The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast The Smashing Machine with Benny Safdie and Christopher Nolan (Ep. 570)
Oct 10, 2025
Join Benny Safdie, acclaimed director of films like Uncut Gems, as he shares insights into his solo debut, The Smashing Machine, in a captivating conversation with Christopher Nolan. They dive into the challenges of directing Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, crafting a jazz score that echoes the film’s emotional depth, and the innovative cinematography choices that reveal characters' inner lives. Safdie also discusses gaining trust from real-life inspiration Mark Kerr and the cathartic moment of screening the film at Venice.
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How The Project Began
- Dwayne Johnson brought the documentary to Benny in 2019 and sparked the project.
- Benny started writing in 2023 but had been mentally living with Mark Kerr long before scripting began.
Moments Become Scenes
- Benny treats small documentary moments as scenes to be magnified through performance and camera placement.
- Shooting on 16mm and obsessing about technical realism helped him evoke an immediate, lived feeling.
Using Documentary As A Test
- Benny used the documentary as a reference but rearranged and amplified conversations to build emotional truth.
- He intentionally moved dialogue between people to create scenes that expose inner conflicts.