The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

The King with Eugene Jarecki and Marilyn Agrelo (Ep. 152)

Director Eugene Jarecki discusses his film, The King, with fellow director Marilyn Agrelo. The King explores the legacy of Elvis Presley forty years after his death by taking viewers on a musical road trip across America in his 1963 Rolls Royce during the 2016 presidential election.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Sept2018/NYDocSeries_TheKing.aspx

Crazy Rich Asians with Jon M. Chu and Jon Turteltaub (Ep. 151)

Director Jon M. Chu discusses his film, Crazy Rich Asians, with fellow director Jon Turteltaub. Adapted from the bestselling novel by Kevin Kwan, the film tells the story of Rachel, an American-born Chinese professor, who travels to Singapore to accompany her boyfriend Nick to his best friend's wedding. She soon discovers that Nick is from a family so wealthy that he is considered one of the most eligible bachelors in Asia, which puts a target on Rachel's back as she meets his family and attempts to navigate his ultra-rarefied social class.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Oct2018/0818_QnA_CrazyRichAsians.aspx

BlacKkKlansman with Spike Lee and John Singleton (Ep. 150)

Director Spike Lee discusses his film, BlacKkKlansman, with fellow director John Singleton. Set in the early 1970s amid the ongoing struggle for civil rights, the film tells the true story of Ron Stallworth, the first African-American detective on the Colorado Springs Police Department. Ron's arrival is greeted with skepticism and open hostility by the department's rank and file, but he soon makes a name for himself with a dangerous undercover mission to infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Oct2018/BlacKkKlansman_QnA_0818.aspx

Skyscraper with Rawson Marshall Thurber and Joe Carnahan (Ep. 149)

Director Rawson Marshall Thurber discusses his film, Skyscraper, with fellow director Joe Carnahan. The film tells the story of Will Sawyer, a U.S. war veteran who now assesses security for skyscrapers. When the tallest building in the world is set ablaze, Will finds himself framed for the crime of arson. Now he must use all his skills to both clear his name and rescue his family who are trapped inside the burning structure.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Sept2018/Skyscraper_QnA_0718.aspx

Boundaries with Shana Feste and Jake Kasdan (Ep. 148)

Director Shana Feste discusses her film, Boundaries, with fellow director Jake Kasdan. The film tells the story of Laura, a single mother who always puts the needs of others before her own. When her pot-dealing, carefree father Jack is kicked out of yet another nursing home, Laura agrees to drive him to Los Angeles to live with her sister Jojo.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Aug2018/Boundaries_QnA_0618.aspx

Generation Wealth with Lauren Greenfield and Marina Zenovich (Ep. 147)

Director Lauren Greenfield discusses her film, Generation Wealth, with fellow director Marina Zenovich. The film continues Ms. Greenfield's examination of wealth culture and the pathologies that have created the richest society the world has ever seen by examining materialism, celebrity culture, and social status.

En El Septimo Dia with Jim McKay and Rebecca Miller (Ep. 146)

Director Jim McKay discusses his film with fellow director Rebecca Miller. The film examines the plight of undocumented immigrants by focusing in on a pivotal week in the life of Jose, a delivery man who works long hours six days a week trying to survive and make it in America.

Hal with Amy Scott and Chuck Workman (Ep. 145)

Director Amy Scott discusses her film with fellow director Chuck Workman. Set against the backdrop of "New Hollywood" in the 1970s, the film celebrates the life and work of director Hal Ashby whose filmography includes Coming Home, Harold and Maude, Shampoo, and Being There. Ashby's obsessive genius but uncompromising nature became an archetypal story of art versus industry.

Super Troopers 2 with Jay Chandrasekhar and John Hamburg (Ep. 144)

Director Jay Chandrasekhar discusses his film with fellow director John Hamburg. The long anticipated follow-up to the 2001 cult comedy Super Troopers continues the story of the wacky Vermont Highway Patrol officers who were fired for their shenanigans in the first film.

