The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Director Damien Chazelle discusses his film, First Man, with fellow director Darren Aronofsky. The film tells the riveting stories of NASA's mission to land the first human being on the moon, and of Neil Armstrong, the astronaut chosen to make the one small step for man and giant leap for mankind on July 20, 1969. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Nov2018/FIRSTMAN_QnA_1018.aspx

Director Tamara Jenkins discusses her film, Private Life, with fellow director Mike White. The film stars Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti as a couple struggling to conceive who undergo multiple fertility therapies. But the process of trying to add to their family challenges their relationship with each other as they descend deeper and deeper into the world of assisted reproduction and domestic adoption. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Nov2018/PrivateLife_QnA_0918.aspx

Director Dan Fogelman discusses his film, Life Itself, with fellow director Ron Howard. The film centers on the story of a young New York couple who experience unexpected twists in their journey from their college romance to marriage and the birth of their first child, creating reverberations that echo across continents and through lifetimes. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Nov2018/LifeItself_QnA_0918.aspx

Director Yann Demange discusses his film, White Boy Rick, with fellow director John Singleton. Set during the height of the crack epidemic and the War on Drugs in 1980s Detroit, the film tells the true story of Rick Wershe, Jr., a teenager who was convinced by federal agents to become an undercover drug informant in exchange for keeping his gun dealing father out prison. Seduced by the lure of easy money, he gets in too deep and becomes a notorious drug dealer himself. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Nov2018/WhiteBoyRick_QnA_0918.aspx

Director Nicole Holofcener discusses her film, The Land of Steady Habits, with fellow director Greg Mottola. The film tells the story of Anders Hill, a man who feels trapped in the wealthy enclave of Westport, Connecticut. Seeking to renew his lust for life, he quits his job in finance and leaves his wife and family, but is quickly confronted with the harsh reality of his choices. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Nov2018/LandOHabits_QnA_0918.aspx

Director Wash Westmoreland discusses his film, Colette, with fellow director Scott McGehee. Set in the dawn of 20th century, the film tells the story of Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, a talented young writer who moves from her childhood home to Paris after she weds a writer known commonly as "Willy." Convinced by Willy to ghostwrite for him, Colette pens a bestselling semi-autobiographical novel that becomes a cultural sensation and spawns sequels. But her fight to regain creative ownership drives her to overcome societal constraints and challenge gender roles. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Nov2018/Colette_QnA_0918.aspx

Director Ethan Hawke discusses his film, Blaze, with fellow director John Patrick Shanley. Adapted from Sybil Rosen's memoir, Living in the Woods in a Tree: Remembering Blaze, the film tells the story of Blaze Foley, a songwriting legend of the Texas outlaw music movement that spawned superstars like Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Oct2018/Blaze_QnA_0918.aspx

Directors Jonathan Baker and Josh Baker discusses their film, Kin, with fellow director James Ponsoldt. Based on the Baker brothers' 2014 short film Bag Man, the film tells the story of an ex-con named Jimmy and his adopted teenage brother Eli, who are forced to flee their home after Jimmy lands in trouble with a local crime boss. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Oct2018/Kin_QnA_0918.aspx

Director Daniel Adams discusses his film, An LA Minute, with fellow director Bill Fishman. In a satirical look at fame, the film tells the story of Ted Gold, a former Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist who gave up being a serious writer to cash in by penning trashy bestsellers, His world is shaken when he meets Velocity, a young beautiful and homeless performance artist, whose passion and integrity inspires him to follow her example. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Oct2018/AnLAMinute_QnA_0818.aspx

Director Rob Reiner discusses his film, Shock and Awe, with fellow director Jeremy Kagan. Based on a true story, the film takes us back to the time after 9/11 when the Bush-Cheney administration claimed that then-President of Iraq Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, during their push to ramp up support for the invasion of Iraq. However, journalists at the Knight-Ridder news agency were skeptical of the evidence and stayed in pursuit of the real story while their colleagues mistakenly fed the American people news based on faulty and fabricated intelligence. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Sept2018/ShocknAwe_QnA_0818.aspx

Director Eugene Jarecki discusses his film, The King, with fellow director Marilyn Agrelo. The King explores the legacy of Elvis Presley forty years after his death by taking viewers on a musical road trip across America in his 1963 Rolls Royce during the 2016 presidential election. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Sept2018/NYDocSeries_TheKing.aspx

