IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit

Director Aaron Schimberg takes us under the hood of his fascinating new film, which follows Sebastian Stan as a man with a condition that causes tumors to grow in the skin of his face. The story takes us through black comedy, thriller, and explores the streets of New York in an honest, gritty way we haven't seen since the films of the 70s. And Aaron opened up about his personal relationship to the story and actor Adam Pearson, who has the condition in real life. Around 48:00 we ask Aaron about his screening series at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and he breaks down how each film inspired "A Different Man." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The creators of the hit HBO series join Chris O'Falt on Toolkit to discuss the season finale. They get surprisingly candid about the ways they needed to improve as writers and show runners after the first two seasons, and dive into the many choices that made season three a titanic leap forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The film that Francis Ford Coppola has been working on for a quarter century, that he spent 120 million of his own fortune to finance, is finally hitting theaters this weekend. Listen to Francis talk about how he rediscovered his craft in the long journey to the screen, and opens up about some of the on-set controversies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Duplass, the writer and producer of the new Netflix series Penelope, sat down with Chris O'Falt to discuss the maverick way he brought this project to screen. From inspiration he took from conversations with his kids about their mental state, to the potential future he sees for an indie-TV market to rival indie-film, Mark covered a range of fascinating topics in this conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever been curious about visiting a psychic? Too skeptical to try? Lana Wilson's new documentary might be for you. Hear Wilson share the story of an Election Night 2016 story that sparked her fascination into the psychic community, and why she thinks it's not really about believing, but something more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Schrader returns to Toolkit to discuss the film he is most proud of from his long career, "Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters." Schrader walks through the challenges he faced getting the film made, including wearing a knife proof vest on set due to death threats from the right-wing government, and why the story of this Japanese artist has fascinated him for decades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lee Daniels joins IndieWire features writer Jim Hemphill to discuss his new Netflix film “The Deliverance,” which combines elements of spirituality, social realism, melodrama, dark comedy, and horror to create a consistently entertaining and intensely involving viewing experience. Daniels talks about working in the horror genre for the first (and probably last) time, the challenges of making a movie with several younger actors, how he turned Glenn Close into an archetype often seen in life but rarely on screen, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The creator of "Dear White People" sat down with us to talk about his new 4-part docuseries that explores the forgotten influences and power of black film. Listen in to learn about some of the untold stories of black Hollywood, and hear how his peers like Ryan Coogler and Ava DuVernay reacted to watching this cinematic history. - You can watch this entire conversation on IndieWire.com or on the IndieWire Youtube page - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we’re joined by writer-director JT Mollner, here to talk about his audacious new thriller STRANGE DARLING - which IndieWire has called “the best horror film in years.” JT talks about finding an unusual structure for his tale, working with first-time feature cinematographer Giovanni Ribisi, and why shooting on 35mm film should remain a priority. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zaillian's adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel was some of the best, most carefully considered TV we've seen this year. On the podcast he discusses his approach, including why it was essential the show be presented in rich black and white cinematography. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Martha Coolidge appears on the podcast to talk about her debut feature, “Not a Pretty Picture,” which is newly restored and available from Criterion. The movie, an audacious documentary/narrative hybrid, depicts Coolidge’s own sexual assault with power, intelligence, and sensitivity. Coolidge discusses why she chose this unusual form to tell her story, how it informed her later work, and what it led to in terms of a Hollywood career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Set during a weekend backpacking trip in the Catskills, "Good One" is a gorgeous coming of age film that focuses more on interiority than dramatic plot. Director India Donaldson walks us through the struggle of filming outside in the woods, and gives a fantastic lesson on modern independent filmmaking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" director and showrunner Jeff Schaffer joins the podcast to talk about bringing the show to a satisfying conclusion, working with non-actors like Bruce Springsteen and Willie Geist, and whether or not this is really the end. Plus, a special guest makes a surprise appearance! