TIFF Long Take

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Ep. 63: Jason Reitman: From Outback Steakhouse to the Oscars May 01, 2018

Show notes

This week on TIFF Long Take, Rob and Geoff sit down with director and screenwriter Jason Reitman. Although only 40 years old, Reitman already seems like a seasoned veteran in Hollywood, with four Oscar nominations to his name as well an impressive filmography of critical and commercial successes like 'Juno', 'Up in the Air', and 'Young Adult'. His latest film, 'Tully', starring Charlize Theron and Mackenzie Davis is in theaters now.

Reitman talks about his unglamorous beginnings in filmmaking, the unlikely benefactors of his first movie, 'Thank You For Smoking', and his frequent collaborations with screenwriter Diablo Cody.

He also talks about his success casting relatively unknown actors like Ellen Page and Anna Kendrick, why he continues to pursue theatrical distribution rather than going the Netflix route, and who he would cast in hypothetical remakes of 'Jaws', 'Thelma and Louise', and 'Harold and Maude'.

Ep. 62: The Difficulties of Being an Auteur in 2018 Apr 24, 2018

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This week on TIFF Long Take, Rob and Geoff sit down with celebrated director Andrew Haigh. Over the last decade Haigh has established himself as one of the most daring new filmmakers in the industry, writing and directing films 'Weekend', and '45 Years', as well as creating the HBO series 'Looking'. His latest film, 'Lean on Pete', was released earlier this month to critical acclaim.

Haigh discusses his early struggles as a filmmaker, why he prioritizes creative control over a higher budget, and what the decline of the “mid-budget film” means for filmmakers at his level.

He also talks about why, to this point, he’s only directed his own scripts, what attracted him to ‘Lean on Pete’, and how he approaches working with a great young actor like Charlie Plummer.

Ep. 61: How 'A Fantastic Woman' is Advancing Transgender Rights In Chile Apr 17, 2018

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Last month, the Chilean film 'A Fantastic Woman' won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and made history as the first Oscar-winning film with a transgender performer in the lead. Now transgender activists in Chile are hoping to use the film’s success to push forward a 2013 bill that would allow transgender people to legally change their names and gender marker on official documents. To get the full story, Rob and Geoff speak with Isabel Amor, Director of Education at Iguales Chile.

Amor discusses the history of transgender rights in Chile, the importance of the gender identity bill, and how the international success of A Fantastic Woman has helped accelerate her institution’s mission.

She also talks about the significance of A Fantastic Woman being broadcast on public television in Chile, why the film’s Oscar win gives a new significance to award shows, and why a documentary on the same subject likely wouldn’t have had the same impact.

Ep. 60: Steve Buscemi’s Unconventional Path to Movie Stardom Apr 10, 2018

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This week on TIFF Long Take, Rob and Geoff sit down with celebrated character actor and filmmaker Steve Buscemi. Although his name rarely appears at the top of the credits, Buscemi has gained a level of recognition comparable to most A-List actors, with iconic roles in films like Reservoir Dogs, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and Ghost World. He can also be seen in Lean on Pete and The Death of Stalin, two of this year’s most acclaimed new films.

Buscemi talks about his early days in New York City's East Village theatre scene, why it’s important for him to balance independent work with more commercial films, and how he managed to form partnerships with filmmakers like the Coen Brothers.

He also talks about his approach in working with young actors, what his work as a director has taught him about acting, and what he thinks is the best show currently on television.

Ep. 59: April Reign's Plan to Make #HollywoodLessWhite Apr 03, 2018

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This week on TIFF Long Take, Geoff chats with social activist and founder of the famous #OscarsSoWhite movement, April Reign. Reign has recently started a new project, Akuarel; a digital database for minorities seeking work in Hollywood and other creative industries.

Reign talks about how she started an online movement completely by accident, how the mission of #OscarsSoWhite has evolved over the last three years, how she and her campaign have navigated the darker side of Twitter.

She also discusses the problem with thinking #OscarsSoWhite accomplished its mission with Moonlight’s Best Picture win, why the hashtag has become such a powerful tool for social movements, and why she saw the need for a tool like ‘Akuarel’.

