The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast Meet the 2026 Nominees for Theatrical Feature Film - Part 2 of 2 (Ep. 600)
Feb 23, 2026
Josh Safdie, kinetic filmmaker, talks scouting New York-area locations and staging a period bowling alley. Ryan Coogler, director focused on Black experience and music, discusses Louisiana locations, set builds, and musical framing. Chloé Zhao, known for intimate naturalism, covers Hamnet staging and directing performances. Paul Thomas Anderson, auteur of character-driven films, talks casting and location scouting. Guillermo del Toro describes production design and thematic locations.
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Half A Performance Made The Scene More True
- Chloé Zhao withheld an actor's fully released grief to match the character's history, then instructed 'half, 20%... less, less' leading to a tiny heartbreaking smile.
- The minimalist note came from Francis McDormand's lesson.
Match Direction Style To The Actor's Experience
- Tailor direction to each actor's experience: brief cues for seasoned performers, more concrete guidance for first-timers.
- Josh Safdie notes Timothée and Tyler responded to single-word notes while newcomers needed step-by-step coaching.
Filming At The Real Border Produced Unplanned Reality
- Paul Thomas Anderson shot a border crossing sequence in Calexico/El Centro and witnessed real families crossing during filming.
- PTA and his team secured permission in a mysterious way and filmed fireworks across into Mexico while extras mixed with real migrants.