The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Director Paul Greengrass discusses his new film, News of the World, with fellow director John Madden in a spoiler-filled virtual Q&A. Set five years after the end of the Civil War, the film follows a veteran who sets out to return a 10-year-old girl to her family after she is taken by the Kiowa people. Their journey across the harsh plains of Texas soon turns into a fight for survival as the traveling companions encounter danger at every turn.

Director George C. Wolfe discusses his new film, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, with fellow director George C. Wolfe in a spoiler-filled virtual Q&A. Based on August Wilson’s Tony Award-winning play, the film captures the tensions and temperatures that rise over the course of an afternoon recording session in 1920s Chicago with the legendary “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey.

Director Fisher Stevens discusses his new film, Palmer, with fellow director Kenneth Lonergan in a spoiler-filled virtual Q&A. The film tells the story of former high-school football star Eddie Palmer, who has returned to his Louisiana hometown to rebuild his life after 12 years in prison.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.