The Business

<p>When Norman Lear decided to reboot the classic sitcom <em>One Day at a Time</em>, this time with a Latino family, he wanted a writer-producer who could offer an authentic voice to the project. He found that person in Gloria Calderón Kellett, who incorporated much of her own background into the show, including making the family Cuban.</p>

<p>Director Barry Jenkins and producer Adele Romanski tell us about making their Golden Globe-winning <em>Moonlight</em>, about a gay African American boy growing up surrounded by poverty and drugs in Miami. Plus, an all new awards season banter.</p>

<p>When documentarians Alexis Bloom and Fisher Stevens started working on <em>Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds</em>, they could not have imagined it would end up being a posthumous tribute to both women. Originally set to air in March, HBO has moved up the film’s premiere to January 7. </p>

<p>Veteran director Richard Donner talks about the adventures and behind the scenes antics that went into making the original comic book blockbuster, <em>Superman</em>, in 1978. Plus, an all new banter looking ahead to the big stories of 2017.</p>

<p>Banter buddies Matthew Belloni of The Hollywood Reporter and Michael Schneider of IndieWire and Variety join Kim Masters to mega-banter the year that was 2016. There were major mergers in play while others went away, Disney ruled the box office, Megyn Kelly took down Roger Ailes, and traditional TV ratings declined while thanks to Netflix, the number of shows continued to rise.</p>

<p>Filmmaker Garth Davis spent years making commercials in Australia before co-directing <em>Top of the Lake</em> with Jane Campion. For his feature film debut, <em>Lion</em>, he's taken on the true story of a boy in India who accidentally gets separated from his family and ends up in Tasmania. He tells us how he came to be at the helm of the film and about casting a five-year old in India and teaching him English along the way.</p>

<p>When ESPN approached Ezra Edelman about doing a massive documentary on O.J. Simpson, he had little interest in following the beats of the so-called trial of the century. Instead, he saw the project as a lens through which to examine race in America. He tells us about seeking out tough interviews and how his opus grew from five hours to nearly eight.</p>

<p>Broadway legend Harvey Fierstein won one of his several Tonys for his performance as Edna Turnblad in <em>Hairspray</em>. Now, he's reprising the role for NBC's live version of the musical, which airs December 7. He tells us about the weighty task of transforming into Edna and changes he made to the script when adapting it for television.</p>

<p>Noah Oppenheim spent his 20s working on NBC news shows. Then he left, hoping to make it as a writer in Hollywood. After a stint as an executive in reality TV, his first-ever script, <em>Jackie</em> landed on <em>The Black List</em>. Six years later, the film is finally premiering. Oppenheim tells us about watching Darren Aronofsky hand the project over to Chilean director Pablo Larrain, and his unusual career path, which has now taken him back to NBC, as a senior vice president in charge of <em>Today.</em></p>

<p><em>Hell or High Water</em> director David Mackenzie is Scottish, but he was instantly drawn to the Texas tale of two brothers turned bank robbers in the drought-stricken, post-recession American West. He tells us about his efficient, stripped-down approach to making one of the best-reviewed films of the year.</p>

<p>Director Barry Jenkins and producer Adele Romanski tell us about making their awards-contender <em>Moonlight</em>, about a gay African American boy growing up surrounded by poverty and drugs in Miami.</p>

<p><em>Telenovela</em> star Pablo Azar often plays characters who live in a world of wealth. But Azar's reality is not so glamorous. Acting jobs with Telemundo come without union protections that are standard in English-language productions. Azar says even the stars of Spanish-language productions shot in the US are often forced to work other jobs. For him, it was driving for Uber. Then, writer-director Jonas Cuarón and actor Gael García Bernal tell us about their "political horror film" <em>Desierto</em>.</p>

<p>First-time filmmaker Adam Irving faced a lot of obstacles telling the tale of compulsive New York train thief Darius McCollum. But Irving was determined to get his movie <em>Off the Rails</em> made. He tells us how he did it, and what he learned about making and marketing documentaries along the way.</p>

<p>When Rebecca Hall told her agents she wanted to play the title role in a tiny indie film about Christine Chubbuck, a TV news reporter who committed suicide on live television in 1974, her representation said...are you sure? Hall tells us why she took a gamble on the new film <em>Christine</em>, and talks about watching Marvel slash her role in <em>Iron Man 3</em>.</p>

<p>Steven Bochco, the writer-producer behind record-breaking Emmy winners <em>Hill Street Blues, LA Law</em> and <em>NYPD Blue</em>, fought battles with everyone from out-of-control actors to network censors in his long career. He isn't afraid to tell those tales in his new memoir, <em>Truth Is a Total Defense</em>. He shares some of those stories with us, plus gives an update on a possible <em>LA Law</em> reboot. </p>