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Noah Hawley has been the show-runner of "Fargo" since it premiered in 2014, and the latest season might be the best yet. Hear how Hawley and his team carefully managed the tone and subverted expectations for Season 5, and also get a tease for his upcoming "Alien" TV show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The director of the classic mock-umentary This Is Spinal Tap has made his first actual documentary, a moving reflection on the life and career of his childhood friend, Albert Brooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the 20th anniversary of the game-changing thriller, we sat down with the director of "Collateral" to hear his thoughts on being one of the first major theatrical features to embrace hi-def digital photography. You'll also hear his thoughts on directing stars Jamie Fox and Tom Cruise, and how he adapted the story and characters when the setting changed from New York to LA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Creator, writer and director Nida Manzoor joins us to talk everything 'We Are Lady Parts' season 2. Nida shares how she handled navigating new songs including the banger "Malala Made Me Do It", with a cameo from the legend herself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the biggest breakouts from Sundance this year was the feature debut of writer/director Sean Wang, based on his experiences as a 13 year old Taiwanese American growing up in 2008 California. Sean spoke with us about how his time at google prepared him to capture the ways screens and technology affect the relationships in the film, and how he realized Didi was as much about immigrant mothers as a coming of age story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The director of the Oscar nominated Minari returns with a surprising follow up, and it's the most fun blockbuster of the summer. What isn't a surprise is Isaac's thoughtful insights into using the big budget tools for the first time, what inspired him about real life storm chasers, and why Miranda Lambert had to be on the soundtrack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Russian Doll creator brings her flair for mystery to the Star Wars universe with The Acolyte. Headland joined us the morning after the series finale to discuss the show's bold narrative structure, her unique take on Star Wars witches, and how she choreographed the lightsaber fights character-first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Martin Scorsese and his long time editor Thelma Schoonmaker have delivered another marvelous piece of film history with their new documentary, "Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger." Schoonmaker analyzes the impact of one of the most important cinematic partnerships of all time, and shares stories of how her late husband Michael Powell advised Scorsese on several of his early films. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The final film in the horror trilogy that began with “X” and “Pearl” has arrived. For “MaXXXine,” director Ti West talks about creating a period film on a budget, working with Kevin Bacon to create one of cinema’s slimiest detectives, and how directing episodic television gave him the chops to take his filmmaking to the next level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin Costner revitalized the Western genre with his first film as director, “Dances With Wolves.” He talks about returning to the West for the ambitious epic “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” and explains what still interests him about the Western and why he’s taking the biggest gamble of his career on this passion project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the VFX heavy world building of Poor Things, director Yorgos Lanthimos has delivered something more akin to his earlier work on Dogtooth and Killing of a Sacred Deer. Hear how he guided Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe and the other actors through multiple roles across 3 stories, and get a peek into Yorgos's game-filled rehearsal process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From building a fictional government around Kate Winslet, to the benefits and liabilities of shooting in real palaces, the show's creator joins us to break down this fabulously satirical look at modern day authoritarianism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a fantastic finale to Season 3, one of the minds behind "Hacks" sat down with us to explore how the show remains so keyed into the joys, costs and absurdity of making art (and also pulling off 4AM drone shots on the Vegas strip). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hit series from streaming service Dropout, "Game Changer," combines a '70s game show with the joy of messing with your friends. Two of the executive producers walked us through the comedic chaos of producing a show where the game changes every episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If the title "Robot Dreams" sounds familiar, this was one of the Animated Features nominated for last year's Oscars. Now expanding wide over the summer, it's the perfect time to catch up on this darling story of friendship and New York City in the 80s. Hear how Pablo fell in love with animation directing, and how he inspired his animators with films from silent comedy masters like Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The co-director of "Good Time" and "Uncut Gems" returns to Toolkit to discuss his collaboration with Nathan Fielder on their bizarrely fascinating series, "The Curse." Always a student of filmmaking, Benny walks us through what he learned making a show unlike anything we've ever seen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the last 45 years, writer-director George Miller has created the greatest action-adventure franchise in the history of cinema; the “Mad Max” saga. The latest entry in the series, “Furiosa,” is the most ambitious and original yet. Miller talks about how and why he keeps raising the bar for himself and for action movies as a whole. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The director of several modern classics, like Jennifer's Body and The Invitation, joins us to discuss her feature debut Girlfight, now on Blu-Ray from Criterion. Kusama reflects on working with Michelle Rodriguez in her first movie role, and her intentions from several decades ago, and how the film has aged since. