The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Director Olivia Newman discusses her new film, Where the Crawdads Sing, with fellow director Catherine Hardwicke in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, Newman reveals how she pitched the film to producers, discusses the difficulty of doing chemistry reads via Zoom, and talks about the necessity of being flexible as a director. Based on the best-selling novel, the film follows Kya, an abandoned girl raised in the marshland, who finds herself falsely accused of murder by a small town in North Carolina. When the town attempts to prosecute her, Kya must clear her name as the truth of what happened lies within the murky waters of the marsh. Please note: spoilers are included. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2022/September2022/WhereTheCrawdadsSing_QnA_0722.aspx

Director James Ponsoldt discusses his new film, Summering, with fellow director Ry Russo Young in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they speak about why Ponsoldt wanted to make the film, his cinematic influences for the project, and how he helped the young actresses to function as a group and build chemistry. The film follows four best friends on the brink of starting middle school who struggle with the harsh truths of growing up as they realize their lives are about to change forever. On the last weekend of summer, they embark on a mysterious adventure. Please note: spoilers are included. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2022/September2022/Summering_QnA_0722.aspx

Director George Stevens, Jr. sat in conversation with Director Paul Thomas Anderson to discuss his career and upbringing with his father, DGA Past President George Stevens, Sr. The conversation follows the release of Stevens' memoir, My Place in the Sun: Life in the Golden Age of Hollywood and Washington in which Stevens reflects on the legacy of his father and that of his family in Hollywood and the Directors Guild of America. In the conversation, Stevens and Anderson talk about their shared Valley upbringing, Stevens' founding of the American Film Institute, and candid moments he recalls with his father as a kid.

Director Theodore Braun discusses his new film, ¡Viva Maestro!, with fellow director Ondi Timoner in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, Braun shares what drew him to the project, his approach to filming biographical documentaries, and how he captured the music of the film in Dolby Atmos. The film is a behind-the-scenes portrait of conductor and artistic director Gustavo Dudamel, following him around the world as his international tours are disrupted by deadly protests across his native Venezuela. Please note: spoilers are included. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2022/August2022/VIVA_MAESTRO_DocSeries_0722.aspx

Director Kivu Ruhorahoza discusses his new film Father's Day, with fellow director Alex Stapleton at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, Ruhorahoza discusses how the film examines masculinity in the country of Rwanda and his process with working with actors to reveal deeper layers within the characters. Please note: spoilers are included. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2022/August2022/GCS_FathersDay_0622.aspx

In a special anniversary discussion, Director Jonathan Lynn discusses his film, My Cousin Vinny, with fellow director Raymond de Felitta in a screening at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, hear Lynn discuss the improvised moments, the grueling shoots of the courtroom scenes, and the clever method used to get the shoot with the owl. The film tells the tale of Vinny, a wildly inexperienced New York lawyer who must save his teenage cousin and his friend from jail or worse after they are accused of murder in a backwater Alabama town. Complicating matters are Vinny's cranky fianceé, an uncompromising judge, and a smooth-talking district attorney. Please note: spoilers are included. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2022/July2022/ERSP_AnniversarySeries_MyCousinVinny_0522.aspx

Director Daniel Adams discusses his new film, The Walk, with fellow director Alejandro Brugués in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they speak about Adams' childhood connections to the story, what a really great performance is about, and making New Orleans look like 1970s Boston. The film weaves together three story threads as an Irish cop, his bigoted 17-year-old daughter and a young African American student and her father are caught up in the turbulent court-ordered forced integration of the Boston school system in 1974. Please note: spoilers are included. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2022/July2022/TheWalk_QnA_0522.aspx

Directors Joseph Kosinski and Jason Reitman discuss the making of Top Gun: Maverick, including convincing Tom Cruise to return and shooting actors while flying jets. They also delve into the unique aesthetic of the film and highlight the challenges faced in capturing the perfect shots. Spoiler: They cover the impactful Val Kilmer scene and reflect on Tom Cruise's journey paralleling his character.

Director Simon Curtis discusses his new film, Downton Abbey: A New Era, with fellow director Amy Holden Jones in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they speak about how Curtis made the film his own after the televsion show and the previous film and how he hopes the film will be perceived. Based on the popular television series and a follow-up to the 2019 feature film, A New Era reacquaints us with the Crawley family and their servants, as some venture to the South of France, while others remain behind to oversee the shooting of a film at their estate. Please note: spoilers are included. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2022/July2022/DowntonAbbey_QnA_0522.aspx

Director Charles Murray discusses his new film, The Devil You Know, with fellow director Matthew Cherry in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they speak about how the film's premise developed over the years, his approach to casting Michael Ealy for the detective role, and his exploratory approach to directing actors. The film tells the story of Marcus, who after a lifetime of trouble is trying to turn his life around with the support of his loving family. When he discovers that one of his brothers may have been involved in a horrific crime, Marcus grapples with the limits of brotherhood and loyalty as he finds himself in the crosshairs of a seasoned but jaded detective. Please note: spoilers are included. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2022/June2022/DevilUKNow_QnA_0422.aspx