Team Deakins

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 51 - GREIG FRASER - CINEMATOGRAPHER - THE BATMAN - PART 2 On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we're sharing the rest of our previously live-streamed conversation between Team Deakins and cinematographer Greig Fraser diving into his work on THE BATMAN. We start by talking all things lighting, and Greig shares how he and his team used non-film light fixtures to achieve a...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 50 - GREIG FRASER - CINEMATOGRAPHER - THE BATMAN - PART 1 On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we're sharing the first half of our live-streamed conversation between Team Deakins and cinematographer Greig Fraser focusing on his work on THE BATMAN. Greig describes to us what drew him to work on the project in the first place and how, even with COVID delays, he and directo...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 49 - RUTH DE JONG - PRODUCTION DESIGNER Team Deakins is joined by talented production designer Ruth De Jong (OPPENHEIMER, NOPE, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA). A creative scion of the accomplished production designer Jack Fisk, Ruth explains how Jack recruited her to assist him on THERE WILL BE BLOOD and the subsequent ten year partnership in which he was her mentor. She later reflects...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 48 - RYAN COOGLER - WRITER / DIRECTOR On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we're sharing our thoughtful conversation with writer and director Ryan Coogler (BLACK PANTHER, CREED, FRUITVALE STATION). An Oakland native, Ryan reveals how film became his family's second language and how his parents fostered his interest in cinema throughout his childhood. Later in our discuss...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 47 - BENICIO DEL TORO - ACTOR Team Deakins speaks with actor Benicio del Toro (SICARIO, TRAFFIC, THE FRENCH DISPATCH). Benicio expresses his gratitude to the Stella Adler Studio for serving him as a bastion in which he weathered the storm of rejections he faced early in his career. We discuss the definition of heroes on screen and what it means to play them, and Benicio consider...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 46 - SARAH POLLEY - WRITER / DIRECTOR / ACTOR Team Deakins sits down with writer, director, and actor Sarah Polley (WOMEN TALKING, STORIES WE TELL, AWAY FROM HER) on this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. In the beginning, Sarah discusses her early career in acting and how she stepped away to focus on political activism. We later ask Sarah about the challenges transitioning f...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 45 - SANTIAGO MITRE - WRITER / DIRECTOR Team Deakins enjoys a conversation with writer and director Santiago Mitre (ARGENTINA, 1985; PAULINA; THE SUMMIT) on this episode of the podcast. Santiago begins by telling us how he found his way to filmmaking at an early age and how his politically active family informed the subjects of his films. Later, we discuss using cinema to think...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 44 - PAUL MESCAL - ACTOR Team Deakins sits down with actor Paul Mescal (AFTERSUN, NORMAL PEOPLE, GOD'S CREATURES) on this episode of the podcast. During our thoughtful conversation, Paul reveals the advice he received from actor Emily Watson and from his Gaelic football coach that he applies to his craft every day. We also discuss his work on AFTERSUN, and Paul heaps praise on t...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 43 - MATT REEVES - DIRECTOR Team Deakins sits down with director Matt Reeves (THE BATMAN, CLOVERFIELD, WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES) for a fascinating discussion. Matt indulges our appreciation for the craft behind THE BATMAN and shares how he and his collaborators envisioned Gotham and Batman as a city and as a person that could exist within our own world. We discuss how Matt...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 42 - DAVE CHAMEIDES - CAMERA AND STEADICAM OPERATOR Today, Team Deakins is joined by camera and steadicam operator Dave Chameides (SNOWFALL, THE WEST WING, ER) on the latest episode of the podcast. During our conversation, we discuss the effectiveness of the cinematography in 1917 and Dave's contribution to the creation of the final shot in ST. VINCENT. We also consider the resp...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 41 - JOHN DE BORMAN - CINEMATOGRAPHER Team Deakins is happy to share our conversation with cinematographer John de Borman (AN EDUCATION, THE FULL MONTY, THE MIGHTY) on this episode of the podcast. We discuss working with different types of directors and battling the increasingly complex logistics of modern filmmaking and the ballooning number of   crew sizes on projects. We also...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 40 - HELEN KEARNS - EDITOR Team Deakins is happy to host editor Helen Kearns (GOOD NIGHT OPPY, THE KEEPERS, ASSASSINS) on this episode of the podcast. Helen reveals how earlier studio involvement in financing and distribution has affected documentary filmmaking, both in helpful and disruptive terms. We discuss the challenges (and comforts) of editing GOOD NIGHT OPPY during the p...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 39 - RUTH E. CARTER - COSTUME DESIGNER Wake up! Today's Team Deakins Podcast forecast: costume designer Ruth E. Carter (MALCOLM X, BLACK PANTHER, LOVE & BASKETBALL). In an insightful conversation, Ruth shares how she integrated 3D printing into the design and production of costumes for BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER and how she collaborates with the visual effects department to...