Are You Up to the ‘Task’ of Directing Great TV? Jeremiah Zagar on How to Helm an HBO Hit

No Film School founder, Ryan Koo, sits down with acclaimed director Jeremiah Zagar to explore his journey from Sundance Labs and indie documentaries to directing high-stakes prestige television. Zagar, best known for We the Animals and Hustle, shares an in-depth look at his process directing HBO’s Task—an emotionally rich, verité-style crime drama from showrunner Brad Ingelsby, starring Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey. The conversation dives deep into how Zagar’s collaborative ethos and commitment to joy and safety on set shapes his work, and how building a long-standing creative family has been key to his success.

In this episode, No Film School’s Ryan Koo and guest Jeremiah Zagar discuss...

• How Jeremiah transitioned from making a personal documentary to directing HBO Sunday night TV

• The evolution of his production company Public Record and his partnership with longtime collaborator Jeremy Yaches

• Why he treats every project as a holistic collaboration, bringing in his trusted team across all productions

• The importance of storyboarding, mood boarding, and detailed prep to allow for freedom on set

• Behind-the-scenes stories from directing pivotal scenes in Task, including a climactic car scene with Ruffalo and Pelphrey

• The philosophy of “best idea wins” and how showrunner Brad Ingelsby fostered deep creative collaboration

• How emotional truth and safety for actors are prioritized on Zagar’s sets

• The unusual ways his acting coach (or “wizard”) helps foster intimacy and authenticity among cast members

• Why joy, kindness, and team spirit are central to Zagar’s directing ethos

Memorable Quotes:

• "The process has to be better than the product."

• "I never expected to make any money. So it had to be a fulfilling artistic journey."

• "If you're working with NBA-caliber people, all you have to do is make sure LeBron James wins the game."

• "We said, we're going to run this set with kindness. And we did."

Guests:

• Jeremiah Zagar – Director of Task, We the Animals, and Hustle

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