The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast
Brought to you by the Directors Guild of America, ”The Director’s Cut” will bring you the behind-the-scenes stories of today’s most talked about films. Each episode features a different director interviewed by one of their peers, leading to revealing conversations about the grueling, but rewarding process of bringing their films to life.
Episodes

Wednesday Aug 28, 2019
Blinded by the Light with Gurinder Chadha and Catherine Hardwicke (Ep. 216)
Wednesday Aug 28, 2019
Wednesday Aug 28, 2019
Director Gurinder Chadha discusses her film, Blinded by the Light, with fellow director Catherine Hardwicke. The film tells the story of Javed, a British teen of Pakistani descent growing up in 1987 England amidst the racial and economic turmoil of the Thatcher era. He writes poetry to escape the intolerance of his hometown and the inflexibility of his traditional father, but when a classmate introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteen, "The Boss," his world is turned upside down.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Sept2019/BlindedByTheLight_QnA_0819.aspx

Friday Aug 23, 2019
Friday Aug 23, 2019
Director Quentin Tarantino discusses his film, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, with fellow director Paul Thomas Anderson. Set in Los Angeles during the waning years of Hollywood's Golden Age, the film weaves together multiple storylines, following fading television actor Rick Dalton, his stunt double Cliff Booth, and his neighbor Sharon Tate during the months leading up to one fateful night in August 1969.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Oct2019/Tarantino_OnceUponATimeInHollywood_QnA_0919.aspx

Friday Aug 16, 2019
The Kitchen with Andrea Berloff and Lisa Cholodenko (Ep. 214)
Friday Aug 16, 2019
Friday Aug 16, 2019
Director Andrea Berloff discusses her film, The Kitchen, with fellow director Lisa Cholodenko. The film tells the story of three Hell's Kitchen housewives whose mobster husbands are sent to prison by the FBI in 1978. Forces to take matters into their own hands, the women prove to be unexpectedly adept at mob life -- running the gangs and taking out the competition.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Sept2019/TheKitchen_QnA_0819.aspx

Friday Aug 09, 2019
Sword of Trust with Lynn Shelton and Jake Kasdan (Ep. 213)
Friday Aug 09, 2019
Friday Aug 09, 2019
Director Lynn Shelton discusses her film, Sword of Trust, with fellow director Jake Kasdan. The film tells the story of Cynthia, who learns that her inheritance from her deceased grandfather is an antique sword that he believed was proof that the South won the Civil War. To sell the sword, Cynthia and her friend Mary team up with a cantankerous pawnshop owner and his man-child employee, who've discovered there's a market for the relic.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Sept2019/SwordOfTrust_QnA_0719.aspx

Wednesday Jul 31, 2019
The Lion King with Jon Favreau and Sam Raimi (Ep. 212)
Wednesday Jul 31, 2019
Wednesday Jul 31, 2019
Director Jon Favreau discusses his film, The Lion King, with fellow director Sam Raimi. A photorealistic remake of the 1994 animated film, the film follows lion prince Simba, the son of King Mufasa of Pride Rock. When Mufasa's death at the hands of his brother Scar results in SImba's exile (and Scar's ascension to the throne), Simba must make new friends, grow up and battle Scar to take back what is rightfully his.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Sept2019/LionKing_QnA_0719.aspx

Friday Jul 12, 2019
The Cold Blue with Erik Nelson and Sandra Luckow (Ep. 211)
Friday Jul 12, 2019
Friday Jul 12, 2019
Director Erik Nelson discusses her film, The Cold Blue, with fellow director Sandra Luckow. The film uses newly restored 4K footage and outtakes from DGA and Oscar-winning director William Wyler's 1944 documentary about the European air war during WWII, The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress, as well as narration from surviving B-17 pilots to pay tribute to both Wyler and the men of the Eighth Air Force.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/August2019/NYDocSeries_TheColdBlue.aspx