Ep. 58: Was 'The Shape of Water’s' Oscar a Victory for Canadian Film? Mar 27, 2018

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This week on TIFF Long Take, Rob and Geoff sat down with veteran Canadian film producer J. Miles Dale, who recently brought a Best Picture Oscar home to Toronto for his work on The Shape of Water. Even though the movie is not typically viewed as a “Canadian film,” Dale argues that its success has been a watershed moment for our national cinema, given that it was filmed in Toronto and was made by a largely Canadian crew.

Dale discusses the unique challenges of making Hollywood films in Canada, why he thinks The Shape of Water’s success has been so significant for the Canadian film industry, and why some Canadians feel the need to draw a line in sand when it comes to what is, and what is not, Canadian.

He also talks about his relationship with Guillermo del Toro, the incredible homegrown talent working in the industry, and how his professional life has changed after winning an Oscar.

Ep. 57: Understanding the Art of Film Editing Mar 20, 2018

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Editing is one of the most integral parts of any film, yet a good editor often doesn’t receive the level of recognition that a director, cinematographer, or composer would. To take a closer look at the often unappreciated craft Rob and Geoff sit down with one of the best film editors working today, Tatiana S. Riegel. Over her 30 year career Riegel has worked on a number of beloved films including Pulp Fiction, There Will Be Blood, and Lars and The Real Girl, and recently won an Independent Spirit Award and was nominated for an Oscar for editing I, Tonya.

Riegel talks about how she fell into the business of editing, her collaborations with filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Craig Gillespie, and why being a successful editor comes down to being able to navigate a lot of very different personalities.

She also discusses why audience screenings are so crucial to her job, and why, despite a large disparity, women have historically had more opportunities in the field editing than they have in other disciplines like cinematography or directing.

Ep. 56: How A24 Made Film Distribution Cool Mar 13, 2018

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One of the most interesting success stories in Hollywood this decade has been the meteoric rise of A24. The upstart distributor has built a reputation as one the film industry’s top tastemakers, releasing films like Lady Bird, Ex Machina, Room, The Witch, and a little film called Moonlight. To get the story of how A24 went from nonexistence to Best Picture status in just five years, Rob and Geoff speak with New York Times reporter Brooks Barnes.

Barnes discusses A24’s origin story, how its media-shy founders have cultivated a sense of mystery around the company, and how their rivals, including Annapurna, Blumhouse, and Neon, are also disrupting the film business.

He also talks about how A24 runs more like a Silicon Valley startup than a traditional film distributor, their upcoming forays into television, and why some in Hollywood think the company might be overrated.

Ep. 55: Dissecting the 90th Academy Awards Mar 06, 2018

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This week on TIFF Long Take, Rob and Geoff chat with Katey Rich and Richard Lawson, the hosts of Vanity Fair’s 'Little Gold Men' podcast, about the biggest winners, surprises, and storylines coming out of the 90th Academy Awards.

Rich and Lawson chat about the thrill of seeing James Ivory and Jordan Peele step to the podium, the agony of watching Lady Bird go home empty handed, and whether the Oscar’s preferential ballot voting method is leading to good results.

They also talk about the uphill battle Black Panther has to get a nomination next year, why the Oscars’ ratings continue to fall year after year, and what films they think could sneak into the best picture race in 2019.

Ep. 54: Alex Garland on ‘Annihilation’, Adaptation, and the Future of Sci-Fi Feb 27, 2018

Show notes

This week on TIFF Long Take, Rob sits down with renowned screenwriter and director, Alex Garland. Over the last 20 years, Garland’s films, including 28 Days Later, Sunshine, and Ex Machina, have helped him stand out as a fresh voice in the crowded landscape of modern science fiction. His latest film, Annihilation, starring Natalie Portman and Oscar Isaac, and adapted from Jeff Vandermeer’s best selling novel, is in theaters now.

Garland discusses how J.G. Ballard and Stanley Kubrick got him hooked on science fiction, how he comes up with and researches such complex ideas, and why he doesn’t see his films as prescient, but rather catching up with the obvious.

He also talks about his unconventional approach to adapting Annihilation, how he conceived of the legendary Ex Machina dance scene, and which film in his catalogue he wishes he’d done differently.

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