The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Steal This Story, Please! with Carl Deal, Tia Lessin, Amy Goodman and Ondi Timoner (Ep. 606)

Directors Carl Deal, Tia Lessin and the film’s subject, Amy Goodman discuss their new film, Steal This Story, Please!, with fellow Director Ondi Timoner in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, the filmmakers discuss the structure of the film as a way to get to know Amy before her work, how the filmmakers originally met Amy, and the relevance of Democracy Now! in a modern corporate news landscape.
Screened as part of the DGA’s Documentary Series, the film follows Goodman as she becomes a leader in the movement for independent media. Set against some of the most consequential stories of our time, Goodman works to amplify voices excluded from the mainstream and faces off against forces trying to silence her.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/april2026/docseries_stealthisstoryplease-0326

Scream 7 with Kevin Williamson and Paul Feig (Ep. 605)

Director Kevin Williamson discusses his new film, Scream 7, with fellow Director Paul Feig in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how the original concept of Scream came to be, how he balanced horror and comedy to establish the tone, and the importance and careful use of score needed to maintain the film’s tension.
In the newest installment of the Scream franchise, original victim Sidney Prescott hopes to reinvent her life in a different town. But when a new killer emerges, her darkest fears are realized as her daughter becomes his prized target.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/april2026/scream7_qna_0326

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man with Tom Harper and Mary Harron (Ep. 604)

Director Tom Harper discusses his new film, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, with fellow Director Mary Harron in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses working with Actor Cillian Murphy, how making a Peaky Blinders film differed from an episode of the series, and working closely with his composer to find a soundtrack befitting the tone.
A sequel to the award-winning television series Peaky Blinders, the film follows Tommy Shelby as he returns from exile to a post-World War II Birmingham. With unsettled business and his future at stake, he must face his demons and choose whether to confront his legacy or burn it to the ground.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/april2026/peakyblinders_qna_0326

How to Make a Killing with John Patton Ford and Kobi Libii (Ep. 603)

Director John Patton Ford discusses his new film, How to Make a Killing, with fellow Director Kobi Libii in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses inspirations and early iterations of the film, managing the tone as over-the-top events happening in a grounded and believable world, and the importance of sound design to the construction of the film.
Loosely inspired by the 1949 feature Kind Hearts and Coronets, the film tells the story of Becket Redfellow, a blue collar worker disowned by his wealthy relatives. Determined to reclaim his inheritance, he launches a campaign of manipulation, betrayal and calculated violence to eliminate everyone standing between him and the fortune.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/april2026/how2makeakilling_qna_0226

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die with Gore Verbinski and Sacha Gervasi (Ep. 602)

Director Gore Verbinski discusses his new film, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, with fellow Director Sacha Gervasi in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how he wanted to approach the story with a modern take on AI, how Actor Sam Rockwell’s costume was made from scrap technology found in surplus stores, and finding a delicate balance for the film's tone in between apocalyptic, comedic and irreverent.
The film follows a man, allegedly from the future, who arrives at a Los Angeles diner and takes the patrons hostage. Claiming they are the precise combination of strangers he needs, he convinces them to join a quest to save the world from a rogue artificial intelligence.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/april2026/goodluckhavefundontdie_qna_0226

Wuthering Heights with Emerald Fennell and J.J. Abrams (Ep. 601)

Director Emerald Fennell discusses her new film, Wuthering Heights, with fellow Director J.J. Abrams in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses her approach to adapting the original text, working with her Production Design team to create surreal landscapes and environments reminiscent of human features, and collaborating with musical artist Charli XCX to create a soundtrack for the film.
Based on the novel by Emily Brontë, the film follows the impoverished Heathcliffe and the wealthy Catherine, two young lovers hailing from different social classes. After Catherine marries someone else and Heathcliffe disappears in despair, years pass and he returns with mysterious wealth and nefarious intentions.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/april2026/wutheringheights_qna_0226

Meet the 2026 Nominees for Theatrical Feature Film - Part 2 of 2 (Ep. 600)

Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Ryan Coogler (Sinners), Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme) and Chloé Zhao (Hamnet) engage in a conversation with moderator Jeremy Kagan for the 35th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film Symposium.
Please note: spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2026/March2026/MTN_TheatricalFeatureFilm2026

