The Empire Film Podcast The Interviews (ft. Jason Statham & Ric Roman Waugh; Derek Cianfrance; Nia DaCosta)
Jan 30, 2026
Derek Cianfrance, filmmaker known for intimate dramas like Blue Valentine, chats about directing Roofman and adapting a true story. He discusses filming on location, balancing comedy and tragedy, casting Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst, and portraying the complex humanity behind criminal acts.
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How Shelter's Collaboration Began
- Jason Statham and Ric Roman Waugh met just before making Shelter after phone calls while Statham was in Malta.
- Statham pitched the story and Waugh expanded its emotional core into the film they made together.
Emotion Anchors Action
- Ric Roman Waugh insisted action must have emotional stakes to avoid mindless spectacle.
- He aimed to balance commercial thrills with a genuine emotional core in Shelter.
Let Mystery Unfold
- Resist the pressure to insert a cold open just to explain a character quickly.
- Let mystery and a slow reveal create audience curiosity and engagement.