The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Director Danny Strong discusses his new film, Rebel in the Rye, with fellow Director Richard Shepard. The film shines a light on the life of legendary author J.D. Salinger, detailing his relationship with socialite Oona O'Neill, his experiences in World War II, and the writing process for his best-known novel, The Catcher in the Rye.

Director Kenneth A. Carlson discusses his new film, The Heart of Nuba, with fellow Director Chuck Workman. The film covers the work of Dr. Tom Catena, who treats as many as 400 patients a day at Mother of Mercy Hospital as the region is bombed relentlessly by war criminal Omar Al Bashir.

Director Jeremy Kagan discusses his new film, Shot, with fellow Director Mick Jackson. The drama follows the immediate aftermath of a shooting as the victim, his wife and the emergency medical personnel fight for his life in the critical first hour. The film simultaneously shows the experiences of the teen shooter as he tries to avoid the consequences of his actions.

Director Darren Aronofsky discusses his new film, mother!, with fellow Director William Friedkin. The film tells the story of a young woman whose seemingly idyllic life is thrown into disarray when her husband invites strangers who claim to be fans of his work into their home. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem alongside Michelle Pfeiffer and Ed Harris.

Director Michael Apted discusses his new film, Unlocked, with fellow Director Martin Campbell. The film follows CIA agent Alice Racine, who is forced to live in London as a caseworker after failing to apprehend the terrorist behind an attack in Paris that claimed dozens of live. When she is unexpectedly called back into action by a mentor, she discovers an even greater threat in the form of a leth...

Director Matt Ruskin discusses his new film, Crown Heights, with fellow Director Gavin O'Connor. The film tells the true story of Colin Warner, a man wrongfully convicted of murder in 1980s Brooklyn. Convinced of his innocence, Colin's childhood friend, Carl King, spends the next two decades fighting for Colin's freedom and exposing the injustice of his incarceration.

Director Keith Maitland discusses his new film, Tower, with fellow Director Ondi Timoner. Told through archival footage combined with animation, the film recalls August 1st, 1966 when a gunman opened fire from the top floor of the iconic University of Texas tower.

Director Marti Noxon discusses her new film, To The Bone, with fellow Director Rick Rosenthal. The drama tells the story of Ellen, a 20-year-old anorexic who has failed at various recovery programs in the past. Desperate for a solution, her family sends her to a group home led by a non-traditional doctor, whose rules force Ellen to truly confront her addiction in order to find a path to survival.

Director Gillian Robespierre discusses her new film, Landline, with fellow Director Marielle Heller. The film tells the story of two sisters in 1990s New York City who suspect their father may be having an affair. They set out to discover the truth without tipping off their mother.

Director Kathryn Bigelow discusses her new film, Detroit, with fellow Director Paris Barclay. The film recounts what happened when misconduct by those charged with upholding the law resulted in the beating of several innocent people and the deaths of three unarmed black men.

Director Bertrand Tavernier discusses his new film, My Journey Through French Cinema, with fellow Director Chuck Workman. The film follows Mr. Tavernier's half-century-long love affair with film that began when he was just a boy. Supported by his formidable knowledge on the subject, he details both the giants of his native cinema as well as some frequently overlooked contributors in a film of both...

Director Matt Reeves discusses his new film, War for the Planet of the Apes, with fellow Director Drew Goddard. The third installment in the Planet of the Apes franchise reboot finds Caesar leading a colony of apes who are forced into a struggle with an army of humans who want to destroy them.

Director Edgar Wright discusses his new film, Baby Driver, with fellow Director Christopher Nolan. The film tells the story of a young getaway driver named Baby who meets the girl of his dream. Hoping to leave his criminal life behind, he is coerced into one last getaway job. But when things go awry, all of his skills will be put to the test if he has any hope of survival.

Director Benny Boom discusses his new film, All Eyez on Me, with fellow Director Jeff Byrd. The film tells the story of Tupac Shakur, the prolific rapper, actor, poet and activist. The feature film charts his meteoric rise and ultimate transformation into a cultural icon before his untimely death at the age of 25.

Director Erik Poppe discusses his new film, The King's Choice, with fellow Director Victoria Hochberg. The film tells the story of King Haakon VII during three days in 1940 when he faced a moral decision about whether or not to cooperate with the invading German Army. Although outnumbered and facing almost certain defeat, Norwegians, following their King's choice, broke all rules of international...

Director Robin Swicord discusses her new film Wakefield with fellow Director Lesli Linka Glatter. Wakefield was adapted from an E.L. Doctorow short story about a suburban lawyer with a loving wife and family. Though outwardly successful and happy, his inner feelings of suffocation lead Howard to snap and disappear without a trace. Hiding in his own garage attic, he survives by scavenging at night...

Director Patty Jenkins discusses her new film Wonder Woman with fellow Director Richard Donner. The film tells the story of Diana, princess of the Amazons, who travels on an adventure after an American pilot suddenly crashes on the shore of her island and tells of a war to end all wars raging in Europe. Convinced she can stop the threat, she leaves home to fulfill her destiny.

Director Matthew Heineman discusses his new film City of Ghosts with fellow Director Chuck Workman. The film tells the story of the Syrian citizen journalist collective, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, who banded together to reveal the truth about the ISIS occupation of the city of Raqqa.

Director Bette Gordon discusses her new film The Drowning with fellow Director Maggie Greenwald. The film follows child psychologist Tom Seymour who spots a young man trying to commit suicide by jumping off a pier. After rescuing him from the water, Tom realizes he and the young man have met before and their present situation is no mere coincidence.

Director Elliott Lester discusses his new film, Aftermath, with fellow Director Gregory Plotkin. Inspired by actual events, the film tells a story of guilt and revenge when a devastating plane crash causes two men's lives to be inseparably bound together.

Director Werner Herzog discusses his film, Salt and Fire, and prolific career with fellow director Kevin Smith. The film follows a scientific delegation who, after being tasked by the U.N. with investigating an ecogical disaster in South America, is kidnapped by the CEO of the Corporation responsible for the problem.

Director Terry George discusses his new film The Promise with fellow Director Tony Gilroy. The film tells the story of a love triangle between Mikael, a brilliant medical student, Ana, a dance instructor, and Chris, an American photojournalist during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire and during the Armenian genocide.

Director James Gray discusses his new film, The Lost City of Z, with fellow director Matt Reeves. The film tells the incredible true story of Col. Percival Fawcett, a British explorer who discovers evidence of an advanced civilization deep in the Amazonian jungle in the early 20th century. Though ridiculed by his peers, Fawcett and his followers return to the jungle in an attempt to prove his case...

Director Charlie McDowell discusses his new film, The Discovery, with fellow director Zal Batmanglij. The film examines the near future where a doctor discovers scientific evidence of an afterlife, an announcement that causes people to commit suicide in droves. While people search for meaning in the life they inhabit, the doctor's son falls for a troubled woman.

Director Niki Caro discusses her film The Zookeeper's Wife with fellow director Lesli Linka Glatter. The film stars Jessica Chastain as Antonina Zabinska, who runs the Warsaw Zoo alongside her husband Jan in 1939. When their peaceful lives are threatened after their zoo is razed during the German occupation of Poland, the Zabinskis find themselves creating elaborate plans to save hundreds of Jews...