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 38 - PATRICK TRESCH - CINEMATOGRAPHER Team Deakins is happy to have cinematographer Patrick Tresch (MY ENGLISH COUSIN, DIRTY GOLD WAR, MOTHER LODE) on today's new episode of the podcast. We discuss gaining a documentary subject's trust in the early stages of a project and the difficulties of filming someone who intellectually agrees to be filmed but subconsciously resists. Patri...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 37 - PETER SARSGAARD - ACTOR Team Deakins is happy to host actor Peter Sarsgaard (THE BATMAN, BOYS DON'T CRY, JARHEAD) on today's new episode of the podcast. Peter shares the types of projects he prefers to work on and the different forms of direction he finds effective. We learn how he became involved in THE BATMAN, and he recounts the grueling six-day-long shoot he survived to...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 36 - STUART WILSON - SOUND MIXER - THE BATMAN Team Deakins is glad to welcome back sound mixer Stuart Wilson (THE BATMAN, THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, SPECTRE) to discuss his wonderful work on THE BATMAN. Stuart shares how his team used the film's costumes to their advantage when miking the actors, and we learn how they utilized Catwoman's wigs to hide mics when the catsuit often offe...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 35 - RUSSELL CARPENTER - CINEMATOGRAPHER Team Deakins speaks with cinematographer Russell Carpenter (TITANIC, TRUE LIES, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER) on this episode of the podcast. We dive headfirst into Russell's professional relationship with director James Cameron, beginning with a chance encounter at a local TV station that led to Russell working on some of the biggest movies...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 34 - CAROLINE THOMPSON - WRITER / DIRECTOR Team Deakins is happy to share our conversation with writer, director, and novelist Caroline Thompson (EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, BLACK BEAUTY, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS). We talk about the life of a screenwriter and the commitment Caroline demonstrated throughout her career. No other episode has featured this much discussion on animals...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 33 - STEVE NICOLAIDES - PRODUCER Team Deakins is pleased to share our conversation with producer Steve Nicolaides (BOYZ N THE HOOD, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, A FEW GOOD MEN). We discuss the shell game that is building and balancing the budget for a film before and during production, and Steve shares his thoughts on the role of the producer in post-production. At the end of our conve...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 32 - KATE MCCULLOUGH - CINEMATOGRAPHER Team Deakins is pleased to share our conversation with the talented cinematographer Kate McCullough (THE QUIET GIRL, NORMAL PEOPLE, MONSTER). We talk with Kate about how she applies the skills she developed while shooting documentaries onto her narrative projects. We also dive into what she was looking for in locations and her strategies in...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 31 - KOKAYI AMPAH - LOCATION MANAGER Location manager Kokayi Ampah (THE COLOR PURPLE, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, MILLION DOLLAR BABY) reunites with Team Deakins and shares his wisdom gleaned from his long career. Kokayi answers our many questions and details both the creative and logistical day-to-day work that goes into location management. He also shares how he views the role a...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 30 - CHAYSE IRVIN - CINEMATOGRAPHER Team Deakins chats with the creative cinematographer Chayse Irvin (BLONDE,   BLACKKKLANSMEN, HANNAH) about filmmaking and his career. We discuss the benefits of preparing for a scene and then finding it on the day, and Chayse describes how he brings an audience into his work through his compositions. Chayse speaks on his ongoing collaboration...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 29 - BENJAMIN CARON - DIRECTOR Today, we're happy to share our lively and humorous conversation with director Benjamin Caron (SHARPER, ANDOR, THE CROWN). We discuss Ben's early TV movie TOMMY COOPER: NOT LIKE THAT, LIKE THIS and the challenges he overcame to make it, as well as a reflection on Tommy Cooper himself. We also dive into Ben's experience filming SHARPER and finding t...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 28 - BILLY WILLIAMS - CINEMATOGRAPHER Cinematographer Billy Williams, BSC (WOMEN IN LOVE, ON GOLDEN POND, GANDHI) has seen it all, and he's sharing a generous amount of that with us on today's episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. Billy reveals what it was like to work with the spirited and thoughtful Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda on ON GOLDEN POND as well as his thoughts on...

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 27 - ZAYNE AKYOL - DIRECTOR Team Deakins shares our conversation with director Zayne Akyol (ROJEK; GULISTAN, LAND OF ROSES). Having shot two feature-length documentaries in dangerous environments, Zayne reflects with Roger & James on the therapeutic limits of filmmaking and the unique life experiences presented to documentary filmmakers. She speaks on her collaboration with her...