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After coming out to the world on his HBO special Rothaniel, the writer, actor, and comedian brings us even deeper into his personal life with this new reality show. Jerrod joined us for a deep conversation about the power of the camera to reveal truth, what it took for him to fall in love, and how he collaborated with his crew to relinquish control of his own image. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The show-runner and director for the fourth season of this classic series joins us to explore how she brought the central True Detective themes and mysteries to a brand new landscape; the dark and frozen tundra of Alaska's months long winter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After this and "We're All Going to the World's Fair" Schoenbrun has emerged as one of our most fully formed new indie filmmakers, using a mastery of genre and form to expose audiences to complex and fascinating ideas. They spoke with us about making their much anticipated new movie, as well as reflected on their journey to directing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The director of the funniest movies in a long time joins the Toolkit today to discuss her bold new work of auto-fiction. Arnow explains how she arranged this series of small vignettes to create something grander that speaks to a greater truth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David has been a stunt performer, one of the top stunt co-ordinators in the business, and now is one of the biggest action directors of the last decade with films like of "Atomic Blonde" and "Bullet Train." He joins Toolkit to break down making his newest film as a love letter to stunts and the way Hollywood used to make action flicks. And we get into his biggest stunt of all: pulling off a rom-com in the middle of a huge action movie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veteran producer Alex Baskin takes us behind the scenes of one of the best non-scripted shows on television. Hear how they balance reality with emotional storytelling, and how they prevented last season's 'Scandoval' from breaking the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The great actor-turned-director talks about developing the film for his daughter Maya Hawke (who stars as author Flannery O’Connor) after "Stranger Things" blew up, wrestling with O’Connor’s history with racism, what he learned about directing from all the greats he’s worked with as actor, and why the theme of creativity and what it means to be an artist has become the driving force behind so much of his own work as an artist at this stage of his career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For his fourth time joining the Toolkit discussion, director Luca Guadagnino takes us into the sultry, sweaty world of "Challengers." Much more than just a tennis movie, this film pushed Guadagnino to make bold choices with camera and music, and lean into storyboards and rehearsal more than his previous work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The co-creators of the stunning FX miniseries join us to discuss the rigorous process that made the show so captivating, from period detail to character psychology and a nuanced approach to subtitles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This little seen 1991 gem is coming to the Criterion Collection. And even if you have seen this movie, the story of how it got made will shock you. Savoca talked about how she transformed a studio film destined to be another Porky’s teen sex comedy into a subtle masterpiece. Savoca talks about how her young star, River Phoenix, saved the ending from being reshot by the studio and his incredible talent and moral compass at just 20 years old. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may remember "The People’s Joker" as that film Warner Brothers tried to shut down for copyright infringement during the 2022 Toronto film Festival. The more interesting story about this film is the ingenuity and a punk rock spirit in which it was created. Drew takes us on a journey of how her origin story as a trans woman coming up in the comedy world started (in her head at least) to merge with that of the Joker, and the rather unusual way this film was dreamed up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thomas Kail, of Hamilton and Fosse/Verdon joins us to discuss this gripping series about a Jewish family in Poland surviving WWII, and how he worked to make sure this holocaust story reflects upon the modern day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having helmed their big grudge match in 2021's Godzilla vs Kong, director Adam Wingard is now back for the big team up. Hear how Wingard and his team expanded the mythology of the series, introduced several new titans, and integrated VFX with some spectacular location shooting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The director of "Saint Maud" takes us into the dark heart of her new noir romance. From the shocking gore to the authentic sex scenes, and even a touch of the cosmic, Glass breaks down how this movie goes so hard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Keaton joins us today for a chat about his work Directing and starring in this modern day film noir about a hitman with rapid-onset dementia. Hear how Keaton defied the expectations of a thriller in order to deliver a movie that is contemplative, tragic, and yet dryly funny. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time to go back to the desert! The mastermind behind the Dune series returns to Toolkit to breakdown the complicated hero's journey, making sandworm riding a reality, and why this sequel feels like such a different kind of movie than the first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices