Rian Johnson, writer and director of Knives Out, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Looper, discusses various topics in this podcast. He talks about attending a screenwriting seminar with his father, the father-son story in Looper, differences in crew cultures, creative partnerships with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Steve Yedlin, the design of the throne room in The Last Jedi, and building extensive and grounded sets. Johnson also reflects on his abilities as a filmmaker and the beauty of emotionally correct scenes in a story.
Rian Johnson shares his childhood memory of attending a screenwriting seminar with his father, which has since influenced his craft as a writer and director.
The podcast explores the importance of collaboration in filmmaking, including the role of storyboards, shot lists, and finding the right team of collaborators.
Ryan discusses the challenges of working with actors and the balance between capturing dialogue and performance through framing and blocking techniques.
Deep dives
Overview of the podcast episode
In this episode of the Team Deacons Podcast, director Ryan Johnson joins the hosts for a conversation about his journey in the film industry. He shares how he started as a writer and gradually transitioned into directing. Ryan talks about the support he received from his father and how it influenced his career choices. He also discusses his experience at film school and the challenges he faced in getting his first movie made. Ryan highlights the importance of sticking to your passion and following your instincts in storytelling.
Collaboration and Visual References
During the conversation, Ryan and the hosts discuss the process of collaboration in filmmaking. They talk about the role of storyboards and shot lists in planning the visual approach of a film, as well as the importance of finding the right team of collaborators. They also share insights on using visual references and emotional cues to guide the creative process. Ryan mentions his admiration for directors like David Lynch and the Coen brothers, who excel at creating unique visual experiences.
Working with Actors and Filmmaking in Continuity
The podcast delves into the challenges of working with actors and the benefits of allowing scenes to play out without excessive coverage. Ryan shares his experience working with ensemble casts and the limitations of rehearsal time. He discusses the balance between capturing the dialogue and performance, as well as using framing and blocking to enhance the storytelling. The hosts and Ryan also touch upon the use of natural light and LED lighting in modern filmmaking, exploring the advancements and possibilities they offer.
The Importance of Efficient Lighting Control
Efficient lighting control is vital on set, allowing for quick adjustments and maintaining the desired balance of light sources for different camera angles. However, it can become frustrating when unnecessary complexity is added, such as putting all practical lights on a dimmer board. Steve, an expert in control of light liquids, has been working on developing more efficient methods of lighting control.
The Advancements and Challenges of Digital Filmmaking
Digital filmmaking has brought about significant changes in the industry. It offers the advantage of quickly adapting and achieving the desired look in post-production. Having a calibrated monitor on set allows directors to see the final result and make necessary adjustments. However, there is still a debate between digital and film, with "digital look" being a matter of what filmmakers do with the technology. The evolving landscape of filmmaking requires embracing these changes and finding a balance between artistry and technological advancements.
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 63 - RIAN JOHNSON - WRITER / DIRECTOR
On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, writer and director Rian Johnson (KNIVES OUT, STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, LOOPER) speaks with us about his career, and, in a pleasant change of pace, he even asks us a few questions! Rian first shares his childhood memory of attending a screenwriting seminar with his father and how that experience has since informed his craft. We later learn about the father-son story at the heart of LOOPER and reflect on the differences in crew cultures between different countries. We also reminisce over floundering in your 20’s and touch on Rian’s enduring creative partnerships with actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt and cinematographer Steve Yedlin. While discussing THE LAST JEDI, Rian reveals which classic opera inspired the design of the throne room and under what conditions, atypical for effects-heavy filmmaking, enabled Rian and his collaborators to build extensive and grounded sets for its many scenes. Throughout the episode, Rian reflects on his abilities as a filmmaker, and we discuss the beauty of scenes that, despite being irrelevant to the plot, are emotionally correct within a given story.
-
Recommended Viewing: LOOPER
-
This episode is sponsored by Fiilex
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode