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The Director’s Cut – A DGA Podcast

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.

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Latest Episodes:

How to Train Your Dragon with Dean DeBlois and Phil Lord (Ep. 551) Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

Director Dean DeBlois discusses his new film, How to Train Your Dragon, with fellow Director Phil Lord in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses taking lessons from his background in animation to give his characters defining appearances, utilizing puppeteers to give life to the on-set dragon for stronger performances, and using the remake as an opportunity to flesh out more detail in the characters and setting.

This live action remake of the animated hit tells the story of an inventive young Viking named Hiccup, who must face a test and fight his village’s deadly draconic nemesis. But instead of battling the dragon, Hiccup befriends it, and their bond becomes the key to forging a new future as an ancient threat endangers them all.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2025/august2025/how2trainyourdragon_qna_0625

F1 The Movie with Joseph Kosinski and Dan Gilroy (Ep. 550) Jun 30, 2025

Show notes

Director Joseph Kosinski discusses his new film, F1 The Movie, with fellow Director Dan Gilroy in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses traveling the world for coverage of the real F1 race tracks, consulting with drivers to capture a faithful perspective during the racing sequences, and working with Composer Hans Zimmer for a soundtrack that could work in unison with the volume of an F1 event.

The film tells the story of Sonny Hayes, a once promising driver who was sidelined after an accident decades ago. Coaxed out of retirement to mentor the hotshot rookie prodigy of a struggling F1 team, Sonny rides his road to redemption.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2025/august2025/f1-themovie_qna_0625

Fight or Flight with James Madigan and Rawson Marshall Thurber (Ep. 549) Jun 27, 2025

Show notes

Director James Madigan discusses his new film, Fight or Flight, with fellow Director Rawson Marshall Thurber in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses aiming for the right tonal mixture in action-violence and comedy, working with Actor Josh Hartnett on stunt choreography within a limited rehearsal period, and casting supporting Actors by feeling out their connection to their roles.

The film tells the story of disgraced American operative Lucas Reyes offered one last shot at redemption: locate and ID an elusive target known as “The Ghost” on a flight from Bangkok to San Francisco. But when he finds the plane is filled with elite assassins who have orders to eliminate them both, Reyes and his target must team up to protect themselves.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2025/august2025/fightorflight_qna_0625

Materialists with Celine Song and Mona Fastvold (Ep. 548) Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

Director Celine Song discusses her new film, Materialists, with fellow Director Mona Fastvold in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, she discusses how the film was inspired by her own time as a matchmaker, the differences in dating culture values across countries that contributed to crafting the narrative, and how the process of casting the right Actors for her roles mirrored the matchmaker theme of the film.

The film tells the story of Lucy, a successful New York City matchmaker who maintains that she will only marry a wealthy man. But when she becomes entangled in a romantic triangle with Harry, a charming billionaire, and her ex-boyfriend John, she finds her plans are not so clear cut.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2025/august2025/materialists_qna_0625

On Swift Horses with Daniel Minahan and Mary Harron (Ep. 547) May 29, 2025

Show notes

Director Daniel Minahan discusses his new film, On Swift Horses, with fellow Director Mary Harron in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses establishing the 1950s time period while avoiding tropes from other films set in the 50s, utilizing gambling as a metaphor for queerness within the film’s language, and the choreography and rehearsal that went into creating the intimacy scenes.

The film tells the story of Muriel and Lee, who leave their Kansas home to start a family and a new life in San Diego. But their plans are upended by the arrival of Lee’s brother Julius, a wayward gambler with a secret past who draws Muriel down a new and dangerous path.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2025/june2025/onswifthorses_qna_0525

The Last Rodeo with Jon Avnet and Jason Reitman (Ep. 546) May 27, 2025

Show notes

Director Jon Avnet discusses his new film, The Last Rodeo, with fellow Director Jason Reitman in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses giving his Actors space to find their characters in emotionally-charged scenes, working with his Cinematographer and Editor to create captivating rodeo action scenes, and the logistics and stunt work that went into the bull riding sequences.

The film tells the story of Joe, a retired rodeo star who enters a high-stakes bull-riding competition to save his grandson. Along the way, he reconciles with his estranged daughter and proves that true courage is found in the fight for family.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2025/june2025/thelastrodeo_qna_0525

Lilly with Rachel Feldman and Amber Sealey (Ep. 545) May 22, 2025

Show notes

Director Rachel Feldman discusses her new film, Lilly, with fellow Director Amber Sealey in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses consulting the real Lilly Ledbetter in order to find the focuses of the film, utilizing archival footage to ground the story alongside the real events, and how her own filmmaking journey aligned with Lilly’s struggles in the film.

Based on the true story of Lilly Ledbetter, the film follows a factory worker who discovers her company has been paying her half of what her male collegues receive. Seeking justice, she begins a long and historic fight for equality spanning all the way to Washington DC.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2025/july2025/lilly_qna_0525

Deaf President Now! with Nyle DiMarco, Davis Guggenheim and Ondi Timoner (Ep. 544) May 20, 2025

Show notes

Directors Nyle DiMarco and Davis Guggenheim, accompanied by DiMarco’s interpreter Grey Van Pelt, discusses their new film, Deaf President Now!, with fellow Director Ondi Timoner in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they discuss expressing the sensory content of the film with both a Deaf and hearing audience in mind, interviewing subjects in one-on-one dialogues to pull out individual sentiments surrounding the event, and working with a wealth of archival materials to gain an understanding of how the days of protest unfolded.

Screened as part of the DGA’s Documentary Series, the film recounts eight tumultuous days during which students from the world’s only liberal arts school serving the deaf and hard-of-hearing lead an angry protest to change the course of history. When Gallaudet University’s board of trustees appoints a hearing president who doesn’t know American Sign Language over several qualified Deaf candidates, the students take to the streets to speak out.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2025/june2025/docseries_deafpresidentnow-0525

Sinners with Ryan Coogler and Rachel Morrison (Ep. 543) May 16, 2025

Show notes

Director Ryan Coogler discusses his new film, Sinners, with fellow Director Rachel Morrison in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses employing historical consultants to find authenticity in every niche of the film, how he collaborated with Composer and Executive Producer Ludwig Göransson to elevate the film with a distinct musicality, and how he came to the conclusion of using 70mm film to accentuate the sprawling, flat and isolating aspects of the southern setting.

In this fusion of gothic horror and 1930s Mississippi history, the film follows twins Smoke and Stack, who plan to open a new juke joint in their hometown. But as the pieces come together and their opening night begins, they find themselves confronted not only by the dangers of Jim Crow-era southern life but also a lurking undead menace.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2025/june2025/sinners_qna_0525

The Wedding Banquet with Andrew Ahn and Daniel Kwan (Ep. 542) May 14, 2025

Show notes

Director Andrew Ahn discusses his new film, The Wedding Banquet, with fellow Director Daniel Kwan in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses working with the Screenwriter of the original film, updating the story to reflect contemporary LGBTQ+ attitudes while staying faithful to the original plot, and how he and his Actors utilized inventive techniques for discovering their characters on set.

This remake of the 1993 film tells the story of Min, a gay man hoping to stay in the country and avoid being dragged into his family business. Proposing a green card marriage to his lesbian friend Angela, things soon get complicated when his grandmother surprises them with plans for an extravagant Korean wedding banquet.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2025/june2025/theweddingbanquet_qna_0425

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