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

Jan 14, 2022 • 27min
'Licorice Pizza': The Sound + Vision of Paul Thomas Anderson
A look at PTA's creative process, the unique way he approaches filmmaking, and his new film with long-time collaborators:
[1:20]: Co-cinematographer Michael Bauman
[11:40]: Supervising Sound Editors / re-recording mixers Christopher Scarabosio & David Acord
[18:39]: Costume Designer Mark Bridges
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Jan 5, 2022 • 47min
'The Green Knight' Dir David Lowery & DoP Andrew Droz Palermo
Go inside Lowery and Droz Palmero's collaboration on the year's Best Cinematography. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 17, 2021 • 34min
'No Time To Die': Cary Fukunaga with Cinematographer Linus Sangren
Fukunaga and Sangren break down their realistic, but painterly approach to Daniel Craig's final installment as James Bond, with incredible insights to film's use of color, camera movement, and emotional storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 10, 2021 • 51min
'The Power of the Dog' Director Jane Campion & Editor Peter Sciberras
The legendary director ("The Piano") dives into her process and collaborations in making the Netflix western. This is followed [26:30] by a conversation with her editor Peter Sciberras, who breaks down how he and Campion carefully navigated the relationship between Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) – as they needed to maintain the mystery, mounting sexual energy, and growing sense of foreboding as the film unfolded. Sponsored by MGM/United Artists Releasing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 25, 2021 • 23min
'F9': Fast & Furious Director Justin Lin
He’s back. The action maestro behind “Fast Five” and “Fast & Furious 6” returns to the franchise that was never the same without him. While on the podcast, Justin talked about what it’s actually like to direct big action scenes that are being shot thousands miles away, while he’s on a soundstage with the Vin Diesel and the cast, and how he integrates practical stunt work with VFX and cast performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 22, 2021 • 48min
'Hacks' Director/Co-Creator Lucia Aniello & DP Adam Bricker
One of the three co-creators of the new HBO Max series “Hacks,” Aniello also directed six of the 10 episodes (including the first three) and together with cinematographer Adam Bricker employed a purposeful and effective use of the camera so sorely missing from most half-hour comedy series. On the podcast Lucia discusses casting a non-standup in Jean Smart, creating her routines, and how she used the camera to tell the story of Deborah Vance (Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder). Bricker joins the second half of the podcast to talk about creating the look of a classic Vegas and avoiding the pitfalls inherent with cross-shooting a comedy series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 18, 2021 • 32min
'In the Heights' Dir. Jon M. Chu
The “In the Heights” director on his original pitch to Lin-Manuel Miranda to direct his Tony award winning musical. We break down the opening number, the “When the Sun Goes Down” dance up the side of the building, and Jon’s distinct use of movement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 9, 2021 • 46min
'P-Valley' Creator Katori Hall
The “P-Valley” showrunner talks about growing up in Memphis and how going to strip clubs informed how her Starz TV series celebrates the culture and art form of stripping. Hall discussed how she was inspired by Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” and used color light to capture the beauty of her casts’ dark skin tones. The playwright-turned-TV creator also talked about her experience of being a first time showrunner, what she is building off for Season 2 (about to start filming), where she’ll step into the director’s chair for the first time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 2, 2021 • 1h 14min
'Pen15' Anna Konkle & Sam Zvibleman
Co-star Anna Konkle talks about the "half-therapy, half-masochist" process of reliving her middle school years through her "Pen15" character, writing the incredible “Vendy Wiccany" (witch) episode, and working with her 13 year-old stars. And at the 27:26 mark, co-creator Sam Zvibleman, who directed all seven episodes of Season 2A, joins the podcast to talk the restraint of Season 2, the influence of "Welcome to the Dollhouse" and the low-fi 90s filmmaking aesthetic of "Pen15," the difficulty of cutting 50 minute episodes down to 30, and what's like to shoot every episode in 4 days. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 28, 2021 • 1h 9min
'I May Destroy You' Dir. Sam Miller & Costume Designer Lynsey Moore
How did creator and star Michaela Coel make “I May Destroy You”? We go inside her process with two close collaborators, as we discuss Coel stepping into the role of Arabella through costume, visually adapting her 12 brilliant scripts, capturing the spirit of East London, the constantly evolving rewrite process, and that surreal final episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