Director Jon M. Chu discusses his film, Crazy Rich Asians, with fellow director Jon Turteltaub. Adapted from the bestselling novel by Kevin Kwan, the film tells the story of Rachel, an American-born Chinese professor, who travels to Singapore to accompany her boyfriend Nick to his best friend's wedding. She soon discovers that Nick is from a family so wealthy that he is considered one of the most eligible bachelors in Asia, which puts a target on Rachel's back as she meets his family and attempts to navigate his ultra-rarefied social class. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Oct2018/0818_QnA_CrazyRichAsians.aspx

Director Spike Lee discusses his film, BlacKkKlansman, with fellow director John Singleton. Set in the early 1970s amid the ongoing struggle for civil rights, the film tells the true story of Ron Stallworth, the first African-American detective on the Colorado Springs Police Department. Ron's arrival is greeted with skepticism and open hostility by the department's rank and file, but he soon makes a name for himself with a dangerous undercover mission to infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Oct2018/BlacKkKlansman_QnA_0818.aspx

Director Rawson Marshall Thurber discusses his film, Skyscraper, with fellow director Joe Carnahan. The film tells the story of Will Sawyer, a U.S. war veteran who now assesses security for skyscrapers. When the tallest building in the world is set ablaze, Will finds himself framed for the crime of arson. Now he must use all his skills to both clear his name and rescue his family who are trapped inside the burning structure. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Sept2018/Skyscraper_QnA_0718.aspx

Director Shana Feste discusses her film, Boundaries, with fellow director Jake Kasdan. The film tells the story of Laura, a single mother who always puts the needs of others before her own. When her pot-dealing, carefree father Jack is kicked out of yet another nursing home, Laura agrees to drive him to Los Angeles to live with her sister Jojo. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2018/Aug2018/Boundaries_QnA_0618.aspx

Director Lauren Greenfield discusses her film, Generation Wealth, with fellow director Marina Zenovich. The film continues Ms. Greenfield's examination of wealth culture and the pathologies that have created the richest society the world has ever seen by examining materialism, celebrity culture, and social status.

Director Jim McKay discusses his film with fellow director Rebecca Miller. The film examines the plight of undocumented immigrants by focusing in on a pivotal week in the life of Jose, a delivery man who works long hours six days a week trying to survive and make it in America.

Director Amy Scott discusses her film with fellow director Chuck Workman. Set against the backdrop of "New Hollywood" in the 1970s, the film celebrates the life and work of director Hal Ashby whose filmography includes Coming Home, Harold and Maude, Shampoo, and Being There. Ashby's obsessive genius but uncompromising nature became an archetypal story of art versus industry.

Director Jay Chandrasekhar discusses his film with fellow director John Hamburg. The long anticipated follow-up to the 2001 cult comedy Super Troopers continues the story of the wacky Vermont Highway Patrol officers who were fired for their shenanigans in the first film.

Director Paul Schrader discusses his film with fellow director John Patrick Shanley. The film tells the story of Reverend Ernst Toller, a former military chaplain who is now the parish pastor of a small dutch reform church in upstate New York. Stuggling with the death of his son who he encouraged to enlist in the armed forces, he finds his faith further challenged after a pregnant parishoner asks him to counsel her husband, a radical environmentalist who doesn't want to bring a child into a world he believes is doomed.

Director Lynn Shelton discusses her film with fellow director Ava DuVernay. The film follows Chris, a 38-year-old ex-con who is finally granted parole after twenty years behind bars, largely due to the tireless advocacy and support of his high-school teacher, Carol. After the two are reunited, Carol begins to realize Chris' feelings for her have turned romantic, a situation complicated by the fact she is married with a teenage daughter, who has also befriended the awkward parolee.

Director John Krasinski discusses his film with fellow director Doug Liman. Set in a very near future when most of Earth's population has been eradicated, the film follows a family survivors forced to live in silence as they hide from savage extraterrestrial creatures that hunt exclusively by sound.

Director Jason Reitman discusses his film with fellow director Karyn Kusama. The film stars Charlize Theron as a New York suburban mom whose life is slowly being drained away by the challenges of raising two kids and a newborn. When she is sent help in the form of a gifted night nanny named Tully, she is at first hesitant to accept the assistance but comes to form a unique bond with the thoughtful and surprising young woman.

