

The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast
Directors Guild of America
Brought to you by the Directors Guild of America, ”The Director’s Cut” will bring you the behind-the-scenes stories of today’s most talked about films. Each episode features a different director interviewed by one of their peers, leading to revealing conversations about the grueling, but rewarding process of bringing their films to life.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 10, 2020 • 38min
Pain and Glory with Pedro Almódovar and Kenneth Lonergan (Ep. 247)
Director Pedro Almodóvar discusses his new film, Pain and Glory, with fellow director Kenneth Lonergan. This deeply personal film from Spain tells the story of Salvador Mallo, a depressed director who is thinking of leaving filmmaking because of chronic health problems. A series of encounters, both real and remembered, leads Mallo to reflect on the choices he's made. Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Dec2019/GCS_PainYGlory_0919.aspx

Jan 10, 2020 • 39min
Atlantics with Mati Diop and Michael Almereyda (Ep. 246)
Director Mati Diop discusses her new film, Atlantics, with fellow director Michael Almereyda. Set in the outskirts of Dakar on Senegal's Atlantic coast, the film tells the story of a young woman who is in love with a construction worker, but is already promised to another man. After the construction worker is lost at sea and the devastated woman prepares to go through with her original wedding, strange things begin to happen that may thwart her plans. Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Dec2019/GCS_Atlantics_1019.aspx

Jan 3, 2020 • 33min
Richard Jewell with Clint Eastwood and Scott Cooper (Ep. 245)
Director Clint Eastwood discusses his new film, Richard Jewell, with fellow director Scott Cooper. The film tells the true story of Jewell, an American security guard who saved thousands of lives from an exploding bomb at the 1996 Olympics. But his life starts to unravel when he becomes the FBI's prime suspect in the bombing attempt and is vilified by press and public alike. Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Feb2020/RichardJewell_QnA_1219.aspx

Jan 3, 2020 • 33min
Just Mercy with Destin Daniel Cretton and Anna Boden (Ep. 244)
Director Destin Daniel Cretton discusses his new film, Just Mercy, with fellow director Anna Boden. Based on a true story, the film follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson's effort to overturn the murder conviction of Walter McMillian, who was sentenced to die for the murder of an 18-year-old girl despite ample evidence proving his innocence. Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Feb2020/JustMercy_QnA_1219.aspx

Dec 20, 2019 • 33min
1917 with Sam Mendes and Ed Zwick (Ep. 243)
Director Sam Mendes discusses his new film, 1917, with fellow director Ed Zwick. The film follows two young privates fighting with British forces during the First World War. They are given the impossible mission of delivering a message into enemy territory to prevent 1600 men, including one of the soldier's brothers from walking into a deadly trap.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Feb2020/1917_QnA_1219.aspx

Dec 20, 2019 • 36min
Uncut Gems With Josh and Benny Safdie and Kenneth Lonergan (Ep. 242)
Directors Josh and Benny Safdie discuss their new film, Uncut Gems, with fellow director Kenneth Lonergan. The film stars Adam Sandler as Howard, a charismatic New Yorker who is always on the lookout for the next big score. His latest scheme is a precarious high-wire act, balancing business, family, and encroaching adversaries on all sides in his relentless pursuit of the ultimate win. Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Jan2020/UncutGems_QnA_1219.aspx

Dec 20, 2019 • 30min
Knives Out with Rian Johnson and Denis Villeneuve (Ep. 241)
Director Rian Johnson discusses his new film, Knives Out, with fellow director Denis Villeneuve. The film is a whodunit, following debonair detective Benoit Blanc's investigation of the death of renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey. With suspects aplenty in Thrombey's dysfunctional family and devoted staff, Blanc must wade through a sea of red herrings to uncover the truth. Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Jan2020/KnivesOut_QnA_1119.aspx

Dec 13, 2019 • 34min
Harriet with Kasi Lemmons and Rick Famuyiwa (Ep. 240)
Director Kasi Lemmons discusses her new film, Harriet, with fellow director Rick Famuyiwa. The film tells the extraordinary true story of Harriet Tubman, an enslaved person who escaped her captors. After finding liberty in the North, Tubman then risked her freedom and her life to return to the South, and relied upon her courage, ingenuity and tenacity to free hundreds of others and change the course of history.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Jan2020/Harriet_QnA_1119.aspx

Dec 13, 2019 • 46min
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood with Marielle Heller and Tamara Jenkins (Ep. 239)
Director Marielle Heller discusses her new film, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, with fellow director Tamara Jenkins. The film retells the story of the real-life friendship between television icon Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. The story fictionalizes Juno as a skeptical writer named Lloyd Vogel, who is assigned to do a story on Mr. Rogers. Vogel is ultimately swayed as Rogers' kindness triumphs over his cynicism and he learns about empathy and decency from America's most beloved neighbor.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Jan2020/ABeautifulDayintheNeighborhood_QnA_1119.aspx

Dec 13, 2019 • 32min
Ford v Ferrari with James Mangold and Doug Liman (Ep. 238)
Director James Mangold discusses his new film, Ford v Ferrari, with fellow director Doug Liman. The film follows American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles who battled corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford and challenge Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Jan2020/FordVFerrari_QnA_1119.aspx


