This time around we are joined by Mike Makowsky, creator of the limited series ‘Death by Lightning,’ about bringing the story of one of America’s lesser known presidents to the screen. Mike shares how he connected with Candice Millard’s book and what it took to get a 4-episode historical series made in the current TV landscape, where IP recognition…

Writer-director-actress Cherien Dabis joins us to discuss 'All That's Left of You,' a film following a Palestinian family across three generations of conflict. Cherien opens up about evacuating the production from Palestine to Cyprus, Greece, and Jordan just two weeks before filming began due to escalating violence. Our conversation explores how Ch…

Writer-director John-Michael Powell joins us to discuss 'Violent Ends,' his southern crime thriller hitting theaters on Halloween. Powell opens up about the leap from his micro-budget debut 'The Send-Off' to this significantly larger production, sharing insights into navigating that scale shift. Our conversation explores John-Michael's extensive ed…

Co-directors Salvatore Scarpa and Max Burgoyne-Moore join us to discuss Largo, their short film about a young Syrian refugee in the U.K. that took nearly five years to develop. The filmmakers open up about the dynamics of their creative partnership, exploring how two voices shaped one vision, and what can be achieved within the constraints and crea…

This time around, we talk with Cooper Raiff, the creator, director and star of the limited series ‘Hal & Harper,’ about navigating the indie scene on the TV side. Cooper breaks down one of the show’s central conceits: he and Lili Reinhart playing their characters as kids in certain scenes. We explore what it took to get into that childhood headspac…

Filmmaker M.G. Evangelista joins us to discuss their horror short 'Anino,’ premiering at this year's NewFest. Our conversation explores the integral role of language in shaping their film's narrative and the ongoing search for identity that drives their work. M.G. opens up about their venture into genre filmmaking with this monster story, revealing…

Cinematographer Mattias Nyberg joins us to discuss his work on episodes 1-3 of 'The Girlfriend,' directed by Robin Wright. Mattias reveals what drew him to the project - the opportunity to collaborate with Wright, whose directorial vision he'd long admired - and how they developed a visual language that serves the story's emotional core. Our conver…

Cinematographer Alexander Dynan joins us to discuss his work on 'The History of Sound,' tracing his collaboration with director Oliver Hermanus from their previous project 'Mary & George.' Alexander reveals how lessons from episodic filmmaking informed his feature approach, while acknowledging the distinct storytelling demands of each medium. Our c…

This week, we sit down with director Ondi Timoner to talk about her documentary ‘All God’s Children,’ which follows the partnership between Congregation Beth Elohim and Antioch Baptist Church in Brooklyn. Ondi walks us through how the project began with her sister’s activism and the challenges of filming within sacred spaces while balancing her rol…

This week, writer-director Carmen Emmi takes us through his creative process for ‘Plainclothes,’ where he threw technical perfection out the window to focus on raw, heartfelt storytelling. Carmen shares his journey from cinematographer to director, and how he navigated the transition from worrying about flawless shots to weaving a personal story th…

Writer-director Bryn Chainey joins us to discuss 'Rabbit Trap,' his haunting exploration of how supernatural folklore mirrors our deepest human experiences. Bryn reveals his unique approach to using nature and the otherworldly as tools for confronting inner truths, tracing his thematic evolution from early work like 'Moritz and the Woodwose' to thi…

This week, we talk with cinematographer Bill Kirstein about his work on ‘Happyend,’ which premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year. Bill shares stories from his childhood, and how that rebellious spirit carries into his approach to filmmaking. We explore what draws him to projects where directors have bold visions that challenge conventional…

This week, we sit down with writer-director Anu Valia to talk about her feature debut ‘We Strangers,’ which premiered at SXSW 2024. Anu walks us through the journey from festival premiere to theatrical release, and how her relationship with the film has evolved along the way. We dig into the story of Ray, a woman navigating spaces where she feels l…

Director Oliver Hermanus joins us to discuss 'The History of Sound,' drawing from his South African background to explore how cinema can foster empathy across divides. Oliver reflects on his commitment to creating narratives that invite audiences into unfamiliar perspectives, shaped by experiences in a country where marginalized voices were systema…

Cinematographer Alex Disenhof joins us to discuss his work on HBO's limited series 'Task,' revealing the dramatic shift from the fantastical landscapes of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' to the gritty streets of Philadelphia. Alex opens up about his creative philosophy—that every project demands genuine emotional investment, and without…

Yeo Siew Hua joins us to discuss 'Stranger Eyes,' the thriller that made history as the first Singaporean film ever to compete for the Golden Lion at Venice International Film Festival. A year after this landmark achievement, he reflects on creating a deeply culturally rooted story that resonates internationally, exploring how surveillance paranoia…

Academy Award nominated filmmaker Sam Davis joins us to discuss 'The Singers,' his genre-bending adaptation of Turgenev's 19th-century tale that transforms a lowly pub into a stage for unexpected human connection. Working exclusively with first-time actors discovered on TikTok and YouTube, he reveals how embracing spontaneity led to moments of pure…

Cinematographer Christophe Nuyens joins us to discuss his work on 'Andor' Season 2, where he partnered with director Ariel Kleiman to expand the show's established visual language. Treating each episode block as a standalone film, Christophe reveals his character-driven approach to framing—finding angles that immerse audiences in the emotional weig…

How do you visually transport audiences across three decades while maintaining narrative cohesion? Ante Cheng, whose breathtaking cinematography on 'Pachinko' Season 2 earned him an Emmy nomination, joins us to unravel this complex creative puzzle. Fresh off his recognition for the season's opening chapter, Ante discusses the ambitious leap from an…

Production designer Kalina Ivanov takes us inside the visual world of HBO's 'The Penguin,' revealing how she adapted Matt Reeves' Gotham for television. From the surprising discovery that Penguin's iconic Maserati is actually purple to the intentional color storytelling that contrasts Oz's pastel childhood memories with his dark present reality. We…

Filmmaker James J. Robinson joins us to discuss his debut feature 'First Light,' which premieres at the Melbourne International Film Festival. Robinson opens up about his Filipino-Australian identity and how reconnecting with his roots shaped this deeply personal project, exploring themes of cultural heritage, belonging, and authentic representatio…

Filmmaker Ramon Zürcher joins us to discuss 'The Sparrow in the Chimney,' the final installment in his trilogy with twin brother Silvan that explores family dynamics through a seemingly simple birthday gathering. We dive into how the brothers navigate their creative partnership—sometimes co-directing, other times working solo—while maintaining thei…

Writer-director Sarah Friedland joins us to discuss 'Familiar Touch,' her debut feature that follows Ruth, an octogenarian woman navigating memory and desire as she transitions into assisted living. We explore how the film reclaims the coming-of-age genre for older characters, with Sarah describing it as a "coming-of-old-age" story that emphasizes …

This week, we're joined by Fawzia Mirza, the writer-director behind 'The Queen of My Dreams', a deeply personal film that has garnered multiple award nominations since its TIFF premiere. Fawzia opens up about her artistic evolution from acting to filmmaking, revealing how creating this story became essential for processing her identity as a queer M…