Meet the 2026 Nominees for Theatrical Feature Film - Part 1 of 2 (Ep. 599)

Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Ryan Coogler (Sinners), Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme) and Chloé Zhao (Hamnet) engage in a conversation with moderator Jeremy Kagan for the 35th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film Symposium.
Please note: spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2026/March2026/MTN_TheatricalFeatureFilm2026

The Housemaid with Paul Feig and Lesli Linka Glatter (Ep. 598)

Director Paul Feig discusses his new film, The Housemaid, with fellow Director Lesli Linka Glatter in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses the intentional casting of Actors Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney opposite one another, finding the house that served as the main location and how its architecture led to the discovery of scenes, and balancing the film’s tone between comedy and drama to give breathing room for heavier aspects of the film.
The film tells the story of Millie, who accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for a wealthy couple as a way of trying to put her troubled past behind her. But what begins as a dream job quickly unravels into something far more dangerous — a seductive game of secrets, scandal, and power.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/february2026/housemaid_qna_1225

Is This Thing On? with Bradley Cooper and Bennett Miller (Ep. 597)

Director Bradley Cooper discusses his new film, Is This Thing On?, with fellow Director Bennett Miller in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses the true story circumstances that inspired the film, how he envisioned and cast Will Arnett and Laura Dern in the leading roles, and utilizing his cinematography to emphasize the vulnerability of performing stand up comedy.
The film tells the story of Alex, a middle aged man facing a divorce, who finds new purpose in the New York comedy scene. As he pursues comedy, his wife, Tess, confronts the sacrifices made for their family, forcing them both to navigate co-parenting and their changing identities.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/february2026/isthisthingon_qna_1225

Song Sung Blue with Craig Brewer and Taylor Hackford (Ep. 596)

Director Craig Brewer discusses his new film, Song Sung Blue, with fellow Director Taylor Hackford in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how he cast Actors Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson for the lead roles, his care in handling a film that frequently changes tones, and getting the blessing from Neil Diamond to make the film.
Based on a true story, the film follows Mike and Claire Sardina, a Milwaukee couple who form the Neil Diamond tribute act Lightning and Thunder. Riding the highs and lows of success, the couple prove it’s never too late to find love and follow your dreams.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/songsungblue_qna_1225

The Testament of Ann Lee with Mona Fastvold and Darius Marder (Ep. 595)

Director Mona Fastvold discusses her new film, The Testament of Ann Lee, with fellow Director Darius Marder in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, she discusses how her background in movement and dance contributed to the choreography, the logistics of shooting the barn burning scene, and how she aimed to show authentic moments of womanhood to sympathize with the journey of Ann Lee.
Based on real events, the film follows Ann Lee, who hopes to create a utopian society in the 18th century. Proclaimed as the female Christ by her followers, Lee suffers persecution as she forges the radical religious movement that would go on to become the Shakers.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/testamentofannlee_qna_1225

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery with Rian Johnson and Jon Watts (Ep. 594)

Director Rian Johnson discusses his new film, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, with fellow Director Jon Watts in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses finding and casting Actor Josh O’Connor, the effort behind crafting and lighting the sets, and how his relationship with faith influenced the film.
The film finds Blanc teaming up with an earnest young priest to investigate a perfectly impossible crime. When the leader of a small town church with a dark history dies from seemingly impossible circumstances, Blanc must discover who in the rogues gallery of his congregation committed the crime, and how.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/wakeupdeadman_qna_1225

Marty Supreme with Josh Safdie and Ben Affleck (Ep. 593)

Director Josh Safdie discusses his new film, Marty Supreme, with fellow Director Ben Affleck in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how he uses his casting process to select Actors that make every character feel like a fleshed-out person, his attention to minute details in recreating the time period and texture of 1950s New York, and the process of working with Actor Timothée Chalamet to capture an aggressively determined performance.
The film follows Marty Mauser, a cocky and ambitious shoe salesman who dreams of pursuing greatness. Using his table tennis skills to hustle his way towards the top, he quickly rises in the ranks with the singular goal of escaping his mundane life.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/february2026/martysupreme_qna_1225