First Reformed with Paul Schrader and John Patrick Shanley (Ep. 143)

Director Paul Schrader discusses his film with fellow director John Patrick Shanley. The film tells the story of Reverend Ernst Toller, a former military chaplain who is now the parish pastor of a small dutch reform church in upstate New York. Stuggling with the death of his son who he encouraged to enlist in the armed forces, he finds his faith further challenged after a pregnant parishoner asks him to counsel her husband, a radical environmentalist who doesn't want to bring a child into a world he believes is doomed.

Outside In with Lynn Shelton and Ava DuVernay (Ep. 142)

Director Lynn Shelton discusses her film with fellow director Ava DuVernay. The film follows Chris, a 38-year-old ex-con who is finally granted parole after twenty years behind bars, largely due to the tireless advocacy and support of his high-school teacher, Carol. After the two are reunited, Carol begins to realize Chris' feelings for her have turned romantic, a situation complicated by the fact she is married with a teenage daughter, who has also befriended the awkward parolee.

A Quiet Place with John Krasinski and Doug Liman (Ep. 141)

Director John Krasinski discusses his film with fellow director Doug Liman. Set in a very near future when most of Earth's population has been eradicated, the film follows a family survivors forced to live in silence as they hide from savage extraterrestrial creatures that hunt exclusively by sound.

Tully with Jason Reitman and Karyn Kusama (Ep. 140)

Director Jason Reitman discusses his film with fellow director Karyn Kusama. The film stars Charlize Theron as a New York suburban mom whose life is slowly being drained away by the challenges of raising two kids and a newborn. When she is sent help in the form of a gifted night nanny named Tully, she is at first hesitant to accept the assistance but comes to form a unique bond with the thoughtful and surprising young woman.

An Evening with Director Randal Kleiser (Ep. 139)

Director Randal Kleiser discusses his film Grease along with several others including The Blue Lagoon, White Fang, and Big Top Pee-Wee with moderator Jeremy Kagan. After a special 4k restoration screening of Grease at the DGA theater, Kleiser and speaks in-depth about the film and his career as a director.

All I Wish with Susan Walter and Maria Burton (Ep. 138)

Director Susan Walter discusses her film with fellow director Maria Burton. The film tells the story of Senna, a clothing designer whose life seems to be spiraling out of control until she unexpectedly meets Adam, her perfect match, at her 46th birthday party. Expecting never to meet again, the two serendipitously reunite at her 47th birthday party and Senna's life begins to flourish.

The Miracle Season with Sean McNamara and Helen Hunt (Ep. 137)

Director Sean McNamara discusses his film with fellow director Helen Hunt. Based on a true story, the film follows a high school volleyball team and their coach, who overcome their grief after the sudden death of their star player and band together in hopes of winning the state championship.

You Were Never Really Here with Lynne Ramsay and Maggie Greenwald (Ep. 136)

Director Lynne Ramsay discusses her film with fellow director Maggie Greenwald. The film tells the story of a traumatized veteran who tracks down missing girls for a living. When he takes the case of finding the daughter of a rising politician who's running for the Senate, he uncovers a conspiracy that may lead to his awakening or his death.

Under Cover - An Evening with Directing Team from The Americans (Ep. 135)

David McCoy Barrett moderates the Under Cover: An Evening with the Directing Team from The Americans featuring Actor/Directors Noah Emmerich, Director/Executive Producer Christopher Long, UPM/Executive Producer Mary Rae Thewlis, UPM/Co-Producer Tyson Bidner, and 1st AD Charlie Foster
The discussion covers a variety of topics including working with "the J's" (aka Showrunners Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields), the challenges of budgeting a period spy series shooting New York for Washington D.C., and how Rhys and Emmerich made the transition from acting to directing.

Augie with James Keach and Lynne Littman (Ep. 134)

Director James Keach discusses his film with fellow director Lynne Littman. The film tells the inspirational story of Augie Nieto, a fitness industry luminary, who is diagnosed with ALS in 2005. Today, he takes on ALS with his wife Lynne, leading the race to a cure in the fight to save his own life and the lives of millions.

Freak Show with Trudie Styler and Ira Sachs (Ep. 133)

Director Trudie Styler discusses her debut film with fellow director Ira Sachs. The film tells the story of Billy Bloom, a confident and flamboyant teen newly relocated to an ultra-conservative high school in the deep South. After suffering persecution and bullying, he decides to wear his inner freak with pride and run for homecoming queen.