The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Director Beth McCarthy-Miller participates in a conversation with Shanta Fripp and Sarah Brooke on McCarthy-Miller's career as a filmmaker. She shares details from behind the scenes of her career including directing live television titles such as Saturday Night Live (for 11 years), the Super Bowl, The Sound of Music Live and half-hour comedies like 30 Rock, Veep, Modern Family, and Bob Hearts Abis...

Director Julie Dash participates in a conversation with Melina Matsoukas on Dash's career as a filmmaker. She shares details from behind the scenes of her films (Daughters of the Dust, Travel Notes of Geechee Girl, The Rosa Parks Story) and talks about her desire to present narratives with authenticity.

Director Spike Lee participates in a conversation with John Turturro on Lee's early life and influences, his philosophy as a creative, and his beloved Brooklyn. Mr. Lee discusses his directing process using examples from Do the Right Thing, Mo Better Blues, Crooklyn, and Malcolm X.

Director Ang Lee engages in an in-depth conversation with Jeremy Kagan about his filmography and his philosophy regarding craft. Mr. Lee discusses his directing process using examples from Brokeback Mountain, Lust, Caution, and Life of Pi.

Director Ava Duvernay engages in an in-depth conversation with Alex Stapleton about her filmography and her philosophy regarding craft. Ms. Duvernay discusses her directing process using examples from When They See Us, Selma, and Queen Sugar.

Director Mimi Leder engages in an in-depth conversation with Jeremy Kagan about her filmography and the lessons she's learned over her career. Ms. Leder discusses her directing process using examples from The Leftovers, On the Basis of Sex, and The Peacemaker.

Director Judd Apatow engages in an in-depth conversation with Jeremy Kagan about his filmography and the lessons he's learned over his career. The two discussed his philosophy on directing comedies, the difficulty of cutting scenes from his movies, and how he is able to bring his features in on budget.

Michelle MacLaren, David Nutter, Ken Whittingham, and Jessica Yu, participated in a lively conversation moderated by DGA Past President Paris Barclay, where they delved into who and what inspires them to continue topping themselves artistically on series such as The Morning Show, Game of Thrones, Atypical, Fosse/Verdon and Station 19. Topics of discussion included who they admired when first stati...

This episode features an exclusive panel discussion with the directing team of the HBO limited series, Watchmen, presented by the DGA Eastern Directors Council’s Focus on Women Committee. Director Nicole Kassell, Director Steph Green, Actor Regina King, Producer/UPM Karen Lee Wacker, and 1st ADs Keri Bruno and Kayse Goodell met to discuss their experiences of crafting Watchmen in a conversation mo...

Director Ron Howard engages in an in-depth conversation with Jeremy Kagan about his filmography and the lessons he's learned over his career. The two discussed how blocking can improve a scene that lacks vigor, technical and craft-oriented concerns of A Beautiful Mind, and Apollo 13, and why Mr. Howard hates shooting endings.

Director Ron Howard engages in an in-depth conversation with Jeremy Kagan about his filmography and the lessons he's learned over his career. The two discussed building relationships with collaborators, when he knows he's got the right shot, and directing difficult scenes in movies like Cocoon.

Director Nanette Burstein discusses her new documentary film, Hillary, with fellow director Rebecca Cammisa. Over four episodes, the series uses never-before seen footage from Hillary Rodham Clinton's historic presidential campaign in 2016, weaving together biographical chapters of her life to reveal how she became one of most admired and vilified women in the world.

Director Leigh Whannell discusses his new film, The Invisible Man, with fellow director David F. Sandberg. A modern update to the classic sci-fi-thriller, the film tells the story of Cecilia, who begins to suspect that the suicide of her abusive ex - a wealthy and brilliant scientist - was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences begin to threaten the lives of those she loves, Cecilia must convin...

Director Autumn de Wilde discusses her new film, Emma, with fellow director Mike Mills. Adapted from the Jane Austen novel, the film tells the story of Emma Woodhouse, a well-meaning but selfish young woman who meddles in the love lives of her friends while venturing through her won romantic missteps in a small town in 1800s England.

Director Jeff Wadlow discusses his new film, Fantasy Island, with fellow director Christopher Landon. Set on the mythical tropical resort where dreams can come true, the film shifts into nightmare territory as the guests of the enigmatic Mr. Roarke must solve the island's mystery in order to escape with their lives.

Director Nat Faxon & Jim Rash discusses their new film, Downhill, with fellow director Jenna Ricker. Inspired by Ruben Östlund's 2014 feature Force Majeure, Downhill follows a married couple who are forced to reevaluate their relationship after barely escaping an avalanche during a family ski vacation in the Alps. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Ap...

Director Rashaad Ernesto Green discusses his new film, Premature, with fellow director Dawn Wilkinson. Set in a hot summer in Harlem, Green's film tells the story of 17-year-old poet Ayanna who is drawn into a relationship with Isaiah, a young music producer who moves to the city just as Ayanna is about to leave for college. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/...

Sam Mendes, Bong Joon Ho, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Taika Waititi engage in a conversation with Jeremy Kagan for the 29th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film Symposium on their nominated films. Part three shares the nominees' thoughts on working with actors and the lessons they learned on their movie.

Sam Mendes, Bong Joon Ho, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Taika Waititi engage in a conversation moderated by Jeremy Kagan for the 29th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film Symposium on their nominated films. Part two shares the nominees' thoughts on dealing with anxiety, how they tackle pre-production issues, and the language they use to adjust an actor's performance.

Sam Mendes, Bong Joon Ho, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Taika Waititi engage in a conversation moderated by Jeremy Kagan for the 29th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film Symposium on their nominated films. Part one shares the nominees' thoughts on where they like to be on set when directing and share details about shooting the openings and closings of their film.

Director Jon Avnet discusses his new film, Three Christs, with fellow director Rodrigo García. The film follows a Michigan psychiatrist as he treats three paranoid schizophrenic patients, each of whom believes that he is Jesus Christ. Please note spoilers are included. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/March2020/JonAvnet_discusses_ThreeChrists_QnA_0120.a...

Director Pedro Almodóvar discusses his new film, Pain and Glory, with fellow director Kenneth Lonergan. This deeply personal film from Spain tells the story of Salvador Mallo, a depressed director who is thinking of leaving filmmaking because of chronic health problems. A series of encounters, both real and remembered, leads Mallo to reflect on the choices he's made. Please note spoilers are inclu...

Director Mati Diop discusses her new film, Atlantics, with fellow director Michael Almereyda. Set in the outskirts of Dakar on Senegal's Atlantic coast, the film tells the story of a young woman who is in love with a construction worker, but is already promised to another man. After the construction worker is lost at sea and the devastated woman prepares to go through with her original wedding, st...

Director Clint Eastwood discusses his new film, Richard Jewell, with fellow director Scott Cooper. The film tells the true story of Jewell, an American security guard who saved thousands of lives from an exploding bomb at the 1996 Olympics. But his life starts to unravel when he becomes the FBI's prime suspect in the bombing attempt and is vilified by press and public alike. Please note spoilers a...

Director Destin Daniel Cretton discusses his new film, Just Mercy, with fellow director Anna Boden. Based on a true story, the film follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson's effort to overturn the murder conviction of Walter McMillian, who was sentenced to die for the murder of an 18-year-old girl despite ample evidence proving his innocence. Please note spoilers are included. See photos and a summar...