Last to Leave

This week on Last to Leave, Zoey Danielson & Heather Elaine Abbott peek behind the curtain of Shakespeare's Globe with Victoria Donovan, the Child Acting Coach on the set of Chloè Zhao's viscerally emotional & spiritual film, Hamnet . With a reverence for & commitment to truthful moments, Victoria Donovan helped shape the breathtaking performances of the powerhouse cast of ch...

This week on Last to Leave, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson journey to the far reaches of the galaxy with Rory Cheyne, the Production Designer behind Apple TV+'s epic science fiction series, Foundation. From towering imperial palaces and futuristic cities to the intricate details that make an imagined future feel real, Rory has helped shape one of television's most ambitious vis...

Your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson, are back with another behind-the-scenes deep dive, this time with Shonta Hylton, the Set Costumer who helped bring the rich, lived-in world of Ryan Coogler’s Oscar-winning film, Sinners , to life. From timeless hats and sleek silk dresses to the countless details audiences never notice but always feel, Shonta helped keep the world of Sinners...

Welcome to Season FIVE, film nerds!  That’s right! Your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson, are back with a very special season premiere episode that is all about the 2026 indie film, Forbidden Fruits. They’re joined by the film’s inspiring & hilarious Director & Co-Writer, Meredith Alloway, for an in-depth discussion on the making of her debut feature film.  In this episode...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they descend into the quiet, aching atmosphere of the German film Sound of Falling . They’re joined by the film’s editor, Evelyn Rack, whose delicate, emotionally attuned approach to shaping the rhythm of the movie was essential in bringing the story’s inner world to the screen. Sound of Falling traces the fragile lives of its female le...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson, as they gush about the incredible year that 2025 was... for movies, at least! From honorable mentions to top ten lists (that somehow manage to be closer to top 14), Zoey and Heather's epic yap session is chock full of recommendations, reflections on 'the good shit', and just a few hot takes.  Film (& TV) Discussed: Bug...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they are whisked away to a small New England town to explore the backdrops of one of the best indie films of 2025, Sorry, Baby. They're joined by the film's intrepid Production Designer, Caity Birmingham, whose process over product approach to creative problem solving on set was integral to creating the world of the film. Sorr...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they dive into the visual storytelling of makeup—or the intentional absence of it. Today, they’re joined by Sharon Tabb, the Makeup Department Head behind The Lowdown . Together, they explore the power of collaboration and how Sharon works closely with directors, actors, and fellow artists to create distinct, lived-in looks for each cha...

Join your hosts, Heather and Zoey, as they dive into the world of documentaries with filmmaker and creator Elly Schmidt-Hopper. We first connected with Elly on TikTok after seeing her video about the current state of documentary filmmaking—and just how difficult it is to secure distribution, let alone funding. From there, we dig into some of our favorite docs, ranging from No Other Land (2024) and...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson, as they take an exclusive look at the queer indie film, Clocked , with the help of the Writer & Director, Noah Salzman. Clocked tells the story of Adolpho, a boxer in Miami who embarks on a journey of self-discovery that leads them to reckoning with their trans identity and finding acceptance in the drag community. Noah describes thi...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson, as they dive into the visual poetry of A24’s Opus . Cinematographer Tommy Maddox-Upshaw takes us behind the lens — from capturing shots in the freezing cold to crafting color stories that speak louder than dialogue. He opens up about the artistry behind Opus and how his journey from growing up in Boston to shaping cinematic worlds contin...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson, as they get the inside scoop on the making of the sci-fi thriller Companion (2025) and the intricacies of the work of the film's First Assistant Director, Siena Brown. In this episode, Zoey & Heather try not to fangirl too hard while Siena recounts her philosophy on running a successful set, collaborating with the director &...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson, as they step into the world of production management with Joanna Osborn as their guide. With years of experience balancing the demands of high-level productions and the realities of motherhood, Joanna has become both a steady hand on set and a passionate advocate for working moms in the UK film industry. In this episode, Zoey & Heath...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson, as they embark on a sonic journey through the land of Music Supervision with Jillian Ennis as their guide. With an early love for pairing stories & meaningful music, Jillian was destined for a career in the music side of filmmaking and brings a reverence & thoughtfulness to each project. In this episode, Zoey & Heather learn...

Join hosts Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson as they explore the art of still photography on set with their guest, Elise Lockwood. From her early days as a ballerina to capturing cinematic moments behind the lens, Elise brings a unique eye, boundless enthusiasm, and genuine care to every project she touches. You can follow Elise on Instagram here: @ eliselockwoodphoto A big thank you to Lee...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they dive into the world of location management with Julian Bivol as their guide! From his early days as a Location Marshall on Wonderwoman to his more recent work as an Assistant Location Manager on the third season of Heartstopper, Julian approaches each set with kindness, curiosity, and gratitude. With 10+ years in the locations depa...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they step inside the heart of Sing Sing,  a quietly radical, deeply human film starring Colman Domingo and a cast of formerly incarcerated men telling their own story. In Part One of our two-part Sing Sing special, we’re joined by costume designer Desira Pesta ( @desirapesta ), who helps us unpack the film’s layered beauty, one look at...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they step inside the heart of Sing Sing, a quietly radical, deeply human film starring Colman Domingo and a cast of formerly incarcerated men telling their own story. In Part Two of our two-part Sing Sing special, we’re joined by Second Assistant Director, Taylor Harris-Butler ( @taylorharbu ), who leads us through the 15,000 steps she...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they fall headfirst into the distorted dreamlands of Osgood Perkins' films, Longlegs & The Monkey. In this episode, Zoey and Heather are guided by the co-editors of both movies, Greg Ng & Graham Fortin, on a journey to the heart of these twisted and oh so creative horror films. Whether you're a horror fanatic or just l...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they dive headfirst into the lush, chaotic, and achingly beautiful world of The Buccaneers —a show that stuns on every level, from its sweeping score to its corset-clad costumes and sun-drenched cinematography. And who better to lead the way than the sonic sorceresses behind the music? Composers Anna Phoebe and Aisling Brouwer—also know...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they sit down with David Schlesinger (Set Decorator) and Jeanelle Marie (Assistant Set Decorator) to explore the worlds they helped build in the second season of Apple TV's hit show, Severance . In this episode, Zoey and Heather get a peek behind the curtain at the triumphs and challenges of the set decoration department while crea...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they sit down with Sam Strauss (writer, creator, and showrunner) and Sylvia Warmer (post production supervisor) to dive into the making of Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar — the sharp, satirical series inspired by the wild true story of Belle Gibson. In this episode, Zoey and Heather get the inside scoop on how the show was developed from...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they chat with Philip Messina about his vision for creating the physical manifestation of Mr. Reed's darkest thoughts as the Production Designer on Heretic . In this episode, Zoey and Heather learn all about Philip's dedication to championing a good story throughout his career on films like Erin Brockovich , Ocean's 11 ,...

Welcome back for Season FOUR, film nerds! If you’ve been with us since the beginning, thank you — we appreciate you SO much. And if you’re new here, welcome! We’re so happy to have you. This is a safe space for film lovers of all kinds. Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they kick off the season with a conversation with Bianca Butti ( website , IMDB ), the A Camera Opera...

Join hosts Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson as they sit down with cinematographer Andrea Gavazzi to discuss his work on the Oscar-nominated short film A Lein ! A Lein pulls you into the high-stakes intensity of a green card interview—one that could change three lives forever. Directed by critically acclaimed filmmakers Sam and David Cutler-Kreutz, this award-winning short is both a love...