

The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast
Directors Guild of America
Brought to you by the Directors Guild of America, ”The Director’s Cut” will bring you the behind-the-scenes stories of today’s most talked about films. Each episode features a different director interviewed by one of their peers, leading to revealing conversations about the grueling, but rewarding process of bringing their films to life.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 27, 2021 • 37min
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings with Destin Daniel Cretton and Jon M. Chu (Ep. 315)
Director Destin Daniel Cretton discusses his new film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, with fellow director Jon M. Chu in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. The film welcomes a new superhero into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, telling the story of a martial arts master who must confront the past he thought he'd left behind when he is drawn in to the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.
Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2021/October2021/ShangChi_QnA_092105.aspx

Sep 17, 2021 • 28min
Reminiscence with Lisa Joy and J.J. Abrams (Ep. 314)
Director Lisa Joy discusses her new film, Reminiscence, with fellow director J.J. Abrams in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. The film tells the story of Nick, a futuristic private investigator who helps his clients access lost memories. When an alluring new client named Mae disappears, Nick becomes obsessed with finding her and uncovers a violent conspiracy.
Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
www.dga.org/Events/2021/October…nce_QnA_082129.aspx

Sep 14, 2021 • 36min
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain with Morgan Neville and Ondi Timoner (Ep. 313)
Director Morgan Neville discusses his new film, Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, with fellow director Ondi Timoner in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. The film reveals how Bourdain went from chef at an obscure New York restaurant to a bestselling author, world traveler, Emmy-winning television writer and producer, and one of the most notorious and beloved figures in the food world and beyond.
Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2021/October2021/LA_DocSeries_RoadRunner.aspx

Sep 3, 2021 • 34min
Respect with Liesl Tommy and Radha Blank (Ep. 312)
Director Liesl Tommy discusses his new film, Respect, with fellow director Radha Blank in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. The film follows the remarkable life of the “Queen of soul” Aretha Franklin, from her early days singing in her father's church choir to becoming a legendary international musical superstar.
Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2021/September2021/Respect_QnA_0821.aspx

Aug 26, 2021 • 31min
Stillwater with Tom McCarthy and Scott Cooper (Ep. 311)
Director Tom McCarthy discusses his new film, Stillwater, with fellow director Scott Cooper in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. The film tells the story of Bill, an unemployed oil-rig roughneck who flies to Marseille to visit his estranged daughter Allison, who is imprisoned for a murder she claims she did not commit. Bill embarks on a mission to exonerate Allison despite language barriers, cultural differences and a complicated legal system.
Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2021/September2021/StillWater_QnA_0821.aspx

Aug 12, 2021 • 31min
Night of the Kings with Philippe Lacôte and Alex Stapleton (Ep. 310)
Director Philippe Lacôte discusses his new film, Night of the Kings, with fellow director Alex Stapleton in a virtual Q&A. Set in Ivory Coast’s MACA Prison — an institute ruled by its inmates — the film tells the story of an ailing inmate king who assigns a young new prisoner to entertain the population with stories, but the ritual storyteller must keep the tales going all night long or forfeit his own life.
Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2021/September2021/GCS_NightoftheKings_0721.aspx

Jul 22, 2021 • 30min
False Positive with John Lee and Sarah-Violet Bliss (Ep. 309)
Director John Lee discusses his new documentary film, False Positive, with fellow director Sarah-Violet Bliss in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. The film tells the story of Lucy and Adrian, a couple attempting to conceive who find a dream doctor in the illustrious Dr. Ingle. But after becoming pregnant with a healthy baby girl, Lucy begins to notices something sinister through Hindle's gleaming charm.
Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2021/August2021/FalsePositive_QnA_062127.aspx

Jul 2, 2021 • 1h 30min
The Craft of the Director with Barry Jenkins (Ep. 308)
Director Barry Jenkins participates in a conversation with DGA President Thomas Schlamme on Jenkins' filmography, drawing examples from Medicine for Melancholy, Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk, and The Underground Railroad.

Jul 2, 2021 • 42min
The Boy from Medellín with Matthew Heineman and Ondi Timoner (Ep. 307)
Director Matthew Heineman discusses his new documentary film, The Boy from Medellín, with fellow director Ondi Timoner in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. The film provides an immersive look at a dramatic week in the life of international superstar J Balvin. As he prepares for his sold out stadium concert in his hometown of Medellín, Colombia, public pressure and political unrest grow around him forcing him to reflect on how he will use his voice.

Jun 28, 2021 • 33min
In the Heights with Jon M. Chu and Nisha Ganatra (Ep. 306)
Director Jon M. Chu discusses his new film, In the Heights, with fellow director Nisha Ganatra in a spoiler-filled Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. The film tells the story of a likeable bodega owner named Usnavi in the tight-knit community of Washington Heights, NY, who saves every penny from his daily grind as he hopes for a better life. But when he inherits a fortune, Usnavi discovers he has mixed feelings about closing his store and retiring.


