The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

The Color Purple With Blitz Bazawule And Gina Prince-Bythewood (Ep. 456)

Director Blitz Bazawule discusses his new film, The Color Purple, with fellow Director Gina Prince-Bythewood in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses the importance of sketching in his artistic process, how his background in music prepared him for the film, and trying to identify the heart of the original text in order to do the story justice.
The film spans decades to tell the story of Celie, a woman who faces many hardships throughout her life. But ultimately she finds strength and hope in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood, on her journey to independence.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/TheColorPurple_QnA_1223.aspx

Origin with Ava DuVernay and Ed Zwick (Ep. 455)

Director Ava DuVernay discusses her new film, Origin, with fellow Director Ed Zwick in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses constructing the metalayers of the narrative, her intentional choice of the film format and look, and working with her composer to reflect music from multiple eras.
The film follows author Isabel Wilkerson as she sets out on a path of global investigation following a tremendous personal tragedy. In what would become her novel, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent, she chronicles how lives today are defined by a hierarchy of human divisions.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/Origin_QnA_1223.aspx

The Persian Version with Maryam Keshavarz and Crystal Moselle (Ep. 454)

Director Maryam Keshavarz discusses her new film, The Persian Version, with fellow Director Crystal Moselle in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, she discusses finding inspiration in her family and world events, achieving authenticity in her locations and production design, and aiming for representation in a grounded and personal story.
The film tells the story of Leila, an Iranian-American woman who strives to find balance in her opposing cultures. But when her large family gathers in New York for her father’s heart transplant, a family secret is uncovered that catapults Leila and her mother into an exploration of the past.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/PersianVersion_QnA_1123.aspx

Dream Scenario with Kristoffer Borgli and Tim Heidecker (Ep. 453)

Director Kristoffer Borgli discusses his new film, Dream Scenario, with fellow Director Tim Heidecker in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses working with Actor Nicolas Cage to create the character he envisioned, his writing process and the influences that went into the story, and how he borrowed from multiple genres in an effort to transcend categorization.
The film tells the story of Paul, a family man who finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers start mysteriously seeing him in their dreams. But when his nighttime appearances start taking a nightmarish turn, Paul is forced to navigate his newfound infamy.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/DreamScenario_QnA_1123.aspx

The Holdovers with Alexander Payne and Jason Reitman (Ep. 452)

Director Alexander Payne discusses his new film, The Holdovers, with fellow Director Jason Reitman in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses where the inspiration for the story originated, his favorite aspects of each of the three lead actors’ performances, and the filmic inspirations that contributed to the tone of the story.
The film tells the story of Paul, a cranky history teacher at a boarding school in the 1960s, forced to chaperone a handful of students with nowhere to go over Christmas break. There, he forms an unlikely bond with a troubled student and the school’s head cook, who lost her son in the Vietnam War.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/Holdovers_QnA_1123.aspx

Leave the World Behind with Sam Esmail and Luke Greenfield (Ep. 451)

Director Sam Esmail discusses his new film, Leave the World Behind, with fellow Director Luke Greenfield in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses the changes he considered when adapting the book to screen, working with the Obama family as producers, and the amount of preparation he underwent before going into production.
The film tells the story of Amanda and Clay, who rent a luxurious home for the weekend with their kids. Their getaway is upended when two strangers arrive bearing news of a mysterious cyberattack and the possibility of the collapse of life as we know it.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/LeaveTheWorldBehind_QnA_1123.aspx

May December with Todd Haynes and Gregg Araki (Ep. 450)

Director Todd Haynes discusses his new film, May December, with fellow Director Gregg Araki in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses scouting for the right location to match the specific time and feel of the story, casting and working with longtime collaborator Julianne Moore, and playing with framing and reflections to mirror the multifaceted narrative of the story.
The film tells the story of Gracie and Joe, a married couple who, two decades prior, were the subject of a scandalous tabloid romance. When an actress visits their home to research Gracie for a movie role, the uncomfortable details from the scandal emerge, causing long-dormant emotions to resurface.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/MayDecember_QnA_1123.aspx

Miranda’s Victim with Michelle Danner and Sarah Pirozek (Ep. 449)

