynamics.
We were fortunate enough to sit down with Aza and pick his brain about one of the most well-written scripts in recent memory, drawing the absolute best from his three leads (all of whom he wrote the characters specifically for), and the true essence of comic relief.
(Photo credits: Sam Levy & GODLIS / Netflix) -
Dear Listener,
From time to time, we’ll treat you to different themes and formats, like our new series, “Rewind”. This special edition of the show will drop in your feed every month or so.
The very first episode of “Rewind” is, needless to say, a special one. We are excited to welcome cinematographer turned director Paul Cameron. The two main titles we cover are Man on Fire and Collateral, both of which celebrate their 20th anniversary this year.
In addition to Paul’s anecdotes and experiences on these projects, he gives us insight into his transition from DoP to Director, his perspective on his role in the industry, and, of course, what might be next for him. -
For a few years now, Apple has been consistently building out its streaming platform with the help of great artists and prestigious projects. Their new release, Lady in the Lake is a limited series starring Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram. Áron had the pleasure of welcoming the show’s cinematographer Lachlan Milne, and production designer JC Molina to the show.
As Lady in the Lake takes place in 1960s Baltimore, there were plenty of topics to discuss about the visuals of the project. Having the cinematographer and the production designer on at the same time provided a great opportunity to dive into their collaboration and talk through how the teams and departments worked together to create this stunning period piece.
Lachland and JC were also kind enough to give us an insight into the research process, and even shared what emotional scenes were particularly hard to shoot or create for them.
(Plus they teased their upcoming projects: Michel Gondry’s Atlantis, and Mimi Cave’s Holland, Michigan.)
(Photo credit: Apple) -
We had the director-cinematographer duo of Shōgun Episodes 1-2, Jonathan van Tulleken and Chris Ross, on the show back in April. Since then the series received 26 Emmy nominations, including two for cinematography. One of these nominations went to Chris, and now we're joined by the other incredibly talented DOP nominee, Sam McCurdy.
Sam has an impressive résumé in television, having worked on shows like Game of Thrones, Peacemaker, and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.
This provides the perfect opportunity for Áron to pick his brain about choosing projects, transitioning between them, and even discussing Episode 9 of Shōgun, Crimson Sky, for which not only he, but also director Fred Toye received an Emmy nod.
(Photo credit: Katie Yu/FX) -
Now that Sing Sing is expanding to new theaters, we’re ramping up our coverage of the film! In our interview with cinematographer Pat Scola, we talked about both A Quiet Place: Day One and Sing Sing. Today we’re pleased to share Áron’s conversation with the editor of A24’s big title contender, Parker Laramie!
This interview sheds some light on the evolution of Parker’s collaboration with director Greg Kwedar and co-writer Clint Bentley, the question of runtime, screen time, and expectations. -
Next up on the show, with A Quiet Place: Day One hitting VOD, we are thrilled to welcome Michael Sarnoski, the director behind the movie. (You might also know his debut feature from three years ago, Pig starring Nicolas Cage.)
In this captivating episode, Áron had the opportunity to talk with Michael about his journey from indie filmmaking to the world of a studio blockbuster.
Michael shares his views about the challenges and exciting opportunities that come with joining a major franchise and working with larger budgets. Furthermore, of course Frodo the cat sparks an amusing discussion about the joys and trials of having animals on set, at the end of which our host even pitches a fun idea for Michael’s next project. -
We really hope you watched Hulu’s Under the Bridge (if not, honestly, what are you doing?!), cause this time we have the absolute pleasure of welcoming actress Vritika Gupta (0:37), who plays Reena Virk, and director Kevin Phillips (19:23), who directed episodes 2 and 8, to the show.
In their conversation, Áron and our two fantastic guests cover topics like career decisions, the challenges of playing and directing teenagers and their flaws, or the responsibility and weight of telling Reena’s story. -
It's been about a week since the series (or season?) finale of Julio Torres' Fantasmas aired. Whether or not there will be a follow-up to these six episodes, we have another spooky treat for you: our chat with the show's production designer, Tommaso Ortino!
In this episode Tommaso and Áron go down the rabbit hole of building sets on a stage, blending the projections with the physical (previously discussed in our interview with cinematographer Sam Levy), and he even gives a small update on Todd Solondz's Love Child. -
The release of a new project is always special, and if the release of two of your projects is within two weeks, it is, well, one, really special, and two, your name might be Pat Scola!
As a part of this interview, Pat tells Áron about the past, present, and future of his collaboration with director Michael Sarnoski, shooting on another scale for A Quiet Place: Day One, constructing a true indie in the form of the prison drama Sing Sing, his experience on the set of Alex Russell’s directorial debut, Lurker (currently in production), and preparing for The Death of Robin Hood, starring Jodie Comer and Hugh Jackman. -
In this episode, Áron sits down with Sam Levy, the cinematographer behind the surrealist comedy series, Fantasmas. Created, directed, and written by the multi-talented Julio Torres, who also stars in it.
Fantasmas takes viewers on an extraordinary journey as Torres searches for a golden oyster earring, meeting a number of eccentric characters along the way.
As a part of the conversation, Sam delves into his collaboration with Julio Torres, offering an insider’s perspective on the creative process behind this visually stunning series. He also reveals some sources of inspiration and how they shot the entire series on stage rather than on location, the critical role of color in the series, and more. -
Next up on the show, Áron’s joined by Kristi Zea, a production designer whose work we’re sure you’ve come across over the years!
Kristi’s previous projects include Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas or The Departed, Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs or Philadelphia, and Sam Mendes’ Revolutionary Road. Her latest is Christy Hall’s feature directorial debut, Daddio.
The themes covered in this episode include the difficulties and advantages of shooting on a stage, a production designer's collaboration with the director and the cinematographer, plus the thought-provoking relationship between directing style and career decisions. - Show more
