Team Deakins

EPISODE 64 - JON KILIK - Getting the project off the ground Team Deakins is happy to welcome producer Jon Kilik back again with a specific subject - how to get film projects off the ground. Because films are different, we look at the different ways you can move forward. Jon tells us about the need to be flexible without compromising the vision, how often compromises can be opportunities, and if yo...

EPISODE 63 - TURNING THE TABLES - The Assassination of Jesse James The tables get turned on Team Deakins in this episode with Greig Fraser asking us the questions, focusing on the film "The Assassination of Jesse James". Greig asks questions on 7 clips of the film. There is a companion pdf with this episode (see the link below) that lists the approximate time these clips appear in the movie with i...

EPISODE 62 - DODD VICKERS - Location Scout/Location Manager Team Deakins again looks into the complexities of locations in the scheme of production with location scout and manager, Dodd Vickers (THE GLORIAS, SHARP OBJECTS, SUPERFLY). We talk with Dodd who shares with us how to find locations, things that have to be considered for locations and working with the budget. He also talks about how he ne...

EPISODE 61 - JASON HALL - Writer, Director Team Deakins has a great conversation in this episode with writer and director, Jason Hall (THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AMERICAN SNIPER). He takes us through the experience of writing the script for American Sniper. He literally had to wrestle for it! He talks about finding the story and dealing with the changes in the script during the course of find its...

EPISODE 60 - BILLY O'LEARY - Gaffer Team Deakins sits down with frequent collaborator and friend, gaffer Billy O'Leary (THE IRISHMAN, BLADE RUNNER 2049, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS). It's a wonderful walk down memory lane and we learned a lot too! He defines the role of gaffer and walks through what he does in prep and how he works with different DPs. He also talks about his love of NOT relying on big lig...

EPISODE 59 - JON KILIK - Producer We had the opportunity of sitting down with a producer we've had the pleasure of working with, Jon Kilik (FOXCATCHER, THE HUNGER GAMES, BABEL, DO THE RIGHT THING). He clued us in on a few subjects - whey there are so many producers on projects, how the producer credit has been devalued, and the difference in the producer roles in movies and TV. We learned that the...

EPISODE 58 - JOEL EDGERTON - Actor, Director Team Deakins has a great conversation with Joel Edgerton, (THE KING, BOY ERASED, LOVING), about his craft as an actor, director and writer. We learn why heroes should have a bit of villain in them, finding fun in every character and what he considers when choosing projects. We talk about his work with his brother, Nash Edgerton, what an intricate puzzle...

EPISODE 57 - TURNING THE TABLES - Shawshank Redemption In this episode, we get the tables turned upon us! Greig Fraser leads the conversation and asks US the questions. He starts by diving into our collaboration process and then moves onto the movie SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. In addition, he chose 5 clips from the movie to discuss. We list and describe the clip in an accompanying PDF file for this epis...

EPISODE 56 - THOMAS NEWMAN - Composer Team Deakins sits with Tom Newman, (1917, SKYFALL, WALL-E, AMERICAN BEAUTY), and learns lots about the world of the composer.   He tells us about learning to be a collaborator, his experience with directors like Robert Altman and Sam Mendes, how he deals with last minute editorial changes after the music has been composed and the difference between composing f...

EPISODE 55 - RACHEL MORRISON - Cinematographer Team Deakins converses with cinematographer Rachel Morrison in this episode. She speaks on many subjects - telling us about working with director Ryan Coogler, how the way she works with the gaffer differs on features and TV, her like of imperfection. She also shares that she strives to share as much information as possible when working, including sha...

EPISODE 54 - ED SOLOMON - Writer Team Deakins talks with writer Ed Solomon, (MEN IN BLACK, BILL & TED's EXCELLENT ADVENTURE, NOW YOU SEE ME 2), in this episode.   We learned a lot about the craft of writing! Ed talks about the differences in writing for TV and features, writing on spec versus adapting material, writers block, and how his script of the original Bill and Ted changed his career. He a...

EPISODE 53 - JOE REIDY - Assistant Director Team Deakins speaks with an amazing AD, Joe Reidy (THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7, THE DEPARTED, BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, CASINO). He leads us through the many aspects of the role of Assistant Director - from Scheduling, his prep, AD breakdown, dealing with extras and his relationship with the line producer and creative producer. He speaks of working with...

EPISODE 52 - PATRICE VERMETTE - Production Designer Teams Deakins enjoys a great conversation with Production Designer, Patrice Vermette (DUNE, VICE, ARRIVAL, PRISONERS). He goes through his working process and talks about his relationship with the Director and DP. He shares his opinion on building sets or using locations, color palettes, and the traits he likes in a director and DP. He gets speci...