<p>Director Jack Riccobono and producer Chris Eyre's documentary <em>The Seventh Fire</em> takes an unflinching look at gang life on the White Earth Indian Reservation in Minnesota. Their journey to get the film made had several unexpected twists and turns, including a boost from Natalie Portman and Terrence Malick.</p>

<p>TV writer-producers and married couple Marc Guggenheim and Tara Butters recently found themselves running shows on opposite sides of the superhero wars: Butters at Marvel's <em>Agent Carter</em> and Guggenheim at DC Comics' <em>Arrow</em> and <em>Legends of Tomorrow</em>. Plus, the directors of the new <em>Amanda Knox</em> Netflix documentary on their quest to go beyond salacious headlines. </p>

<p>Trevor Pryce spent 14 seasons as a defensive end in the NFL. In the off-season, he devoted himself to various creative endeavors, including his passion project: an original animated series. Once he retired, he made his show his way, and <em>Kulipari: An Army of Frogs</em> is streaming now on Netflix.</p>

<p>James Andrew Miller has worked on in-depth oral histories of <em>Saturday Night Live</em> and ESPN. His newest book <em>Powerhouse</em>, traces the history of CAA, the dominant, but secretive Hollywood talent agency. He tells us how he got notoriously press-shy agents, including Michael Ovitz, to go on the record. </p>

<p><em>Jimmy Kimmel Live!</em> has been on ABC for almost 14 years, making Kimmel one of the "grizzled veterans" of late night. Kimmel tells us about the struggle of the early years of the show, accidentally creating the first late night viral video and his plan for hosting the upcoming Emmy awards.</p>

<p>When comedian Louis C.K. created and self-financed his new web series <em>Horace and Pete,</em> he kept the production a secret and did absolutely no advertising. He tells us about risking his own money and making <em>Horace and Pete</em> completely on his own terms.</p>

<p>Writer-producers Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields had never even met before they were teamed up to work on the FX spy series <em>The Americans</em>. What started as a blind date, of sorts, led to a creative friendship and one of the most critically acclaimed dramas on cable. Now Fields and Weisberg, as well as the stars of their show, are Emmy nominated for the series' fourth season.</p>

<p>Thomas Kail won a Tony for directing <em>Hamilton</em> on Broadway. Now he’s up for an Emmy after directing the TV musical <em>Grease: Live</em> on Fox. He tells us how having a specific vision for your project up front can save money in the long run. Then, actor Sterling K. Brown, also Emmy-nominated for his portrayal of Chris Darden on the FX limited series<em> The People vs. O.J. Simpson</em>, shares how he transformed into the complicated prosecutor.</p>

<p>Robert Smigel and his foul-mouthed puppet Triumph the Insult Comic Dog have been harassing unwitting subjects for almost 20 years. It's no surprise that in this election year, they found fertile ground (for Triumph to poop on). A two-part special on Hulu takes Triumph on new adventures on the campaign trail and at the conventions.</p>

<p>Comedian Mike Birbiglia's new film <em>Don't Think Twice</em> follows a close-knit improv group that starts to feel the strain when one of its members gets a big break on a hit TV show. Birbiglia tells us what improv and directing have in common, and how he's set out to "hand-deliver" his film to theaters.</p>

<p>James Schamus was a successful producer of independent films with his company, Good Machine, and then as the CEO of art-house label Focus Features for 13 years. In 2013, he was fired and decided to try something new. Schamus tells us about calling the shots on his directorial debut, <em>Indignation</em>.</p>

<p>Joe Berlinger says his mind is boggled by the criticism of his new film, <em>Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru</em>. Some critics think Berlinger should have approached his subject with a more skeptical eye, but the a<span>ward-winning veteran documentarian </span>says that was never the point of the movie.</p>

<p>Writer-producer Noah Hawley, recently Emmy-nominated for both writing and directing in season two of <em>Fargo</em>, tells us how he gets so much writing done, why he doesn’t ever want to work in broadcast TV again, and what he knows so far about <em>Fargo</em> season three.</p>

<p>Jerrod Carmichael’s NBC series <em>The Carmichael Show</em> takes an old-fashioned approach to the sitcom--complete with a live studio audience. Still, the show tackles topical issues from guns to religion. He tells us why he loves the multi-cam set-up and what other modern day sitcoms are missing.</p>

<p>The dramedy <em>UnREAL</em>, now in its second season, is a major departure from the typical Lifetime fare. The series co-creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro tells us how her past experience working on <em>The Bachelor</em> led to the creation of a show all about the behind-the-scenes machinations of a reality TV producer.</p>

<p>In the new Netflix series <em>Lady Dynamite</em>, comedian Maria Bamford plays a version of herself, trying to regain her footing following a battle with mental illness. Bamford and show co-creator Pam Brady talk about how they developed the show and keep the real Bamford sane on set while she plays the semi-fictional Bamford on TV.</p>

