The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Director Geeta Gandbhir discusses her new film, The Perfect Neighbor, with fellow Director Yance Ford in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, she discusses the process of discovering how she would tell the story through police body cam footage, editing the body cam footage into a cohesive narrative that develops the players and events leading up to the shooting, and finding a pacing for the footage so as not to overwhelm her audience with distressing content. Screened as part of the DGA’s Documentary Series, the film, told mostly through police body cam footage, uses the shooting of a beloved mother of four as a case study to examine Florida's controversial "stand your ground" laws, revealing the consequences that can occur when individuals feel emboldened by the law to act on their fear and prejudice. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/events/2025/december2025/docseries_theperfectneighbor-1025

Director Kathryn Bigelow discusses her new film, A House of Dynamite, with fellow Director James Gray in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses working with journalist and Screenwriter Noah Oppenheim to discover the best way to turn this hypothetical into a story, collaborating with her Cinematographer and Actors to capture an unblocked and naturalistic feel to her scenes, and consulting with government experts to portray the transpiring of events with informed data. The film explores a hypothetical situation: When a radar station detects a single, unattributed ICBM headed for Chicago, how do the many levels of the US government use their limited time to identify who is responsible, attempt to disable the warhead, and in the worst case scenario, consider severe retaliatory options. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/events/2025/december2025/houseofdynamite_qna_1025

Scott Cooper, a film director celebrated for his character-driven narratives, joins fellow filmmaker David O. Russell to discuss his latest project, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. They dive into Cooper's innovative approach to storytelling, which transcends traditional biopics by exploring themes of therapy and trauma. The conversation highlights the challenges and artistic risks of balancing Springsteen’s rich music history with cinematic vision, as well as insights on casting Jeremy Allen White and audience reactions to the film.

Director Guillermo del Toro discusses his new film, Frankenstein, with fellow Director Bradley Cooper in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses the consideration he took in the multiple perspective structure of the story, the research and detail behind crafting intricate props and capturing authentic settings, and what he looked for in an Actor when casting the role of The Creature. Based on the classic novel by Mary Shelley, the film tells the tragic story of the brilliant but egotistical Dr. Victor Frankenstein, who brings a monstrous creature to life. When the experiment spirals out of his control, events transpire that lead to the undoing of both the creator and his creation. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/events/2025/december2025/frankenstein-1025

Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier, known for his acclaimed film 'The Worst Person in the World', joins director Frank Oz to delve into his latest work, 'Sentimental Value'. They discuss the importance of character depth and emotional pacing in filmmaking. Trier reveals his unique rehearsal techniques that foster actor trust and spontaneity. He shares insights on co-writing with Eskil Vogt and balancing scripted scenes with actors' improvisation. Their candid conversation touches on the creative challenges of directing and the emotional nuances of storytelling.

Director Scarlett Johansson discusses her new film, Eleanor the Great, with fellow Director Frank Oz in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, she discusses how she sees table reads as essential to getting her Actors on the same wavelength, characteristics she looks for in a Directorial Team, and some of the lessons she learned from Directors when working with them as an Actor. The film tells the story of 94-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein, who moves from her Florida retirement community to Manhattan after losing her best friend of seventy years. Soon after, she meets a group of Holocaust survivors and feels compelled to tell a story about her past that takes on a dangerous life of its own. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/events/2025/november2025/eleanorthegreat_qna_0925

Director Werner Herzog discusses Les Blank’s film Burden of Dreams, with fellow Director Ondi Timoner in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses the value he saw in Blank documenting the making of Fitzcarraldo, shares further insight into aspects of the shoot the documentary didn’t cover, and reflects on his memories of the late Actor Claudia Cardinale. Screened as part of the DGA’s Documentary Series, the film follows Director Werner Herzog during the filming of Fitzcarraldo, the story of one man’s attempt to build an opera house deep in the Amazonian jungle. As the production unfolds, the crew has to overcome a number of setbacks, including difficult Actors, unpredictable weather and the logistics of getting a boat over a mountain, all with the determination of realizing Herzog’s vision. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/events/2025/november2025/docseries_burdenofdreams-0925

Join Benny Safdie, acclaimed director of films like Uncut Gems, as he shares insights into his solo debut, The Smashing Machine, in a captivating conversation with Christopher Nolan. They dive into the challenges of directing Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, crafting a jazz score that echoes the film’s emotional depth, and the innovative cinematography choices that reveal characters' inner lives. Safdie also discusses gaining trust from real-life inspiration Mark Kerr and the cathartic moment of screening the film at Venice.

Derek Cianfrance, an acclaimed director known for character-driven films, joins David Gordon Green to discuss his new project, Roofman. He dives into researching the real Jeffrey Manchester and crafting an engaging narrative that merges comedy and tragedy. Cianfrance shares insights on creating a nostalgic 2004 Toys “R” Us set and emphasizes the importance of spontaneity during filming. He also reveals his approach to editing, audience testing, and musical choices that shape the film’s emotional tone.

Director Jay Roach discusses his new film, The Roses, with fellow Director Jason Reitman in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses working with his Actors to find the right balance of dark comedy and drama in the film, collaborating with his spouse and many other musical artists to craft a soundtrack that fit the film’s tone, and how he approached remaking a foreign film for American audiences that may not receive the content in a similar way. The film tells the story of Ivy and Theo, a couple living a seemingly ideal life with a loving marriage, successful careers and great kids. But when Theo’s career nosedives and Ivy’s ambitions take off, a tinderbox of hidden resentment and fierce competition ignites as the reality of their relationship bubbles to the surface. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/events/2025/november2025/theroses_qna_0925