Friday Jun 28, 2019
A Dog’s Journey with Gail Mancuso and Anne Fletcher (Ep. 210)
Friday Jun 28, 2019
Friday Jun 28, 2019
Director Gail Mancuso discusses her film, A Dog's Journey, with fellow director Anne Fletcher. In the sequel to Lasse Hallström's 2017 feature, A Dog's Purpose, the film brings back the continually reincarnated dog and follows his adventures through multiple lives filled with love, friendship and devotion to his human family.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/July2019/A_Dogs_Journey_QnA_0619.aspx

Friday Jun 21, 2019
Trial by Fire with Edward Zwick and Max Winkler (Ep. 209)
Friday Jun 21, 2019
Friday Jun 21, 2019
Director Edward Zwick discusses his film, Trial by Fire, with fellow director Max Winkler. The film tells the tragic and true story of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was convicted of an arson-related triple homicide in 1992. During his 12 years on death row, he forms an unlikely bond with Elizabeth Gilbert, a Houston playwright who battles with the state to expose suppressed evidence that could save him.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/July2019/TrialByFire_QnA_0519.aspx

Friday Jun 07, 2019
Booksmart with Olivia Wilde and Nicole Holofcener (Ep. 208)
Friday Jun 07, 2019
Friday Jun 07, 2019
Director Olivia Wilde discusses her film, Booksmart, with fellow director Nicole Holofcener. The film follows, Molly and Amy, two overachieving high school seniors who try to make up for their all work and no play attitude by cramming four years' worth of partying into the night before graduation.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/July2019/Booksmart_QnA_0619.aspx

Friday Jun 07, 2019
Wine Country with Amy Poehler and Nisha Ganatra (Ep. 207)
Friday Jun 07, 2019
Friday Jun 07, 2019
Director Amy Poehler discusses her film, Wine Country, with fellow director Nisha Ganatra. The film tells the story of six longtime friends who take a scenic Napa getaway to relax and reconnect during a 50th birthday celebration. But when the alcohol flows, tensions from the past boil over and the women begin questioning their friendships and futures.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/July2019/WineCountry_QnA_0519.aspx

Friday May 31, 2019
Long Shot with Jonathan Levine and Ruben Fleischer (Ep. 206)
Friday May 31, 2019
Friday May 31, 2019
Director Jonathan Levine discusses his film, Long Shot, with fellow director Ruben Fleischer. The film tells the childhood crush, Charlotte, now one of the most influential women in the world. After Fred is hired to be a speechwriter on Charlotte's Presidential campaign, sparks fly and their chemistry leads to a romance, even though on the surface the two have nothing in common
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/June2019/LongShot_QnA_0519.aspx

Friday May 31, 2019
Breakthrough with Roxann Dawson and Allan Arkush (Ep. 205)
Friday May 31, 2019
Friday May 31, 2019
Director Roxann Dawson discusses her film, Breakthrough, with fellow director Allan Arkush. The film tells the true story of how all hope seemed lost after Smith's adopted son, John, fell into an icy Missouri lake and afterwards lay lifeless in a hospital. Even in the face of every scientific prediction and medical case history, Smith's refusal to give up and steadfast belief inspired those around her to continue to pray for John's recovery.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/June2019/Breakthrough_QnA_0419.aspx

Friday May 24, 2019
Little with Tina Gordon and Tina Mabry (Ep. 204)
Friday May 24, 2019
Friday May 24, 2019
Director Tina Gordon discusses his film, Little, with fellow director Tina Mabry. The film tells the story of tech mogul Jordan Sanders, who awakens one morning in her 13-year-old body. With only her long-suffering assistant in on the secret and do-or-die presentation on the line, Jordan must find a way to navigate through her new situation and learn how her ruthless approach to life affects the people around her.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/June2019/TinaGordon_Little_QnA_0419.aspx

Friday May 17, 2019
The Best of Enemies with Robin Bissell and Hart Bochner (Ep. 203)
Friday May 17, 2019
Friday May 17, 2019
Director Robin Bissell discusses his film, The Best of Enemies, with fellow director Hart Bochner. The film tells the true story of how civil rights activist Ann Atwater and Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan C.P. Ellis came together to co-chair a community summit on the desegregation of schools in Durham, North Carolina during the summer of 1971, and how the events that unfolded would change their lives forever.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/June2019/BestOfEnemies_QnA_0419.aspx

