The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Director J.C. Chandor discusses his film, Triple Frontier, with fellow director Tony Gilroy. The film tells the story of five former Special Forces operatives who reunite to rob a cocaine cartel boss in a sparsely populated multi-border zone of South America. When events take an unexpected turn and threaten to spiral out of control, their skills, their loyalties, and their morals are pushed to a breaking point in an epic battle for survival. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/May2019/TripleFrontier_QnA_0319.aspx

Director Robert Mapplethorpe discusses his film, Mapplethorpe, with fellow director Maria Burton. The film follows iconic photographer Robert Mapplethorpe -- whose portraits, still lifes and chronicles of New York City's underground BDSM scene inspired censorship debates throughout the 1980s and remain touchstones of 20th century photography -- from his rise to fame in the 1970s to his untimely death in 1989. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/April2019/Mapplethorpe_QnA_0319.aspx

Director Stephen Merchant discusses his film, Fighting With My Family, with fellow director Rawson Marshall Thurber. Based on the true story of wrestling superstar Saraya "Paige" Bevis, who grew up in a tight-knit wrestling family that earned their living traveling around England performing. When Paige earns a spot in the highly WWE training program, she must find the courage to leaver her family and face this new world alone. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/April2019/FightingWithMyFamily_QnA_0219.aspx

Director Adam Robitel discusses his film, Escape Room, with fellow director Christopher Landon. Capturing the cultural zeitgeist of puzzle-box escape rooms, the film follows a group of adventurous game players vying to win $10,000 by cracking a series of puzzles in a mysterious building. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/March2019/EscapeRoom_QnA_0119.aspx

Ben Stiller (Escape at Dannemora), David Leveaux (Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert), Alex Rudzinski(Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert), and Jean-Marc Vallee (Sharp Objects) participate in the Meet the Nominees: Movies for Television and Limited Series Symposium. Nominees Cary Joji Fukunaga (Maniac) and Barry Levinson (Paterno)were not available to participate. The discussion covers a variety of topics including the director's approaches to casting, locations, and working with actors.

Jeremy Kagan moderates the 28th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Feature Film Symposium featuring Bradley Cooper, Alfonso Cuarón, Peter Farrelly, Spike Lee, and Adam McKay on their nominated films. Part three shares the nominees' thoughts on directing actors and knowing when you’ve gotten the performance. Highlights include Peter Farrelly commending his directorial team for helping him keep things moving, Adam Mckay sharing his amorphous directorial process, and Alfonso Cuarón sharing why you can't trust dailies and can only judge a moment in context.

Jeremy Kagan moderates the 28th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Feature Film Symposium featuring Bradley Cooper, Alfonso Cuarón, Peter Farrelly, Spike Lee, and Adam McKay on their nominated films. Part two shares the nominees' thoughts on casting. Highlights include how Peter Farrelly convinced Viggo Mortensen to take on the role of Tony Lip, why Alfonso Cuarón doesn't believe in directing kids, and how Bradley Cooper fared years ago during an audition for Spike Lee.

Jeremy Kagan moderates the 28th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Feature Film Symposium featuring Bradley Cooper, Alfonso Cuarón, Peter Farrelly, Spike Lee, and Adam McKay on their nominated films. Topics for part one include the nominees' thoughts on the night before the shoot and how they handle the immense pressure that comes with directing a film.

Director Matthew Miguel Cullen discusses his film, London Fields, The Director's Cut, with fellow director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. The film weaves the tale of Nicola Six, a femme-fatale who ensnares three men into a love affair. The twist: she knows that one of these men will ultimately become her murderer. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Jan2019/LondonFields_QnA_1218.aspx

Director Anne Fletcher discusses her film, Dumplin', with fellow director Adam Shankman. The film tells the story of Willowdean "Dumplin'" Dickson, a plus-size teenager living in the shadow of her former beauty queen mother. To prove a point about measuring up and fitting in, Dumplin' signs up for her mom's Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Feb2019/Dumplin_QnA_1218.aspx