IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit

Paul Rubens, the man who created and became Pee-Wee Herman, has eluded a documentary about his life for a long time. While Matt Wolf was finally able to make a film exploring this complicated artist, it came at a price. Listen to Matt recount his artistic battle with Rubens as they shot the doc, and the shocking personal details he uncovered that bound them together. You have to hear this one to b...

First time director Michael Shanks joined us on Toolkit for a fascinating discussion about the crazy intimacy of directing a real life couple, his roots as an Aussie kid binging After Effects tutorials, and why his particular brand of body horror needed to be very dry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As one of the writers behind Lonely Island, and the director of hits like 'Popstar and 'Hot Rod', director Akiva Schaffer was a brilliant choice to helm a revival of one of cinema's most iconic comedy franchises. We dig into the craft behind the comedy, from casting serious actors to going for broke on a particular snowman sequence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Toolkit we want to explore the challenges facing filmmakers today, and a growing concern is A.I. But we find for all the promises and fears of what A.I.will do, there are few conversations about what A.I. is actually able to do right now. Writer and director Scott Z. Burns has the perfect case study for us: trying to write a sequel to his and Steven Soderbergh's 'Contagion' using A.I. screenwri...

Kenneth Lonergan, one of our host's favorite filmmakers, joins Toolkit to reflect on his first film as a director, 'You Can Count On Me.' He walks us through his transition from writer to the director's chair, and shares stories of working with Mark Ruffalo and Laura Linney on the film that would be their Sundance breakthrough. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson joins IndieWire features writer Jim Hemphill to talk about rebooting the 1997 slasher classic. Robinson discusses integrating the original cast members into the story (warning: spoilers!), balancing horror and comedy, and the influence of Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” on her summer thriller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Aster returns to the toolkit for the fourth time with his fourth film, a paranoid social thriller about the summer of 2020 told in a way only this filmmaker can. Ari explores the origins of the film's politics, how he made a western so modern the guns are phones, and unpacks the incredible final act. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Toolkit is taking an ongoing look into the current state of independent filmmaking, and today we have some rare good news to report; indie collectives are on the rise! Two of the filmmakers behind Omnes, which produced this year's 'Eephus' and the new release 'No Sleep Till' join us to discuss how these artists share the burdens of indie filmmaking from financing through production and release. Fo...

One of our favorite insights into David Lynch's filmmaking comes from Dean Hurley, Lynch's all around sound guy and one of the master's closest collaborators for decades. Hurley reveals that to create one of a kind art, one must have a one of a kind creative process. Listen to our deep dive into Lynch's approach to sound, his process itself was a piece of art. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

Director Rob Reiner returns to Filmmaker Toolkit to talk with IndieWire features writer Jim Hemphill about “This is Spinal Tap.” Released in 1984 to widespread acclaim, Reiner’s debut feature created a new form of comedy that inspired countless hours of “mockumentary” TV episodes and films in the decades to follow. On the occasion of the film’s theatrical re-release in a new 4K restoration, Reiner...

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The writer, director, and star of the Sundance hit and new A24 release joins IndieWire's Chris O'Falt to break down their directorial debut. Eva was forthright about the challenges of learning how to direct (including a graduate level film class of sorts supervised by Barry Jenkins) and also explored how she balanced a gentle tonal approach to a tough subject. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

The director of 'Top Gun: Maverick' returns to the big screen with his latest feat of cinematic speed. If you want to understand how they really shot F1, this is the interview to listen to. Kosinski breaks down why putting cameras on an F1 car was harder than an a fighter jet, and he reveals the key role VFX played in embedding this movie within an active F1 racing season. Watch more interviews wi...

After reigniting the zombie movie over two decades ago with the groundbreaking '28 Days Later,' Boyle returns to the directors chair along with his writing partner Alex Garland to innovate in the horror space once again. He breaks down the advanced iPhone rigs they used to capture a new sense of violent speed, and digs into the surprisignly emotional aspects of this sequel. Learn more about your a...

Director, executive producer, and longtime "What We Do In The Shadows" editor Yana Gorskaya discusses why all directors should have to edit a TV comedy, the ambitious designs, props, and worldbuilding that went into creating an afterlife for its Staten Island vampires, the joys of shooting on film for the series finale, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The acclaimed writer and director of 'Past Lives' is back to explore the rules and rituals of love in the modern age once again. This time she draws on her own history as a matchmaker to craft a story that dissects romance tropes, and how we define value in other people, and ourselves. Watch full episodes of the Filmmaker Toolkit Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_oEavFHbDlFCGlOmGO71Tvz...

This send up of the interview format from our friends at Dropout challenges comedians to conduct conversations as elaborately created characters. From complex special effects and costumes to the reality breaking meta-narrative, there is a lot to dig into with this series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs, two of the three co-creators of "Hacks" and two of its writers and directors, talk to IndieWire about giving Ava and Deborah an antagonistic relationship like never before in Season 4. The pair discuss how their team has continued to evolve the filmmaking language of the show and set new challenges for themselves — namely, a Late Night show for Deborah — while stil...

The Filmmaker Toolkit sat down with the director of one of the most exciting, entertaining, and truthful pieces of cinematic non-fiction we've seen in a long while. The three part HBO docu-drama follows the succession battle that occurs when the 86 year old leader of an enormous Renascence Faire decides to step down as king. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Emmy winning creator of 'Succession' is back on the Filmmaker Toolkit to discuss his feature directorial debut. Jesse was an erudite guest, exploring his writing process and how he approached some of the same themes of wealth and power as his previous work in new ways. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we welcome a true bucket list guest to the podcast, the incomparable Wes Anderson. Wes's new film draws inspiration from art history, bombastic historical figures, and his father in law. He talks us through these influences, and how watching old movies with his daughter has affected his film diet, and in turn his filmmaking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The steady hand behind the last four Mission: Impossible films is back on the Filmmaker Toolkit, but this Mission brings a different tone than before. Partly due to the attempt to tie the entire nearly three decade old series into the story, but also to allow enough budget and time to execute the two most impressive and dangerous sequences we've yet seen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...

The incredibly thoughtful Craig Mazin returns to the podcast to break down the narrativelyl complex second season of the hit HBO series. With favorite characters leaving, morally murky new ones to introduce, and constantly shifting perspectives Craig had his hands full guiding the audience through this part of the video game adaptation. Listen to learn what went into every big decision this season...

Actor Seth Rogen leads the new Apple TV+ show 'The Studio,' co-writing, co-directing, and creating the series with his long time collaborator Evan Goldberg. The team breaks down the impeccable craft and meticulous satire of this hit comedy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of our regular guests is back on the Filmmaker Toolkit, and is pushing the bounds of cinema yet again. For his newest film, Trey partnered with The Weekend to make a film surrounding his final album under that stage name. But this is not your typical, sanitized musician produced film. Trey had complete control to probe the dark parts of The Weekend's life and career, and the film builds a dark...