The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

The Trial of The Chicago 7 with Director Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher (Ep. 276)

Director Aaron Sorkin discusses his new film, The Trial of the Chicago 7, with fellow director David Fincher in a spoiler-filled virtual Q&A. The film recounts the infamous and unfair trial of seven political activists after a peaceful protest turned into a violent clash with the police at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

The Little Things with Director John Lee Hancock and Karyn Kusama (Ep. 275)

Director John Lee Hancock discusses his new film, The Little Things, with fellow director Karyn Kusama in a spoiler-filled virtual Q&A. The film follows Deputy Sheriff Joe "Deke" Deacon, who joins forces with Sgt. Jim Baxter to search for a serial killer terrorizing Los Angeles. The investigation uncovers disturbing secrets from Deacon’s past that could threaten more than the case.

The Craft of the Director with Bong Joon Ho (Ep. 274)

Director Bong Joon Ho participates in a conversation with Rian Johnson on Director Bong's beginnings in the industry, how his early life informs his voice, and what guides him in his collaboration with actors. Director Bong discusses his directing process drawing examples from Parasite, Memories of a Murder, Mother, The Host, and Snowpiercer.

One Night in Miami with Director Regina King and Barry Jenkins (Ep. 273)

Director Regina King discusses her new film, One Night in Miami, with fellow director Barry Jenkins in a spoiler-filled virtual Q&A. Newly-crowned Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World Cassius Clay gathers with activist Malcolm X, singer Sam Cooke and actor/athlete Jim Brown — for an historic evening where they shared their thoughts about the social pressures brought on by their celebrity and moving the country forward to equality and empowerment for all black people.

Da 5 Bloods with Director Spike Lee and Kevin Willmott (Ep. 272)

Director Spike Lee discusses his new film, Da 5 Bloods, with fellow director Kevin Willmott in a spoiler-filled virtual Q&A. The film follows four African-American veterans, who battle the forces of both man and nature when they return to Vietnam, seeking the remains of their fallen squad leader and the gold fortune he helped them hide.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm with Director Jason Woliner and Phil Lord (Ep. 271)

Director Jason Woliner discusses his new film, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, with fellow director Phil Lord in a spoiler-filled virtual Q&A. Released from prison for bringing shame to his country, Kazakh funnyman Borat risks life and limb when he returns to America with his 15-year-old daughter.

On the Rocks with Director Sofia Coppola and Alexander Payne (Ep. 270)

Director Sofia Coppola discusses her new film, On the Rocks, with fellow director Alexander Payne in a spoiler-filled virtual Q&A. In the film, a young mother reconnects with her larger-than-life playboy father on an adventure through New York.

The Midnight Sky with Director George Clooney and Scott Cooper (Ep. 269)

Director George Clooney discusses his new film, The Midnight Sky, with fellow director Scott Cooper in a spoiler-filled virtual Q&A. In this post-apocalyptic tale, a lonely scientist in the Arctic races to stop astronauts from returning home to Earth after a mysterious global catastrophe has occurred.

Spotlight on Director Beth McCarthy-Miller (Ep. 268)

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 Abishola.

Spotlight on Director Julie Dash (Ep. 267)

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.

The Craft of the Director with Spike Lee (Ep. 266)

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.

The Craft of the Director with Ang Lee (Ep. 265)

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.

The Craft of the Director with Ava Duvernay (Ep. 264)

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.

The Craft of the Director with Mimi Leder (Ep. 263)

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.

The Craft of the Director with Judd Apatow (Ep. 262)

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.

A Conversation with Episodic Television Directors (Ep. 261)

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 stating out, what keeps them going during the COVID-19 pandemic-inspired production hiatus and how they expect their work and their process might change in the future.

A Conversation with the Women Behind Watchmen (Ep. 260)

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 moderated by Kassell and DGA Fourth Vice President Laura Belsey.

The Craft of the Director with Ron Howard Part 2 (Ep. 259)

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.

The Craft of the Director with Ron Howard Part 1 (Ep. 258)

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.

Hillary with Nanette Burstein and Rebecca Cammisa (Ep. 257)

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.