SEASON 2 - EPISODE 73 - INBAL WEINBERG - PRODUCTION DESIGNER Production designer Inbal Weinberg (THE LOST DAUGHTER; SUSPIRIA; THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI) joins us on this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. Despite her early love for European social realist films, Inbal embarked on the immigrant dream of making it in New York City and studied film at NYU before being asked by director Hal Hartley (her favourite filmmaker at the time) to design THE GIRL FROM MONDAY. Inbal reflects on working in America as a foreigner and how that perspective influences her design choices, and we discuss handling the Mediterranean personality infrequently encountered in American productions. She later speaks of the art department as the hub through which the vision of the film is communicated to other departments and the importance of maintaining open lines of communication throughout production. Inbal also shares how she and other production designers are fighting to stay involved in the evolving design process in the face of the proliferation of VFX across all departments. Topics also include: using time in prep to learn how to work with a director, the revolving door of information we accrue and abandon when transitioning between projects, and Inbal’s favourite episode of the podcast. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure

Cinematographer Steve Yedlin discusses his early career and partnership with Rian Johnson. They reflect on film school, the nature of luck in one's career, and designing the look of films. They explore the role of technology and AI in filmmaking, various cinematographic techniques, and the confusion surrounding 'poker face' in filming.

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 71 - DAVID OYELOWO - ACTOR / DIRECTOR On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we’re joined by actor and director David Oyelowo (LAWMEN: BASS REEVES, THE WATER MAN, SELMA) to discuss his career and his craft. A television-addicted latchkey kid in his youth, David later spent several years with the Royal Shakespeare Company before embarking on his career on the screen with chameleonic aspirations. While discussing his performance as Seretse Khama in A UNITED KINGDOM, we consider the steep barriers to entry for a global audience to immerse themselves in the history of a period film set in a specific African country and the power of drawing an audience in to the story through the personal rather than the political. David later reflects on his journey to play Dr. King in SELMA, describing to us how the script’s focus evolved as new directors took over the project, what director Ava DuVernay said to financiers to finally get the project off the ground, and how he took inspiration from actor Daniel Day-Lewis to embody the essence of Dr. King’s character. We also discuss David’s directorial debut, THE WATER MAN, and how he leaned on his past collaborators to prepare for the project. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure

Zach Braff, actor/writer/director, shares his early experiences in the arts, casting choices in 'Garden State', empowering the crew during production, challenges of crowdfunding 'Wish I Was Here', marketing films today, and his love for flying and filmmaking.

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 69 - CORD JEFFERSON - WRITER / DIRECTOR Writer and director Cord Jefferson (AMERICAN FICTION, WATCHMEN, THE GOOD PLACE) joins us on this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Cord tells us why he never considered a career in the arts and how he wrote his way onto a journalism beat after college. After transitioning into writing television and surviving the Hollywood shuffle, Cord shares why he wrote AMERICAN FICTION following a huge professional failure in 2020 and how he realized the film with the help of Rian Johnson’s production company T-Street in a risk-averse industry. We dive deep into Cord’s process and experiences as a first-time director and learn how he prevented the tone of the film from falling into farce. Cord later shares why he prefers the collaborative nature of filmmaking over the solitude of prose writing and why AMERICAN FICTION was the first screenplay he ever wrote purely out of passion. At the end, Cord preaches patience when asked to give a younger version of himself advice, and he dispels the myths surrounding writer’s block. - Recommended Viewing : AMERICAN FICTION - This episode is sponsored by Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 68 - JAMES CHINLUND - PRODUCTION DESIGNER Production designer James Chinlund (THE BATMAN, THE AVENGERS, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM) joins us on this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. Reflecting on his childhood, James recalls to us noting the relationship between crowds of worshipers and the inner sanctum of the Cathedral of St. John in New York while squirreled up above in its attic. While discussing James’ earlier work, we consider the balance a set or location needs between stripping it to its bare essence for the scene while avoiding an overly minimal design more appropriate for the theater. As avid fans of THE BATMAN, we ask James how he worked with director Matt Reeves and cinematographer Greig Fraser over three years and through a global pandemic to bring Gotham to the screen in all its gloomy glory. James also reveals how he learned to overcome his mistrust of VFX while working on THE AVENGERS, and we ponder the future of production design amidst the current and looming advances in technology. - This episode is sponsored by Fiilex

Producer Ed McDonnell joins the Team Deakins Podcast to discuss his career in Hollywood, including his rise from assistant to executive. He shares an important lesson he learned from being fired over 'Beverly Hills Cop' and talks about collaborating with directors like Chris Nolan and David O. Russell. They also explore the future of films and the impact of streaming platforms, as well as the significance of crew members reading and understanding the script.

Cinematographer Oliver Stapleton joins the podcast to discuss his career and his role as Co-Head of Cinematography at NFTS. He talks about helping directors execute their vision, recalls interesting tales from his career, and shares his predictions for the future of filmmaking. He also reminisces about his childhood and his love for cinema, recounts a traumatic experience that impacted his career, and discusses his experiences shooting 'My Beautiful Laundrette' and 'Absolute Beginners'. Additionally, he explores the changing landscape of cinematography due to technology advancements and emphasizes the importance of selecting the right film school and teachers.

Reed Morano, director and cinematographer, shares her journey from family documentarian to the world of filmmaking. She discusses getting her first cinematographer job on Craigslist after film school and shooting FROZEN RIVER. We learn about the types of projects she is approached for as a director and what drew her to direct I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW. They also discuss the challenge of improving scripts and the importance of storytelling.

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 64 - ELLEN LEWIS - CASTING DIRECTOR On this episode of the Team Deakins Episode, casting director Ellen Lewis (KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, GOODFELLAS) joins us to talk about all things casting—of which we knew very little before speaking with her. A disciple of veteran casting director Juliet Taylor, Ellen shares with us how they were first introduced and what she learned working with her for eight years. Ellen reveals how closely casting works with talent agents to find the right actor for a role and how some casting directors even directly negotiate an actor’s contract. We worked with Ellen on KUNDUN, and she recounts her global odyssey to cast the 14th Dalai Lama across four separate stages of his life. We later discuss setting actors at ease, both on set and in the audition room, and how we do what we can to lift the pressure under which actors must work. Ellen also admits to us just how far she’s willing to travel to go to set. - Recommended Viewing: KUNDUN - This episode is sponsored by Fiilex