Wednesday May 08, 2019
Avengers: Endgame with Anthony & Joe Russo and Todd Holland (Ep. 202)
Wednesday May 08, 2019
Wednesday May 08, 2019
Directors Anthony & Joe Russo discuss their film, Avengers: Endgame, with fellow director Todd Holland. The film takes place directly after the events of the previous film, Avengers: Infinity War, and follows the superhero team and their allies as they assemble one final time to undo Thanos' destruction and restore their devastated universe.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/June2019/AvengersEG_QnA_0519.aspx

Friday May 03, 2019
The Great Buster with Peter Bogdanovich and Chuck Workman (Ep. 201)
Friday May 03, 2019
Friday May 03, 2019
Director Peter Bogdanovich discusses his film, The Great Buster, with fellow director Chuck Workman. The film chronicles the life and works of the influential filmmaker and comedian Buster Keaton. Interspersed with interviews with collaborators, filmmakers, performers and friends, the film examines Keaton's career as the director, writer, producer and star of his own films; as well as the loss of artistic independence and career decline that marked his later years.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/May2019/0419-DocSeries_GreatBuster.aspx

Thursday Apr 18, 2019
The Highwaymen with John Lee Hancock and Lawrence Kasdan (Ep. 200)
Thursday Apr 18, 2019
Thursday Apr 18, 2019
Director John Lee Hancock discusses his film, The Highwaymen, with fellow director Lawrence Kasdan. The film concentrates on the other side of the Bonnie and Clyde saga, telling their true story of Frank Hamer and Maney Gault – former Texas Rangers who are coaxed out of retirement to end the Barrow gang’s murderous run when even the full force of the FBI isn’t enough to capture the nation’s most notorious criminals.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/May2019/Highwaymen_QnA_0419.aspx

Friday Apr 12, 2019
Friday Apr 12, 2019
Director Beth McCarthy-Miller moderates The Science of Laughter: An Evening with the Directing Team from The Big Bang Theory featuring Director Mark Cendrowski, Director/Line Producer Kristy Cecil, Director/Editor Peter Chakos, Director/Associate Director Gay Linvill, Director/2nd AD Nikki Lorre and Director/1st AD Anthony Rich.
The discussion covers a variety of topics including the demands of single vs multi-camera shows, the benefits of working on a show with such a long-running history, and the scenes that terrified the directors when they read the script.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/April2019/BigBangTheory-_Event_0219.aspx

Friday Apr 05, 2019
The Brink with Alison Klayman and Kristi Jacobson (Ep. 198)
Friday Apr 05, 2019
Friday Apr 05, 2019
Director Alison Klayman discusses her film, The Brink, with fellow director Kristi Jacobson. The film follows political consultant and former Trump administration chief strategist Steve Bannon on his global mission to spread extreme nationalism, tracking his moves through the 2018 American mid-term elections and shedding light on his efforts to mobilize and unify far right parties around the world.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/May2019/NYDocSeries_TheBrink.aspx

Monday Apr 01, 2019
Triple Frontier with J.C. Chandor and Tony Gilroy (Ep. 197)
Monday Apr 01, 2019
Monday Apr 01, 2019
Director J.C. Chandor discusses his film, Triple Frontier, with fellow director Tony Gilroy. The film tells the story of five former Special Forces operatives who reunite to rob a cocaine cartel boss in a sparsely populated multi-border zone of South America. When events take an unexpected turn and threaten to spiral out of control, their skills, their loyalties, and their morals are pushed to a breaking point in an epic battle for survival.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/May2019/TripleFrontier_QnA_0319.aspx

The Director's Cut
Formed in 1936 to protect the economic and creative rights of Hollywood film Directors, the Directors Guild of America has been committed to upholding those core values ever since. A longstanding tradition of the Guild is for its members to share the knowledge of their craft with future generations, so through The Director’s Cut we bring insights from some of today’s best Directors to you.
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