Director Randal Kleiser discusses his film Grease along with several others including The Blue Lagoon, White Fang, and Big Top Pee-Wee with moderator Jeremy Kagan. After a special 4k restoration screening of Grease at the DGA theater, Kleiser and speaks in-depth about the film and his career as a director.

Director Susan Walter discusses her film with fellow director Maria Burton. The film tells the story of Senna, a clothing designer whose life seems to be spiraling out of control until she unexpectedly meets Adam, her perfect match, at her 46th birthday party. Expecting never to meet again, the two serendipitously reunite at her 47th birthday party and Senna's life begins to flourish.

Director Sean McNamara discusses his film with fellow director Helen Hunt. Based on a true story, the film follows a high school volleyball team and their coach, who overcome their grief after the sudden death of their star player and band together in hopes of winning the state championship.

Director Lynne Ramsay discusses her film with fellow director Maggie Greenwald. The film tells the story of a traumatized veteran who tracks down missing girls for a living. When he takes the case of finding the daughter of a rising politician who's running for the Senate, he uncovers a conspiracy that may lead to his awakening or his death.

David McCoy Barrett moderates the Under Cover: An Evening with the Directing Team from The Americans featuring Actor/Directors Noah Emmerich, Director/Executive Producer Christopher Long, UPM/Executive Producer Mary Rae Thewlis, UPM/Co-Producer Tyson Bidner, and 1st AD Charlie Foster The discussion covers a variety of topics including working with "the J's" (aka Showrunners Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields), the challenges of budgeting a period spy series shooting New York for Washington D.C., and how Rhys and Emmerich made the transition from acting to directing.

Director James Keach discusses his film with fellow director Lynne Littman. The film tells the inspirational story of Augie Nieto, a fitness industry luminary, who is diagnosed with ALS in 2005. Today, he takes on ALS with his wife Lynne, leading the race to a cure in the fight to save his own life and the lives of millions.

Director Trudie Styler discusses her debut film with fellow director Ira Sachs. The film tells the story of Billy Bloom, a confident and flamboyant teen newly relocated to an ultra-conservative high school in the deep South. After suffering persecution and bullying, he decides to wear his inner freak with pride and run for homecoming queen.

Mike Robe moderates the Meet the Nominees: Movies for Television and Mini-Series Symposium featuring Kyra Segwick and Jean-Marc Vallee. Nominees Scott Frank, the director of Godless, Barry Levinson, the director of Wizard of Lies, and George C. Wolfe the director of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks were not available to participate. The discussion covers a variety of topics including Vallee's challenging 90-day schedule and Sedgwick's nuanced take of a small story.

Jeremy Kagan moderates the 27th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Feature Film Symposium featuring Guillermo del Toro, Greta Gerwig, Martin McDonagh, Christopher Nolan, and Jordan Peele on their nominated films. Topics for part three include the nominees discussing how the nominees deal with unexpected and their best and worst days of directing.

Jeremy Kagan moderates the 27th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Feature Film Symposium featuring Guillermo del Toro, Greta Gerwig, Martin McDonagh, Christopher Nolan, and Jordan Peele on their nominated films. Topics for part two include the nominees discussing casting and the rehearsal process.

Jeremy Kagan moderates the 27th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Feature Film Symposium featuring Guillermo del Toro, Greta Gerwig, Martin McDonagh, Christopher Nolan, and Jordan Peele on their nominated films. Topics for part one include the nominees' thoughts on how writing and directing intersect and how each of them approached the opening scene of their films.

Director Scott Cooper discusses his new film, Hostiles, with fellow Director Peter Landesman. Set in 1892, the film stars Christian Bale as a U.S. Cavalry officer who reluctantly agrees to escort a dying Cheyenne war chief and his family on a harrowing journey through dangerous Comanche territory to their tribal lands in Montana.

Director Ridley Scott discusses his new film, All the Money in the World, with fellow Director Michael Mann. The film tells the true story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt by his mother Gail Harris to convince his billionaire grandfather J. Paul Getty to pay the ransom.

Director Rob Reiner discusses his new film, LBJ, with DGA President Thomas Schlamme. The films charts the life of Lyndon B. Johnson from his young days in West Texas to becoming Senator John F. Kennedy's running mate after losing the 1960 Democratic presidential nomination. Sidelined after the election, the once powerful Senate Majority Leader finds himself and the world changed after Kennedy is assassinated and he is thrust into the presidency.

