The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

LBJ with Rob Reiner and Thomas Schlamme (Ep. 126)

Director Rob Reiner discusses his new film, LBJ, with DGA President Thomas Schlamme. The films charts the life of Lyndon B. Johnson from his young days in West Texas to becoming Senator John F. Kennedy's running mate after losing the 1960 Democratic presidential nomination. Sidelined after the election, the once powerful Senate Majority Leader finds himself and the world changed after Kennedy is assassinated and he is thrust into the presidency.

I, Tonya with Craig Gillespie and Tom McCarthy (Ep. 125)

Director Craig Gillespie discusses his new film, I, Tonya, with fellow Director Tom McCarthy. Based on unbelievable, but true events, the film follows figure skater Tonya Harding as she goes from being the first American woman to complete a triple axel in competition to criminal suspect and pariah.

The Post with Steven Spielberg and Patty Jenkins (Ep. 124)

Director Steven Spielberg discusses his new film, The Post, with fellow Director Patty Jenkins. The film tells the true story of Katherine Graham, the first female publisher of the Washington Post, and editor Ben Bradlee who risked their careers and their freedom when they decided to report on the classified Pentagon Papers, a collection of documents released by Daniel Ellsberg revealing government secrets that spanned three decades.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi with Rian Johnson and Spike Jonze (Ep. 123)

Director Rian Johnson discusses his new film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, with fellow Director Spike Jonze. As the eight installment of the blockbuster franchise, the film continues the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, as Rey develops her Force abilities with a reluctant Luke Skywalker while Finn, General Leia Organa and the resistance continue their battle against Kylo Ren and the First Order.

The Disaster Artist with James Franco and Paul Haggis (Ep. 122)

Director James Franco discusses his new film, The Disaster Artist, with fellow Director Paul Haggis. The film dramatizes the making of writer/director Tommy Wiseau's The Room -- one of the most infamous films in Hollywood history that is often referred to as "the Citizen Kane of bad movies."

The Shape of Water with Guillermo del Toro and Baz Luhrmann (Ep. 121)

Director Guillermo del Toro discusses his new film, The Shape of Water, with fellow Director Baz Luhrmann. Set against the backdrop of Cold War-era America, the film tells the story of Elisa, a mute, isolated woman who works as a janitor in a high-security government laboratory. When she discovers the lab's classified secret -- an intelligent scaled being from South America that lives in a water tank -- she develops a unique bond with it and learns that its fate lies in the hands of a marine biologist and hostile government agent.

Phantom Thread with Paul Thomas Anderson and Rian Johnson (Ep. 120)

Director Paul Thomas Anderson discusses his new film, Phantom Thread, with fellow Director Rian Johnson. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Reynolds Woodcock, a tailor whose distinctive style makes him the center of British fashion in 1950s post-war London . His status as a confirmed bachelor is upended when he meets Alma, a young, strong-willed woman who soon becomes a fixture in his life as his muse and lover.

Downsizing with Alexander Payne and Taylor Hackford (Ep. 119 )

Director Alexander Payne discusses his new film, Downsizing, with fellow Director Taylor Hackford. The film follows Paul and his wife Audrey, who make the life-altering decision to shrink themselves to five inches tall, using a newly-discovered process created as a solution to overpopulation. After Paul undergoes the procedure, he finds that there's more to existence when there's less of him.

Mayhem with Joe Lynch and Joe Carnahan (Ep. 118)

Director Joe Lynch discusses his new film, Mayhem, with fellow Director Joe Carnahan. The film tells the story of Derek Cho, an attorney who is unjustly fired after being framed by a co-worker. But when a strange virus that makes people act out their worst impulses infects the law office, Derek is forced to fight for his job and his life.

Roman J. Israel, Esq. with Dan Gilroy and Jeremy Kagan (Ep. 117)

Director Dan Gilroy discusses his new film, Roman J. Israel, Esq, with fellow Director Jeremy Kagan. Denzel Washington stars in this story about a driven attorney whose life is upended when he is recruited to join a firm by cutthroat lawyer George Pierce and begins a friendship with young equal rights champion Maya Alston. As a turbulent series of events ensues Israel's lifelong and career-defining activism is tested.