<p>Director Tim Miller and producer Simon Kinberg tell us how <em>Deadpool</em> went from being almost dead at Fox to an R-rated box office sensation. And as for the leaked test footage that made fans go wild and got the movie made? Miller swears it wasn't him.</p>

<p>As the host of NBC's <em>Late Night</em>, Seth Meyers has been tearing into this unhinged election year -- and he feels no obligation to strive for fake balance. He defends himself against that and the semi-serious charge that his insults drove Donald Trump to run for president.</p>

<p>Comedian Julie Klausner is the creator and star of the Hulu comedy <em>Difficult People</em>. She tells us how her experience writing recaps of reality shows for Vulture informs her character on the show and why she and Billy Eichner, her friend and co-star, will never have a fight on air. </p>

<p>Directors Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg set out to make a documentary about what could have been Anthony Weiner's comeback campaign. When everything tanked, they kept their cameras rolling. And actors Timothy Simons and Matt Walsh tell us about working with a new showrunner in Season 5 of HBO's <em>Veep</em>.</p>

<p>In Fox's wry sitcom <em>The Grinder,</em> Rob Lowe starred as an actor famous for playing a lawyer on TV. The show drew praise from critics, but struggled in the ratings. Now it's been cancelled and Lowe tells us he's questioning what's next.</p>

<p>When comedian Louis C.K. created and self-financed his new web series <em>Horace and Pete</em>, he kept the production a secret and did absolutely no advertising. He tells us about risking his own money and making <em>Horace and Pete</em> completely on his own terms.</p>

<p>Marvel's newest blockbuster has so many super-characters, it's no wonder it took two directors to handle all the action. Brothers Anthony and Joe Russo tell us how they went from directing quirky TV shows to big-budget superhero movies. </p>

<p>Bill Borden has spent years making movies in both the U.S. and China. He was a producer on Stephen Chow's recent film <em>The Mermaid</em>, the biggest hit in Chinese box office history. He tells us how filmmaking is different in China than the US, and what American filmmakers can do to bridge the divide.</p>

<p>Veteran director Richard Donner tells us about the behind-the-scenes adventures of making the original comic book blockbuster <em>Superman</em> in 1978.</p>

<p>Screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna had never planned to go back to working in television. Then she found Rachel Bloom's YouTube videos. She tells us how they teamed up to create the quirky CW musical comedy <em>Crazy Ex-Girlfriend</em>.</p>

<p>After years of playing drug dealers and terrorists, Maori actor Cliff Curtis is finally finding more complex, nuanced roles. He tells us how he's able to bring his own background to two recent leading man roles. And Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, creators and stars of <em>Catastrophe</em> talk about the anxiety leading up to their second season.</p>

<p>Journalist Robert Draper tells us about his profile of Kate del Castillo, the Mexican actress who served as the go-between for Sean Penn's infamous meeting with El Chapo. Then, a conversation with showrunners Michelle Ashford and Ilene Chaiken. They talk about their varied career paths that led them to overseeing their own shows.</p>

<p>Early in his career, Oscar-winning director Davis Guggenheim declared he would never make documentaries. He tells us about the bad experience in Hollywood that made him have a change of heart, and talks about his newest film, <em>He Named Me Malala</em>, which profiles activist Malala Yousafzai and her family.</p>

<p>Krisha Fairchild left LA in the 1980’s when her acting career failed to launch. Thirty years later, her nephew wrote and directed a film and cast her in the title role. Now, she's finally having her Hollywood moment. And Steve Harvey tells us how he's fought back against network execs who wanted to pigeonhole him in "black TV."</p>

<p>Writer-producer Kenya Barris tells us how he runs his writers room on his ABC show <em>Black-ish</em>, and what led him to write a much talked about recent episode about police brutality. </p>

<p>It's been two decades since Sally Field headlined a film, but now she stars as the title role in Michael Showalter's new indie dramedy, <em>Hello, My Name Is Doris</em>. Field and Showalter share why they were drawn to the project, and how they filmed it in under a month. </p>

<p>Terence Winter, the co-creator and showrunner of the new HBO series <em>Vinyl,</em> tells us how his roots in Brooklyn and stint practicing law both helped him -- in a roundabout way -- land big writing jobs in Hollywood.</p>

<p>When Douglas McGrath set out to make a documentary about Mike Nichols, he found the iconic director most excited to talk about his early work, up to and including perhaps his most defining movie, <em>The Graduate.</em></p>

<p><em>Mad Max: Fury Road</em> director George Miller has had a successful and exceptionally varied career. He tells us what all his films have in common, despite the differing subject matter.</p>