Avatar: Fire and Ash with James Cameron and Guillermo del Toro (Ep. 592)

Director James Cameron discusses his new film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, with fellow Director Guillermo del Toro in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses his experiences of shooting in performance capture and how they compare to real-world shoots, coming up with the concept for the fire clan and the complex characters that stray from their expected alignments, and his own thoughts on capturing beauty in his films and advocating for the theatrical experience.
The third installment of the Avatar franchise continues the story of Jake and Neytiri’s family unit as they encounter a new, aggressive Na’vi tribe, the Ash People, led by the fiery Varang. When Varang forms an alliance with Jake’s nemesis, Colonel Quaritch, the conflict on Pandora escalates and a new moral focus emerges.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/avatarfirenash_qna_1125

Ella McCay with James L. Brooks and Albert Brooks (Ep. 591)

Director James L. Brooks discusses his new film, Ella McCay, with fellow Director Albert Brooks in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses his process of casting and how he found Actor Emma Mackey for the lead role, shares how he works with his Cinematographers and Actors, and takes time to reflect on his storied career and history with Albert Brooks.
The film tells the story of Ella, a young politician who suddenly becomes the governor of her state after the longtime incumbent accepts a cabinet position with the president. Trying to navigate this new rough and tumble realm of politics, she finds that her fractured family relationships may pose an even bigger challenge.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/ellamccay_qna_1225

Rental Family with Hikari and Nicole Holofcener (Ep. 590)

Director Hikari discusses her new film, Rental Family, with fellow Director Nicole Holofcener in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses working with Actor Brendan Frasier to capture a character out of their element, working with her Cinematographer to capture the beauty of Japan, and how she wanted to use this film to address the real life loneliness epidemic.
The film tells the story of Phillip, an actor struggling to find work and purpose in Tokyo. After discovering a company that hires actors to play a role in real people’s lives, he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds and rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the beauty of human connection.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/rentalfamily_qna_1125

I Was Born This Way with Daniel Junge, Sam Pollard and Jade Jenise Dixon (Ep. 589)

Directors Daniel Junge and Sam Pollard discusses their new film, I Was Born This Way, with fellow Director Jade Jenise Dixon in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they discuss trying to paint an honest, human portrait of Carl Bean, how they manage the collaborative directorial process in their creative partnership, and working with figures such as Lady Gaga, Billy Porter and Maxine Waters to investigate what the titular song means to them.
Screened as part of the DGA’s Documentary Series, the film tells the story of Carl Bean, who survived the oppression of racism and homophobia, and found his voice through a mainstream music career. But dissatisfied with his path to stardom, Bean chose a life of activism, founding LGBTQ+ and AIDS relief organizations to help underserved populations.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/docseries_iwasbornthisway-1125

Wicked: For Good with Jon M. Chu and Rob Marshall (Ep. 588)

Director Jon M. Chu discusses his new film, Wicked: For Good, with fellow Director Rob Marshall in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses the process of assembling the sequel having filmed both installments at the same time, how he chose to favor great Actor performances over interesting setups when they clashed, and how he strove to make the films relevant to the times.
The sequel to 2024’s Wicked resumes the story of Elphaba, the misunderstood Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the popular Good Witch of the North. As their unlikely friendship is tested by the Wizard’s regime, the arrival of a stranger from Kansas sparks a series of events that will change everyone’s lives for good.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/wicked4good_qna_1125

Nouvelle Vague with Richard Linklater and Jason Reitman (Ep. 587)

Director Richard Linklater discusses his new film, Nouvelle Vague, with fellow Director Jason Reitman in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses the challenges of making a French film without being fluent in the language, how he recreated the shooting of the original Breathless by researching the documentation left behind by the original production, and the clever and subtle use of visual effects to recreate the film’s time period.
The film tells the story of a young Jean-Luc Godard, who gives up writing for a French film magazine to make movies himself. With help from François Truffaut to write a treatment and assistance from Georges de Beauregard to fund the feature, Godard brings to life his vision for a film called Breathless.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/nouvellevague_qna_1125