Director Michelle Danner discusses her new film, Miranda’s Victim, with fellow Director Sarah Pirozek in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, she discusses the intention behind her casting choices, how she aimed to capture a classic era through cinematography and editing, and how she sought to explore her lead character’s mindset in tandem to the events of the story.
The film tells the story of Patricia Weir, who in 1963, was kidnapped and brutally raped by Ernesto Miranda. Committed to seeing him pay for the crime, her life is destroyed by America’s legal system as she triggers a law that transforms the nation.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2023/December2023/MirandasVictim_QnA_1123.aspx

Maestro with Bradley Cooper and Todd Phillips (Ep. 448)

Director Bradley Cooper discusses his new film, Maestro, with fellow Director Todd Phillips in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses working with Bernstein’s children and how he was given the project, the practice that went into major performance scenes, and capturing the thought process of Leonard Bernstein while in the dual roles of lead Actor and Director of the film.
The film tells the story of world renowned American composer Leonard Bernstein and his decade-spanning journey with Felicia Montealegre. A love letter to life and art, their relationship is an emotionally epic portrayal of endurance, passion and family.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/Maestro_QnA_1123.aspx

Radical with Christopher Zalla and Braden King (Ep. 447)

Director Christopher Zalla discusses his new film, Radical, with fellow Director Braden King in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses how the children’s POV informed his cinematography choices, his personal journey in finding a story that resonated with him, and how he worked with Actors of various backgrounds to achieve the types of characters he envisioned.
The film tells the story of Sergio Juarez, a sixth grade teacher in a Mexican border town full of neglect, corruption and violence. Saddled with the worst performing students, he tries a radical new method to unlock his students' curiosity, potential, and maybe even their genius.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2023/December2023/Radical_QnA_1123.aspx

Saw X with Kevin Greutert and Marcus Dunstan (Ep. 446)

Director Kevin Greutert discusses his new film, Saw X, with fellow Director Marcus Dunstan in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses refocusing the series around its trademark antagonist, finding inspiration in a new setting when the initial location fell through, and having his cinematography capture uncharacteristic beauty in contrast to the iconic Saw imagery.
The film tells the story of John - the serial killer known as Jigsaw - who goes out of country to undergo an experimental procedure in hopes of finding the miracle cure for his cancer. Once he discovers the entire operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable, he is armed with newfound purpose and uses deranged and ingenious traps to turn the tables on the con artists.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2023/December2023/SawX_QnA_1023.aspx

She Came to Me with Rebecca Miller and Noah Baumbach (Ep. 445)

Director Rebecca Miller discusses her new film, She Came to Me, with fellow Director Noah Baumbach in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, she discusses how her background as a painter gave her an eye for composing scenes, how she overcame challenges that arose on-set and how she learned the dynamics of each Actor’s methods in order to work with them.
The film tells the story of Steven, who is unable to finish the score for his big comeback opera. At the behest of his wife and former therapist, Patricia, he sets out in search of inspiration, but finds much more than he bargained for in the form of Katrina- a tugboat captain with her own obsessions.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2023/December2023/SheCameToMe_QnA_1023.aspx

Yours In Freedom, Bill Baird with Rebecca Cammisa, Tia Lessin, Bill Baird and Joni Baird (Ep. 444)

Director Rebecca Cammisa discusses her new film, Yours in Freedom, Bill Baird, with fellow Director Tia Lessin and subjects Bill Baird and Joni Baird in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, she discusses how she mixed archival and modern day clips, surprising discoveries she made on her documentary journey, and giving the floor to her subject Bill Baird, he discusses his background and defining moments that drove him to take up his fight for reproductive rights.
The film tells the true story of reproductive rights pioneer Bill Baird, the unsung hero of the birth control battle, who gave up everything — his family, his livelihood, his freedom — in pursuit of women’s rights.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2023/December2023/YIF-BillBaird_DocSeries_1023.aspx

Dumb Money with Craig Gillespie and Phil Lord (Ep. 443)

