The Next Best Picture Podcast

In this enlightening discussion, Stephen Mirrione, a renowned film editor known for his collaboration with Joseph Kosinski, dives into the challenges of editing F1's dynamic race footage. He reveals how he balanced pace and clarity while managing an overwhelming volume of 5,000 hours of content. Sound wizards Al Nelson and Gary Rizzo share secrets on creating an immersive audio environment, tackling everything from live crowd sounds to mixing Hans Zimmer's score. VFX supervisor Ryan Tudhope discusses integrating over 2,500 VFX shots with practical stunts for a seamless viewing experience.

In this engaging conversation, Mascha Schilinski, a talented German filmmaker behind the acclaimed drama "Sound of Falling," explores her cinematic influences from Bergman and Kieslowski. She shares the unique origin of her film, rooted in a farmhouse photo that sparked ideas about transgenerational trauma. Mascha reflects on the film's creation during COVID, her innovative approach to script development, and the use of sound as a storytelling device. She also discusses the poignant visual themes and the significance of the recurring fly motif.

In this engaging discussion, Laia Casanovas and Kanding Ray share their creative insights on the film "Sirāt." Laia, a skilled sound designer, reveals how she crafted the desert's sonic identity and gave each vehicle a unique personality with intricate textures. Kanding Ray, an electronic composer, dives into his innovative scoring techniques, blending field recordings with club sounds. They both emphasize collaboration, with Laia describing how they integrated rave music elements for authenticity, creating a rich auditory experience that mirrors the film's emotional journey.

Thomas Foldberg, a prosthetic makeup effects designer known for his practical creature effects, and Anne Catherine Sauerberg, a hair and makeup designer with a knack for character looks, dive into the creative process behind 'The Ugly Stepsister.' They share their excitement about the film's Oscar shortlist and discuss the challenges of balancing beauty with body horror. With insights on creating stylized gore and relatable characters, they emphasize the importance of empathy in design. Their collaborative approach and innovative techniques bring a fresh perspective to Nordic genre filmmaking.

"Wicked: For Good" is a musical fantasy sequel directed by Jon M. Chu that adapts the second act of the "Wicked" stage musical, itself inspired by Gregory Maguire's reimagining of "The Wizard of Oz." Starring returning cast members Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, and others, the film follows Elphaba and Glinda as they embrace their identities as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Developed over a decade and split into two films to preserve the story's depth, production faced delays due to the pandemic and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Released by Universal Pictures in November 2025, the film grossed $523 million worldwide, earned awards recognition from the Critics' Choice Awards and the Golden Globes, and was named one of the top ten films of the year by both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. Ever since its release, the Next Best Picture team has been conducting a series of interviews with many people involved in the making of the film, which we're proud to share with you below. First up, we have my interview with the film's director Jon M. Chu, followed Cody Dericks's interview with casting directors Tiffany Little Canfield & Bernard Telsey, then we have my intervew with the film's editor Myron Kerstein, followed by Cody's interview with makeup & hair designer Frances Hannon, then Dan Bayer's interview with sound mixer Simon Hayes, and then we end with Cody's interview with visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now available to rent or own digitally or on physical media from Universal Pictures, and is up for your consideration for this year's Academy Awards in all eligible categories. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Song Sung Blue" is an American biographical musical drama film written, co-produced, and directed by Craig Brewer. It is based on the 2008 documentary film of the same name by Greg Kohs and stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as Mike and Claire Sardina, who performed as the Neil Diamond tribute band Lightning & Thunder. The film had its world premiere at the AFI Film Festival, where it received positive reviews, especially for Kate Hudson's performance, with many calling it the best of her career. She has been nominated for the Golden Globe Award and the Actor Award for Best Lead Actress for her performance in the film. Hudson was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about her work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Focus Features. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hosts share their immediate reactions to the winners of the Golden Globe Awards. They discuss Nikki Glaser's energetic hosting and how the Globe results could impact the Oscar race. Teyana Taylor's emotional win and speech spark a lively debate, while Stellan Skarsgård’s award builds momentum for him this season. They celebrate notable wins including Rose Byrne and Timothée Chalamet, with insights on how these results might shape nominations. The discussion also touches on repeat Emmy winners and the significance of screenplay victories.

This week features guests Cody Derricks, a film journalist known for his awards analysis; Megan Lachinski, a film critic offering insights on industry trends; Tom O'Brien, a critic covering international cinema; and Katie Johnson, a film writer sharing her awards perspectives. They dive into predictions for the Golden Globes and analyze Critics' Choice winners. The panel also reacts to nominations from guilds and the BAFTA longlists, while discussing standout trailers like "The Death Of Robin Hood" and sharing their thoughts on upcoming film releases.

For this week's main podcast review, Dan Bayer, Giovanni Lago, and Tom O'Brien join me to discuss the killer monkey horror movie "Primate," starring Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, and Academy Award winner Troy Kotsur. Directed by Johannes Roberts, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Ernest Riera, the film had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025, where it received positive reviews for its gore effects, the decision to have the rabid chimpanzee portrayed by an actor in a costume rather than created through CGI, and its effective handling of tone with a brisk runtime. What did we think of it though? Please tune in as we discuss these elements and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kaouther Ben Hania, a Tunisian filmmaker known for blending documentary and fiction, shares her journey creating 'The Voice of Hind Rajab.' She discusses the emotional connection that inspired her to make the film after hearing about the tragic death of a young girl. Kaouther details the rapid production process, emphasizing how she merged facts with narrative storytelling. She also highlights the importance of family approval, emotional support for the cast, and using real footage to enhance authenticity, alongside her hopes for future projects.