It was awesome to welcome on the show Dan Romer, a Emmy award-nominated composer whose film and TV credits include Netflix's MANIAC, and the Oscar-nominated movies BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD and Pixar’s Luca.

In today’s conversation, Dan and I discuss his beginnings as a record producer, later transitioning into film composing. The reasons why, following his work on BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD, he encountered resistance from the industry — and deep-dive into Dan’s creative approach to scoring the Oscar-nominated Pixar film LUCA, set in the Italian riviera of the 1950's. All of this… and much more!

Thank you to White Bear PR for setting this conversation up. Dan’s latest shows include a new season of THE GOOD DOCTOR, currently streaming on Hulu, as well as LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, now on Showtime.

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EP 56 | Dan Romer, Composer (Pixar's 'Luca', 'Beasts of the Southern Wild')

We're excited to celebrate the release of his newest movie by welcoming on the show Michael Finch, a Hollywood screenwriter whose credits include THE NOVEMBER MAN and the latest chapter in one of the hottest action franchises - JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4.

In today’s conversation, Michael and I discuss his philosophy on surviving the industry and the obstacles that screenwriters face — including his experience writing the screenplay for 2010’s PREDATORS. Plus, his work on the new JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4, as he pitched his way through action set pieces with director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves - shaping a film that Michael describes as secretly ‘a Sergio Leone western.' Plus, potential plans for JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 5. All of this… and much more!

Thank you to the team at Verve for setting this conversation up. JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 releases in theaters Friday, March 24th!

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EP 57 | Michael Finch, Screenwriter (John Wick: Chapter 4)

We're excited to celebrate the release of his latest MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE movie by welcoming on the show the film's Oscar-nominated editor Eddie Hamilton, whose credits include MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT, KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE and TOP GUN: MAVERICK.

In today’s conversation, Eddie and I discuss MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING PART ONE in spoiler-ific detail: how the filmmakers handled the secrecy of certain sequences, often recreating pieces of Italy on a backlot in England; selecting the best take of the infamous motorcycle cliff jump, and why Eddie chose that specific take for the final movie. All of this… and much more!

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING PART ONE is now in theaters.

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EP 58 | Eddie Hamilton, Editor (Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One)

What a treat to welcome on the show the Oscar-nominated cinematographer of NAPOLEON Dariusz Wolski, whose credits also include NEWS OF THE WORLD, THE MARTIAN, HOUSE OF GUCCI, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, SWEENEY TODD and four films in the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN franchise.

In today’s conversation, Dariusz and I discuss the challenges of photographing the epic battle scenes of the new Joaquin Phoenix movie, replacing Kevin Spacey at the last minute for ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD, working on the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN franchise and the reasons why Dariusz chose not to be involved in the upcoming GLADIATOR 2. All of this… and much more!

NAPOLEON is now in theaters and on Apple TV+.

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EP 59 | Dariusz Wolski, Cinematographer ('Pirates of the Caribbean', 'Napoleon')

We're delighted to welcome on the show EVE STEWART, a 4-time Oscar-nominated production designer whose credits include a wide range of prestige period films (THE KING'S SPEECH, LES MISÉRABLES), Marvel's ETERNALS — as well as this year’s brand new movies KRAVEN THE HUNTER and GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE.

In today’s conversation, Eve and I discuss her experience designing the Oscar-winning film LES MISÉRABLES, and my favorite movie of 2017, Gore Verbinski’s gothic thriller A CURE FOR WELLNESS. After describing how a freak accident destroyed the sets inside a Berlin soundstage (and how she dealt with the aftermath), Eve also reveals what she makes of the critical and commercial disaster of 2019’s CATS, and what it was like to design the film. All of this… and much more!

GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE is now available on home video, with KRAVEN THE HUNTER scheduled to release on December 13, 2024.

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EP 60 | Eve Stewart, Production Designer ('Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire', 'Les Misérables')

What a special opportunity to welcome on the show ALEXANDER WITT, perhaps the most influential second unit director of his generation.

When it comes to action cinema, he may as well be responsible for the most iconic action sequences of the last 30 years, with credits that include everything from the epic battles of GLADIATOR, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN and AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, to the car chases in THE ITALIAN JOB, FAST X and the 'Daniel Craig era' of the JAMES BOND franchise — including the most recent entry NO TIME TO DIE.

Today on the podcast is a masterclass in action cinema, as we discuss behind-the-scenes stories and the making of these movies.  All of this… and much more!

The trilogy of action thrillers directed by Alexander Witt, titled SAYEN — are now available to stream on Amazon Prime.

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EP 61 | Alexander Witt, Second Unit Director ('Fast X', 'James Bond' Franchise)

How wonderful to welcome on the show Timothy Dowling, a Hollywood screenwriter whose credits include the cult classic ROLE MODELS, the Adam Sandler romantic comedy JUST GO WITH IT, and the explosive rom-com THIS MEANS WAR (starring Tom Hardy, Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon).

In today’s conversation, Tim and I discuss how one of his first scripts making the Blacklist led to him getting the attention of Will Smith, and who were the other Oscar-nominated actors who almost starred in THIS MEANS WAR. Also, how Tim navigated some of the biggest Hollywood writing assignments, especially when the projects he was hired for didn't interest him. All of this… and much more!

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EP 62 | Timothy Dowling, Screenwriter ('Role Models', 'Just Go With It')

This week on the show, it’s Erik Jendresen —an Emmy-winning Hollywood screenwriter whose credits include the HBO mini-series BAND OF BROTHERS, as well as the two latest installments in the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise.

In today’s conversation, deep dive into the writing and making of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING (2023) and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING (2025). Erik discusses the reasons the two films were shot simultaneously over the course of four years, and the ways the projects developed — including the actor who was originally cast in the role of the film’s main villain; we also discuss a secret WWII thriller which Erik wrote during the pandemic, and the circumstances that brought Tom Cruise to choose it as his next movie. All of this… and much more!

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EP 63 | Erik Jendresen, Screenwriter ('Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning')

This week on the show, it’s Nicholas Stoller — a BAFTA-nominated Hollywood director and screenwriter whose credits YES MAN, NEIGHBORS, THE MUPPETS and FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL. His latest film is YOU'RE CORDIALLY INVITED, starring Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon, and it’s currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

In today’s conversation, Nick and I discuss the circumstances that brought his first produced film credit as a 28-year-old writer to be a Jim Carrey; also, Nick’s memories from meeting his idol, Oscar-nominee Nora Ephron, the writer of WHEN HARRY MET SALLY and YOU'VE GOT MAIL, and the lesson that Nora taught Nick and that changed his approach to screenwriting forever. All of this… and much more!

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EP 64 | Nicholas Stoller, Director / Screenwriter ('Forgetting Sarah Marshall', 'Yes Man')

**Minor spoilers for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING**

We welcome on the show Hollywood composer Max Aruj, whose latest credit is MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING.

In today’s conversation, Max and I discuss his beginnings as a student at USC, how that led to being mentored by Hans Zimmer; also, the circumstances that led Max and Alfie Godfrey to be chosen as the young composers of this latest MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, and the creative challenges behind the film's climactic sequence. All of this… and much more!

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EP 65 | Max Aruj, Composer ('Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning')

A podcast welcoming Oscar-winning professionals to discuss the many beautiful, complex and creative sides of Hollywood filmmaking.

EP 62 | Timothy Dowling, Screenwriter ('Role Models', 'Just Go With It')

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