Director Craig Gillespie discusses his new film, I, Tonya, with fellow Director Tom McCarthy. Based on unbelievable, but true events, the film follows figure skater Tonya Harding as she goes from being the first American woman to complete a triple axel in competition to criminal suspect and pariah.

Director Steven Spielberg discusses his new film, The Post, with fellow Director Patty Jenkins. The film tells the true story of Katherine Graham, the first female publisher of the Washington Post, and editor Ben Bradlee who risked their careers and their freedom when they decided to report on the classified Pentagon Papers, a collection of documents released by Daniel Ellsberg revealing government secrets that spanned three decades.

Director Rian Johnson discusses his new film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, with fellow Director Spike Jonze. As the eight installment of the blockbuster franchise, the film continues the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, as Rey develops her Force abilities with a reluctant Luke Skywalker while Finn, General Leia Organa and the resistance continue their battle against Kylo Ren and the First Order.

Director James Franco discusses his new film, The Disaster Artist, with fellow Director Paul Haggis. The film dramatizes the making of writer/director Tommy Wiseau's The Room -- one of the most infamous films in Hollywood history that is often referred to as "the Citizen Kane of bad movies."

Director Guillermo del Toro discusses his new film, The Shape of Water, with fellow Director Baz Luhrmann. Set against the backdrop of Cold War-era America, the film tells the story of Elisa, a mute, isolated woman who works as a janitor in a high-security government laboratory. When she discovers the lab's classified secret -- an intelligent scaled being from South America that lives in a water tank -- she develops a unique bond with it and learns that its fate lies in the hands of a marine biologist and hostile government agent.

Director Paul Thomas Anderson discusses his new film, Phantom Thread, with fellow Director Rian Johnson. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Reynolds Woodcock, a tailor whose distinctive style makes him the center of British fashion in 1950s post-war London . His status as a confirmed bachelor is upended when he meets Alma, a young, strong-willed woman who soon becomes a fixture in his life as his muse and lover.

Director Alexander Payne discusses his new film, Downsizing, with fellow Director Taylor Hackford. The film follows Paul and his wife Audrey, who make the life-altering decision to shrink themselves to five inches tall, using a newly-discovered process created as a solution to overpopulation. After Paul undergoes the procedure, he finds that there's more to existence when there's less of him.

Director Joe Lynch discusses his new film, Mayhem, with fellow Director Joe Carnahan. The film tells the story of Derek Cho, an attorney who is unjustly fired after being framed by a co-worker. But when a strange virus that makes people act out their worst impulses infects the law office, Derek is forced to fight for his job and his life.

Director Dan Gilroy discusses his new film, Roman J. Israel, Esq, with fellow Director Jeremy Kagan. Denzel Washington stars in this story about a driven attorney whose life is upended when he is recruited to join a firm by cutthroat lawyer George Pierce and begins a friendship with young equal rights champion Maya Alston. As a turbulent series of events ensues Israel's lifelong and career-defining activism is tested.

Director Dee Rees discusses her new film, Mudbound, with fellow Director Mira Nair. The film tells an epic story of two families -- one black and one white -- who are forced to confront the realities of life in the American South. Though pitted against one another by a ruthless social hierarchy and bound together by the shared farmland of the Mississippi Delta, the families' lives are changed when sons from both families forge an uneasy friendship over their shared experience during World War II.

Director Alex Gibney discusses his new film, No Stone Unturned, with fellow Director Marc Levin. The film reviews the events of the evening of June 18, 1994 when six men were gunned down and five others wounded in a pub in Northern Ireland that was frequented mainly by Catholics. The families of the victims were promised justice, but 20 years later they still don't know who killed their loved ones. The documentary reopens the mysterious unsolved case with its allegations of massive collusion between British security forces and Loyalist killers.

Director Joe Wright discusses his new film, Darkest Hour, with fellow Director Matt Reeves. Set during the early days of World War II, the film tells the story of how Winston Churchill wrestled with the decision of whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler or continue to fight against incredible odds, with full knowledge that the fate of Western Europe would hang in the balance.

Director Stephen Chbosky discusses his new film, Wonder, with fellow Director Jason Reitman. Based on the New York Times bestselling novel, the film tells the inspiring story of August Pullman, a young boy born with facial differences who becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade in his brave journey to just be treated as an ordinary kid.