The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Director Ellen Kuras discusses her new film, Lee, with fellow Director Phillip Noyce in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses how her skillset as a cinematographer informed her directing, how she aimed to reach beyond the constraints of a typical biopic to create something more complex and working with Kate Winslet to capture Lee as a multidimensional character. The film tells the true story of Lee Miller, who in the 1940s decides to abandon her career as a fashion model and become Vogue’s war correspondent during World War II. Capturing the extremes of the human experience in some of the most indelible images of war, Lee cements herself as one of the greatest war photographers of the 20th century. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Dec2024/Lee_QnA_1024

Director Steve McQueen discusses his new film, Blitz, with fellow Director Barry Jenkins in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses portraying the hidden voices of all those affected by the real life London Blitz, casting the lead child actor as a silent vessel for the audience while being a distinctive character, and utilizing music and dancing throughout the film as a way to reclaim humanity in the face of war. The film tells the story of George, a nine-year-old boy who is separated from his mother, Rita, amid the devastation of the London Blitz capital bombings. As George embarks on a journey to find the family he left behind, Rita embarks on her own journey to track down her son. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Dec2024/Blitz_QnA_1024

Director Mohammad Rasoulof discusses his new film, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, with fellow Director Ramin Bahrani in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses his utilization of modern online spaces in the film as a reflection of current sentiments, shooting the film clandestinely to avoid castigation, and using his own personal experiences as reference for events within the film. Screened as part of the DGA’s Global Cinema Series, the film tells the story of Iman, an investigating Judge of Tehran’s court system who becomes increasingly paranoid after his gun goes missing. With his wife and daughters as the prime suspects, he grapples with distrust in his household as political unrest unfolds in the streets. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Nov2024/GCSNY-SeedOfTheSacredFig_0924

Director Azazel Jacobs discusses his new film, His Three Daughters, with fellow Director David Zellner in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how his personal experiences informed the film, working with his cast to capture performances against their usual types, and shooting scenes in the same order as they happen in the film to allow the performances to evolve with the story. The film tells the story of Katie, Christina and Rachel, who reunite for the first time in many years at their dying father’s New York City apartment. Over the course of three claustrophobic days, the sisters unearth past grievances, traumas and hang-ups as they learn to coexist before their father’s departure. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Oct2024/HisThreeDaughters_QnA_0924

Director Matt Tyrnauer discusses his new film, Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid!, with fellow Director Ondi Timoner in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses his cinema verite approach to the nuances of Carville’s life, puzzling where and how to include Carville’s wife, Mary Matalin in the film, and finding a new wind in his documentary following Joe Biden’s exit from the presidential race. Screened as part of the DGA’s Documentary Series, the film follows the Democratic consultant’s career, from his rise to fame in 1992 to his current effort with Kamala Harris’ campaign. As he navigates America’s tumultuous 2024 election cycle, Carville is portrayed not only in his political element, but also in his personal life. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Oct2024/DocSeries_CARVILLE-0924

Director Megan Park discusses her new film, My Old Ass, with fellow Director Siân Heder in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses finding and the means of capturing her tone, discovering scenes with the help of scouting the locations and the process of casting of Maisy Stella and Aubrey Plaza as the two leads. The film tells the story of teenager Elliott who, after her first time taking mushrooms on a summer vacation, is visited by a 39-year-old version of herself. Through this apparition of her older self, she learns valuable lessons about family, friends, love and coming to terms with her sexual orientation. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Oct2024/MyOldAss_QnA_0924

Austin Peters, director of the film Skincare, joins Mimi Cave to explore the creative process behind his latest project. They discuss the quest for an authentic portrayal of Los Angeles, creating within the 'Sunshine Noir' genre, and working with Elizabeth Banks to craft her character. The conversation dives into the transformative journey of filmmaking, the vital role of music in storytelling, and the unique challenges of capturing real neighborhoods in Hollywood. Together, they emphasize collaboration and the unexpected joys that arise during production.

Director Fede Alvarez discusses his new film, Alien: Romulus, with fellow Director Leigh Whannell in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses his process for crafting scenes, creating a believable relationship between a human and android character, and working with the effects team from previous films. This continuation of the Alien franchise tells the story of a group of young space colonizers with a plan to scavenge a derelict space station. Instead, once they arrive, they discover they might not be alone. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Oct2024/AlienRomulus_QnA_0824

Director Lee Daniels discusses his new film, The Deliverance, with fellow Director Adam Shankman in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses making a horror film for the first time with his characters at the forefront, playing with serious and campy tonal points, and discovering his portrayals of religious imagery while considering his own beliefs. The film tells the story of Ebony, a struggling single mother who moves her family into a new home for a fresh start. But when strange occurrences inside the home threaten to tear the family apart, Ebony soon finds herself locked in a battle for her and her children’s lives. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Oct2024/TheDeliverance_QnA_0824

Director Irene Taylor discusses her new film, I Am: Celine Dion, with fellow Director Ondi Timoner in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses discovering the purpose of her film as she was making it, Celine’s effort to participate more in the making of the film and being deliberate about how much she wanted to explore Celine’s stardom alongside more sensitive topics in her home life. Screened as part of the DGA’s Documentary Series, the film tells the story of the Canadian singer’s past and present as well as the sacrifices she’s made to continue performing for her beloved fans, all while managing her life-altering illness. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2024/Sept2024/DocSeries_IAMCelineDion-0824