Director Craig Gillespie discusses his new film, Dumb Money, with fellow Director Phil Lord in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses his process in finding a tonal balance between the comedy and serious in his scenes, working with a script so soon after the real-life events transpired, and using real footage, texts and even memes in the film.
The film tells the true story of how regular guy, Keith Gill, starts a movement with other novice stock traders to get rich. By turning GameStop into one of the world’s hottest companies, he helps make stock market history, much to the chagrin of the finance industry giants who fight back.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2023/December2023/DumbMoney_QnA_1023.aspx

A Compassionate Spy with Steve James and Ondi Timoner (Ep. 442)

Director Steve James discusses his new film, A Compassionate Spy, with fellow Director Ondi Timoner in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses his process of shooting reenactments, the discovery of archival footage of Ted, and his aim to show the nuances and motivations of Ted’s decision.
The film tells the true story of eighteen year-old physicist Ted Hall’s recruitment into the Manhattan Project. In 1944, concerned about U.S. having a monopoly on such a devastating weapon, Ted decides to divulge classified information about the world’s first atomic bomb to the Soviet Union.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2023/November2023/DocSeries_A_Compassionate_Spy-1023.aspx

Priscilla with Sofia Coppola and Celine Song (Ep. 441)

Director Sofia Coppola discusses her new film, Priscilla, with fellow Director Celine Song in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses how she aimed for a sharp contrast in the Oz-like Elvis world and the drab normal world through her production design, how she deliberately changes the pace of her editing in the presence of Elvis vs when he’s missing, and the relationship between the real Priscilla Presley and Actor Cailee Spaeny.
Based on the 1985 memoir Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley, the film tells the story of how young Priscilla Beaulieu met Elvis Presley, chronicling their legendary relationship and marriage.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2023/December2023/Priscilla_QnA_1023.aspx

Nyad with Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin and Lisa Cholodenko (Ep. 440)

Directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin discusses their new film, Nyad, with fellow Director Lisa Cholodenko in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they discuss the change in their co-directing process having gone from documentary filmmaking to their first feature film, the physical training Actor Annette Benning underwent for the role, and the inspiration behind why they were drawn to tell this story.
The film tells the true story of how 60-year-old athlete Diana Nyad, with the help of her best friend and coach, committed herself to achieving her dream of completing a 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2023/December2023/Nyad_QnA_1023.aspx

Anatomy of a Fall with Justine Triet and Nicole Kassell (Ep. 439)

Director Justine Triet discusses her new film, Anatomy of a Fall, with fellow Director Nicole Kassell in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, Triet discusses the deliberation that went into her cinematography to accentuate the sense of mystery, how she directed actors to give multilayered performances, and the consideration that went into crafting the ending.
The film tells the story of Sandra, her husband Samuel and their blind son Daniel, who live a secluded life in the French Alps. When Samuel is found dead, Sandra becomes the main suspect and Daniel the main witness, beginning an unsettling psychological examination of their conflicted relationship.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2023/November2023/AnatomyOfAFall_1023.aspx

The Kill Room with Nicol Paone and Jim Rash (Ep. 438)

Director Nicol Paone discusses her new film, The Kill Room, with fellow Director Jim Rash in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, Paone discusses taking lessons from making her last film, creating a soundtrack that helped balance the film’s dramedy tone, and working with both a production designer and art advisor to establish the artistic look of the film.
The film tells the story of an art dealer who teams with a hitman and his boss for a money laundering scheme, trading paintings by way of assassinations. But when the exchange accidentally launches the hitman’s work into fame, the dealer is forced to pit her art world against the underworld.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2023/November2023/THE-KILL-ROOM_QnA_1023.aspx

Rustin with George C. Wolfe and Reinaldo Marcus Green (Ep. 437)

Director George C. Wolfe discusses his new film, Rustin, with fellow Director Reinaldo Marcus Green in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, Wolfe discusses roadmapping his scenes by taking reference from some of Rustin’s real-life tactics, working with and taking notes from the Obamas- who acted as Executive Producers, and displaying the characters' growth through the framework of compositions by jazz composer, Branford Marsalis.
The film tells the true story of Bayard Rustin, an advisor to Martin Luther King Jr., who dedicated his life to the quest for racial equality, human rights and worldwide democracy. However, as an openly gay Black man, he is all but erased from the civil rights movement he helped build.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://dga.org/Events/2023/December2023/RUSTIN_QnA_1023.aspx