Mudbound with Dee Rees and Mira Nair (Ep. 116)

Director Dee Rees discusses her new film, Mudbound, with fellow Director Mira Nair. The film tells an epic story of two families -- one black and one white -- who are forced to confront the realities of life in the American South. Though pitted against one another by a ruthless social hierarchy and bound together by the shared farmland of the Mississippi Delta, the families' lives are changed when sons from both families forge an uneasy friendship over their shared experience during World War II.

No Stone Unturned with Alex Gibney and Marc Levin (Ep. 115)

Director Alex Gibney discusses his new film, No Stone Unturned, with fellow Director Marc Levin. The film reviews the events of the evening of June 18, 1994 when six men were gunned down and five others wounded in a pub in Northern Ireland that was frequented mainly by Catholics. The families of the victims were promised justice, but 20 years later they still don't know who killed their loved ones. The documentary reopens the mysterious unsolved case with its allegations of massive collusion between British security forces and Loyalist killers.

Darkest Hour with Joe Wright and Matt Reeves (Ep. 114)

Director Joe Wright discusses his new film, Darkest Hour, with fellow Director Matt Reeves. Set during the early days of World War II, the film tells the story of how Winston Churchill wrestled with the decision of whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler or continue to fight against incredible odds, with full knowledge that the fate of Western Europe would hang in the balance.

Wonder with Stephen Chbosky and Jason Reitman (Ep. 113)

Director Stephen Chbosky discusses his new film, Wonder, with fellow Director Jason Reitman. Based on the New York Times bestselling novel, the film tells the inspiring story of August Pullman, a young boy born with facial differences who becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade in his brave journey to just be treated as an ordinary kid.

Molly’s Game with Aaron Sorkin and John Gatins (Ep. 112)

Director Aaron Sorkin discusses his new film, Molly's Game, with fellow Director John Gatins. The film tells the true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier, who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade for such players as Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans, and finally, unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob.

Lady Bird with Greta Gerwig and Spike Jonze (Ep. 111)

Director Greta Gerwig discusses her new film, Lady Bird, with fellow Director Spike Jonze. The film follows Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson and her relationship with her wildly loving, strong-willed mother, who works tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird's father loses his job. The film looks at both the humor and pathos in the turbulent bond between mother and daughter.

Last Flag Flying with Richard Linklater and Andrew Davis (Ep. 110)

Director Richard Linklater discusses his new film, Last Flag Flying, with fellow Director Andrew Davis. The film tells the story of former Navy Corps medic Richard "Doc" Shepherd, who enlists his war buddies from three decades ago to go on a road trip to bury his son. As they travel up the East Coast to Shepherd's home in New Hampshire, they try to come to terms with the shared memories of the war that continues to shape their lives.

Thank You for Your Service with Jason Hall and Bradley Cooper (Ep. 109)

Director Jason Hall discusses his new film, Thank You for Your Service, with fellow Director Bradley Cooper. The film tells the story of four U.S. soldiers who try to cope with their return stateside after a tour in Iraq. As they struggle to readjust to civilian life, lingering memories and wounds sustained in the war threaten to destroy them long after they've left the battlefield.

The Man From Earth: Holocene with Richard Schenkman and Larry Brand (Ep. 108)

Director The Man From Earth: Holocene discusses his new film, The Man From Earth: Holocene, with fellow Director Larry Brand. The sequel to his 2007 feature The Man From Earth, the film continues the story of John Oldman, a 14,000 year-old being comfortably hiding in plain sight as a college professor in northern California. When four students discover his secret, his existence comes crashing down, putting his life in grave danger and potentially shaking the foundations of humankind.

The Foreigner with Martin Campbell and Michael Apted (Ep. 106)

Director Martin Campbell discusses his new film, The Foreigner, with fellow Director Michael Apted. The film stars Jackie Chan as a London businessman who embarks on a revenge-fueled vendetta after his teenage daughter is killed in a terrorist attack.