
BELOW THE LINE PODCAST
A podcast about the film industry: stories from the set, told by the crew
Latest episodes

Feb 22, 2024 • 37min
S18 - Ep 8 - 96th Oscars - Makeup and Hairstyling
Our Academy Awards series continues with a discussion of the Oscar nominees for Makeup and Hairstyling. Joining me today are Angela Nogaro (Makeup) and Yvonne Depatis-Kupka (Hair), discussing not only the nominated films but - once again - questions about the selection process and who is considered part of the team. Why is there only one name on the team for “Oppenheimer”? We offer some thoughts.
The 2023 Nominees for Makeup and Hairstyling:
•"Golda"
•"Maestro"
•"Oppenheimer"
•"Poor Things"
•"Society of the Snow"

Feb 19, 2024 • 58min
S18 - Ep 7 - 96th Oscars - Cinematography
Film professionals discussing the nominees in their area of expertise: that’s Below the Line at the Oscars. Today, we’re talking about Cinematography, and my returning guests — Patrick Cady and David Tuttman — are directors of photography with stories to share.
The 2023 Nominees for Cinematography:
•"El Conde"
•"Killers of the Flower Moon"
•"Maestro"
•"Oppenheimer"
•"Poor Things"

Feb 16, 2024 • 51min
S18 - Ep 6 - 96th Oscars - Costume Design
Costume Designers Helen Huang And Allison Choi Braun return to offer their insights on this year’s Oscar nominees for Costume Design. We mark our halfway point through the Academy Awards season with another great conversation, discussing not only the five nominated films but also how the craft of costume design is such an integral aspect of the filmmaking collaboration.
The 2023 Nominees for Costume Design:
• "Barbie"
•"Killers of the Flower Moon"
•"Napoleon"
•"Oppenheimer"
•"Poor Things"

Feb 13, 2024 • 1h 14min
S18 - Ep 5 - 96th Oscars - Animated Feature
It’s difficult to sell 12 episodes of Oscars coverage, but if you appreciate the work done by crew, you’re going to appreciate this season, where film professionals discuss the nominees in the category of their expertise. Today’s animated conversation about the nominees for Animated Feature benefits from returning guests, Kent Seki and Camille Leganza. Have YOU seen Oscar nominee “Robot Dreams”? It's the rare case of a nominated film that I didn't get to see, so no spoilers about that one.
The 2023 Nominees for Animated Feature Film:
•“The Boy and the Heron“
•"Elemental"
•"Nimona"
•"Robot Dreams"
•"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse"

Feb 10, 2024 • 43min
S18 - Ep 4 - 96th Oscars - Production Design
We’re continuing our deep dive discussions about the Oscar nominees in the technical categories, and today, Production Designer Bob Shaw and Set Decorator Regina Graves - Oscar nominees themselves - offer their insights about the five nominees for Production Design.
The 2023 Nominees for Production Design:
•"Barbie"
•"Killers of the Flower Moon"
•"Napoleon"
•"Oppenheimer"
•"Poor Things"

Feb 7, 2024 • 1h 9min
S18 - Ep 3 - 96th Oscars - Visual Effects
It’s non-stop conversations about the Oscar nominees in the technical categories from now until the Academy Awards, and I hope you'll follow us for the full season. Today, Kent Seki and Chris Batty return to discuss the nominees for Visual Effects. This year, it looks like any of these nominees could deservedly take the prize. Join us for insights about the surprising group of contenders in this rapidly evolving field.
The 2023 Nominees for Visual Effects:
• "The Creator"
• "Godzilla Minus One"
• "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”
• “Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One"
• "Napoleon"

Feb 4, 2024 • 1h 18min
S18 - Ep 2 - 96th Oscars - Directing
Below the Line continues our Fifth Annual Oscar Series with a discussion of the nominees for achievement in Directing, and I’m joined by a returning panel of fellow below-the-liners: Katie Carroll, Bill Hardy, Roger Mendoza and Shaun O’Banion. It’s the first year we’ve discussed the directors nominated for the Academy Award, but it’s in lieu of our traditional conversation focused on the Directors Guild of America nominees (the DGA crowns their winners next weekend, Feb 10th). Same panel, same topic, but a slightly different focus; the episode runs long, but I hope you’ll enjoy it.
The 2023 Nominees for Directing:
•"Anatomy of a Fall"
•"Killers of the Flower Moon"
•"Oppenheimer"
•"Poor Things"
•"The Zone of Interest"

Feb 1, 2024 • 40min
S18 - Ep 1 - 96th Oscars - Sound
Our Fifth Annual Oscar Series begins now! Once again, we’ve got panels of film professionals discussing the nominees in their category of expertise. First up: Oscar nominee Steve Morrow (production sound mixer) and Oscar winner Don Sylvester (sound editor) discuss this year's nominees for Sound.
The 2023 Nominees for Sound:
•“The Creator”
•“Maestro”
•“Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One”
•“Oppenheimer”
•"The Zone of Interest”

Dec 1, 2023 • 42min
S17 - Ep 11 - Gen V - Film Editing
Now for something completely different! “Gen V” is a bombastic and provocative take on the Superhero genre, and Film Editor Maura Corey threads a needle balancing the action, the satire, and the humor from scene to scene. Gianni Damaia returns to the co-host seat, and - once again - it’s a laugh-out-loud conversation that I hope you’ll enjoy as much as we did.

Nov 10, 2023 • 1h 7min
S17 - Ep 10 - Aftersun - Film Editing
2022’s “Aftersun” is a slow-burn of a movie which nonetheless resonated with a sizable audience, and Film Editor Blair McClendon brings us inside the collaboration that sits at the center of this film (which is currently streaming on Showtime and Paramount+). Fellow editor (and friend of the podcast) Christopher Angel identified “Aftersun” as an overlooked gem when we discussed Oscar nominees at the start of 2023, and he joins me today in the co-host chair to help tease out what made this rule-defying film so successful.