EPISODE 51 -ANDREW PATTERSON - Director Team Deakins was excited to talk with emerging director, Andrew Patterson. After seeing his debut film, VAST OF NIGHT, we knew we wanted to talk with him. He leads us through the long path of getting his movie made, talks about his casting and the very interesting cadence of the dialogue of the film. He also speaks about wanting to make a movie that doesn't...

EPISODE 50 - JOSH BROLIN - Actor Team Deakins sits down with long time friend, actor Josh Brolin (TRUE GRIT, AVENGERS: ENDGAME, ONLY THE BRAVE, MILK). We learned so much from him - how going into law is similar to being an actor (who knew?) and how acting is like golf (learned something new!). He also tells us how his interest in human behavior drew him to acting and he shares the very funny story...

EPISODE 49 - NICOLETTA MANI - Script Supervisor Team Deakins has the pleasure of talking with script supervisor, Nicoletta Mani (1917, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- FALL OUT, THE QUIET ONES).   We get the chance to discover the wide range of this role in production from the breakdown of the script, day breakdown, script timing, editor notes, continuity and much more. We learn how the script supervisor acts...

EPISODE 48 - ROB LEGATO - VFX Supervisor Team Deakins speaks with VFX Supervisor, Rob Legato (THE LION KING, THE JUNGLE BOOK, HUGO, TITANIC).   He walks us through some of the changes in VFX over the years and is quite vocal on his feelings on the different approaches - CG effects or model work. We learned a lot about his work on Jungle Book, The Lion King, Titanic and Apollo 13. We even talked ab...

EPISODE 47 - TIM ROBBINS - Actor, Director Team Deakins has a great conversation with actor, director (and punk rocker, as you learn in the episode!), Tim Robbins (MYSTIC RIVER, THE PLAYER, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, DEAD MAN WALKING). Tim shares a lot of his thoughts on acting, the importance of "generous actors" and how fame can lead you astray. We learn about overcoming the temptation to take a...

EPISODE 46 - ED ZWICK - Director Team Deakins has the opportunity in this episode to sit down with director, writer, producer Ed Zwick and discuss a wide range of subjects. Ed's list of credits is long and includes THE SIEGE, COURAGE UNDER FIRE, and DEFIANCE). Ed tells us what is important to him as a director and why he thinks scale is important in a movie. He also speaks of the value of finding...

EPISODE 45 - JAKE GYLLENHAAL - Actor Team Deakins had the opportunity to sit and talk with long time friend, actor Jake Gyllenhaal (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, PRISONERS, NIGHTCRAWLER). Jake speaks about his relationship with directors and with cinematographers. We speak about his work in Donnie Darko and Prisoners, as well as Jarhead and Wildlife. He speaks about how, as an actor, the final result is alw...

EPISODE 44 - FRANZ KRAUS Part 2 - Arriflex This is part 2 with Franz Kraus. We continue our conversation with Franz about all things digital. We talk lens, camera, the Trinity rig, viewfinders, the M camera (precursor of the Mini) and what might be coming in the future. A great chance to get all of those digital questions out into the open! It was an amazing experience to pick the brain of a perso...

EPISODE 43 - FRANZ KRAUS Part 1 - Arriflex Team Deakins sits down with Franz Kraus of Arriflex who has overseen most of the company's digital visual advancements. We learn the history and progression into digital technology. He also walks us through the greater importance of dynamic range vs resolution. We learn how the sensor size affects the relationship between lens and subject. We speak about...

EPISODE 42 - KK BARRETT - Production Designer Team Deakins sits down with production designer KK Barnett (HER, BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, MARIE ANTOINETTE). It's a great opportunity to delve into the job of the production designer and all it entails. We go into depth about how he works with the DP and the Director. He illustrates his process by talking specifically about scenes in Being John Malkovich,...

EPISODE 41 - PAUL DANO & ZOE KAZAN -Actors, writers & director Team Deakins has the pleasure of speaking with another couple in the film business. Both are actors and writers and Paul has also directed. We talk a lot about the experience of being an actor and they articulately discuss the difference between acting for the stage and for film. We talk about the experience of being a couple in the sa...

EPISODE 40 - SONA PAK & GUILLAUME ROCHERON - VFX Producer & Supervisor Team Deakins dives into the world of VFX. We speak with a VFX Producer, Sona Pak (1917, THE TWO POPES, ALIEN: COVENANT) and a VFX Supervisor, Guillaume Rocheron (1917, AD ASTRA, LIFE OF PI). So the first question we get to settle is who does what. We also look into things like, the advantages and disadvantages of working with m...