IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit
Chris O'Falt
Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. From screenwriting to film language to cinematography, we'll be examining the innovative ways today's best filmmakers are getting their visions out into the world.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 9, 2025 • 25min
'Armed Only With a Camera' Director Craig Renaud
Documentarian Craig Renaud joins IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill to discuss “Armed Only With A Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud.” Renaud talks about both the difficulty and necessity of turning his camera on himself and his family after his brother and filmmaking partner was killed while covering the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and how he found a visual language to convey what his brother meant to him and to the worlds of filmmaking and journalism at large.
Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 5, 2025 • 44min
Zodiac Killer Project - Director, Charlie Shackleton
Charlie Shackleton, a filmmaker known for his innovative documentary work, dives deep into his project, Zodiac Killer Project. He reflects on the original true crime documentary that fell apart and how that setback fueled a more compelling meta-documentary. Shackleton explores the irresistible pull of true crime storytelling, revealing the emotional layers behind filming and its unique visual approach. He questions narrative tropes and the ethics of the genre while discussing how constraints transformed his project into something inventive and engaging.

Dec 2, 2025 • 48min
'Hamnet' Director Chloé Zhao
Oscar winning director Chloé Zhao returns to the Filmmaker's Toolkit to break down the devastating emotions and enthralling craft of her new film "Hamnet." You'll wont want to miss Zhao's in-depth breakdown of the ending, and how she achieved such a delicate triumph.
Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 26, 2025 • 54min
'BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions' Director Kahlil Joseph
Those who know Kahlil Joseph's work have long been hoping he would make a feature film. The master of short form filmmaking, including collaborations with Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce, has turned his innovative YouTube remix news show "BLKNWS" into one of the most interesting films of the year. Kahlil shares how he made the transition to a feature, and discusses the rocky relationship the film had with A24, which ended up in Steven Soderberg stepping in to save the day.
Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 25, 2025 • 43min
'Wicked: For Good' Director Jon M. Chu
Join Jon M. Chu, the visionary director behind blockbuster musicals, as he unveils the magic of the two-part film 'Wicked: For Good'. He reveals how he crafted a unified story with a fresh perspective on Elphaba and Glinda's journeys. Dive into his creative choices, from establishing Glinda’s visually stunning bubble to Jeff Goldblum's charming Wizard number. Chu discusses the emotional weight of the wedding scene and his innovative approach to filming both movies simultaneously. Plus, get insights on his future projects!

Nov 21, 2025 • 35min
'Rental Family' Director Hikari
Director Hikari joined IndieWire's Jim Hemphill to discuss her new comedic drama, staring Brendan Frasier as an actor hired to be a friend and companion to a family in Japan. Hikari explains the fascinating real phenomenon behind the film, and how she achieved her exquisitely subtle emotional storytelling.
Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 18, 2025 • 32min
'One to One: John & Yoko' Director Kevin Macdonald
Kevin Macdonald knows John Lennon and Yoko Ono are one of the most scrutinized relationships pop culture history. So he took a new approach to these icons: exploring how the TV they were watching from their Manhattan apartment shaped, and reflected, their views of America.
IndieWire Doc Toolkit is sponsored by HBO Max.
Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 15, 2025 • 32min
'The Running Man' Director Edgar Wright
Director Edgar Wright sat down with the Filmmaker Toolkit to dig into his high-octane adaptation of Steven King's The Running Man. We dive into the world building, working with Glen Powell, and of course the craft behind Wright's action filmmaking.
Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 14, 2025 • 46min
'Nouvelle Vague' Director Richard Linklater
Richard Linklater returns to the Filmmaker Toolkit to discuss his loving recreation of the French New Wave. Linklater shares why the movies of that period meant so much to his filmmaking journey, and reflects on how much easier they had it making 'Breathless' than 'Nouvelle Vague' today.
Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 12, 2025 • 54min
'The Alabama Solution' Directors Andrew Jarecki & Charlotte Kaufman
Documentary filmmakers Andrew Jarecki & Charlotte Kaufman spent one fateful day filming a barbecue at an Alabama state prison, a day filled with inmates telling them the pleasant day they were witnessing was a lie created by the prison. The duo began to speak with the men behind the prison's back, using contraband cell phones to uncover what is really going on in our prison system.
IndieWire's Doc Toolkit is sponsored by HBO Max
Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down the latest insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


