

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

Nov 1, 2019 • 39min
Pavarotti with Ron Howard and Ondi Timoner (Episode 225)
Director Ron Howard discusses his new film, Pavarotti, with fellow director Ondi Timoner. The film examines the life and career of famed opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti. Featuring never-before-seen footage, concert performances and intimate interviews, the film takes an in-depth look at the lasting legacy of the musical icon affectionately dubbed "The People's Tenor."
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Nov2019/LA_DocSeries_Pavarotti1019.aspx

Oct 25, 2019 • 44min
The Irishman with Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee (Episode 224)
Director Martin Scorsese discusses his new film, The Irishman, with fellow director Spike Lee. The film follows Frank Sheeran, a retired WWII veteran and former mob hitman, as he reflects on the moments that defined his career as a figure in organized crime, especially his role in the 1975 disappearance and murder of Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Nov2019/Irishman_QnA_1019.aspx

Oct 25, 2019 • 31min
The Current War - Director’s Cut with Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and Jonathan Mostow (Episode 223)
Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon discusses his new film, The Current War: Director's Cut, with fellow director Jonathan Mostow. The film reveals how electricity titans Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse engaged in a battle of technology and ideas to determine whether direct current or alternating current would power the modern world.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Nov2019/CurrentWar_QnA_1019.aspx

Oct 19, 2019 • 33min
Blade Runner: The Final Cut with Director Ridley Scott and Jon Favreau (Episode 222)
As part of a special celebration for the grand re-opening of the DGA’s brand new, state-of-the-art theater in Los Angeles, Director Ridley Scott discussed his 1982 sc-fi classic, Blade Runner. Scott’s final cut version of the film was shown with Dolby Vision picture and Dolby Atmos sound.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Nov2019/LA-TheaterReOpeningCelebration_091921.aspx

Oct 19, 2019 • 25min
Joker with Director Todd Phillips and Ivan Reitman (Episode 221)
Director Todd Phillips discusses his new film, Joker, with fellow director Ivan Reitman. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, the film examines the slow descent into madness of the man who would become Batman’s arch nemesis.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Nov2019/Joker_QnA_1019.aspx

5 snips
Oct 11, 2019 • 38min
Ad Astra with Director James Gray and Damien Chazelle (Episode 220)
Director James Gray discusses his new film, Ad Astra, with fellow director Damien Chazelle (First Man). The film stars Brad Pitt as a near-future astronaut who makes a daring voyage to discover the truth about his father (Tommy Lee Jones) who disappeared on a deep space mission 30 year prior. The journey will unravel a mystery that challenges the nature of human existence and threatens the survival of our planet.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Nov2019/JamesGrayAD_ASTRA_QnA_0919.aspx

Oct 11, 2019 • 37min
Downton Abbey with Director Michael Engler and Ritesh Batra (Episode 219)
Director Michael Engler discusses his film, Downton Abbey, with fellow director Ritesh Batra. The film continues the story from the popular British show, as both the hosts and the help prepare for a royal visit from the King and Queen of England. Scandal, romance and intrigue will leave the future of Downton hanging in the balance.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Nov2019/DowntonAbbey_QnA_0919.aspx

Sep 24, 2019 • 31min
Hustlers with Lorene Scafaria and Adam McKay (Ep. 218)
Director Lorene Scafaria discusses her film, Hustlers, with fellow director Adam McKay. Inspired by a true story, the film stars Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu as two former strip club employees who join forces to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Nov2019/Hustlers_QnA_0919.aspx

Sep 13, 2019 • 34min
Official Secrets with Gavin Hood and Phillip Noyce (Ep. 217)
Director Gavin Hood discusses his film, Official Secrets, with fellow director Phillip Noyce. The film tells the true story of Katharine Gun, a British intelligence specialist who leaked information to the press about an illegal NSA spy operation designed to collect compromising information on UN members and blackmail them into sanctioning 2003 invasion of Iraq.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Oct2019/GavinHoodDiscussesOfficialSecrets_QnA_0919.aspx

Aug 28, 2019 • 39min
Blinded by the Light with Gurinder Chadha and Catherine Hardwicke (Ep. 216)
Director Gurinder Chadha discusses her film, Blinded by the Light, with fellow director Catherine Hardwicke. The film tells the story of Javed, a British teen of Pakistani descent growing up in 1987 England amidst the racial and economic turmoil of the Thatcher era. He writes poetry to escape the intolerance of his hometown and the inflexibility of his traditional father, but when a classmate introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteen, "The Boss," his world is turned upside down.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Sept2019/BlindedByTheLight_QnA_0819.aspx


