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Hollywood prop maker turns to fabricating face shields May 08, 2020

Show notes

Rob West usually spends his days building sets and making props. But once the pandemic hit, he started using his skills to devise and manufacture reusable face shields for medical personnel. West, the founder of LA Face Shields, shares his thoughts on the future of Hollywood production, and talks about running his face shield operation out of a well-stocked American Legion bar.

Dahvi Waller’s ‘Mrs. America’ May 01, 2020

Show notes

The new series “Mrs. America” is about the 1970s battle over the Equal Rights Amendment. It’s available via FX on Hulu. Dahvi Waller created this series after she wrote for “Mad Men” and “Halt and Catch Fire.” She talks about tackling the complicated character of Phyllis Schlafly, the woman who led the movement that ultimately blocked ratification of the ERA. She also shares the complications of finishing post-production while under stay-at-home orders.

Revisiting Bong Joon Ho and ‘Parasite.’ Plus should theaters reopen? Apr 24, 2020

Show notes

“Parasite” made history as the first foreign language movie to win Best Picture at the Oscars. The movie is now streaming on Hulu, so we’re revisiting our conversation with Director Bong Joon Ho, who also won Oscars for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Foreign Language Film. Plus, an all new banter: Some Southern states want to reopen businesses, but movie theater owners say not so fast.

Jeffrey Katzenberg on Quibi and his Hollywood tenure Apr 20, 2020

Show notes

Jeffrey Katzenberg ran Walt Disney Studios when it made hits like “The Little Mermaid” and “The Lion King.” He also co-founded DreamWorks. Now he’s launched Quibi, which lets you stream short shows on your phone. He remembers his early days in the industry, and tells us why he believes Quibi will work.

Samantha Bee and Jason Jones on making ‘Full Frontal’ from the woods Apr 10, 2020

Show notes

The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered studio productions of every major late- night talk show. Samantha Bee and Jason Jones — her husband, producer and fellow former “Daily Show” correspondent — tell us about taking Bee's show, “Full Frontal,” into the woods outside their house in upstate New York. Jones is the crew, and Bee still opens every episode with her trademark speedy monologue. They now have no audience — except for woodland creatures.

Eliza Hittman’s ‘Never Rarely Sometimes Always’ Apr 03, 2020

Show notes

Filmmaker Eliza Hittman knew she’d have trouble getting financing for her art house abortion drama, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always.” She didn’t think it helped that she kept finding herself pitching to rooms full of men. Even companies that were supposed to focus on "issue movies" weren't interested in an abortion storyline. But Hittman eventually found her money, and her award-winning film is now available to stream on demand.

Jobless Hollywood workers cope with coronavirus Mar 30, 2020

Show notes

With Hollywood mostly shut down, we check in with people dealing with this difficult time across the industry. We hear from an actor, cinematographer, writers’ room production assistant, costumer, and filmmaking team. They tell us how their lives have suddenly changed, how they’re coping while out of work, and how they think this pandemic could change Hollywood forever.

Netflix’s ‘Crip Camp’ Mar 20, 2020

Show notes

In 1971, when sound designer Jim LeBrecht was 15, he had a summer of love at a camp for disabled kids. It was a place that fostered a spirit of history-changing activism. He and his friend, filmmaker Nicole Newnham, agreed that this was a movie. They didn’t anticipate that Barack and Michelle Obama would think so too. Newnham and LeBrecht tell us about their Netflix documentary “Crip Camp,” and partnering with the Obamas’ production company.

Anti-NDA initiative ‘Lift Our Voices’ Mar 16, 2020

Show notes

In July 2016, more than a year before the #MeToo movement began, Gretchen Carlson made a bold decision to sue Fox News chief Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. Now she and Julie Rogisnky, a former Fox News contributor who also sued Ailes, have made it their mission to end nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) that can muzzle those who sue over misconduct. Their initiative is called Lift Our Voices.

Autumn de Wilde’s ‘Emma’ Mar 06, 2020

Show notes

Autumn de Wilde has more than 20 years of experience photographing rock bands and directing commercials, but she’d never made a feature film. Then out of the blue, a British production company asked her to pitch ideas for a new version of the Jane Austen classic, “Emma.” De Wilde tells us how she made her light and bright version of “Emma,” the famous comedy of manners.

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