Director Martin Scorsese discusses his new film, Killers of the Flower Moon, with fellow Director Ti West in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, Scorsese discusses lifting dialogue from real historical accounts when working on the script and its structure, speaking with current Osage tribal members to include their suggestions and accounts, and the fashioning of the title sequence and how a hundred-year-old camera was used in the crafting of it.

The film tells the story of the true, serial murders of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation, which came to be known as the Reign of Terror. Set in 1920s Oklahoma and told through the impossible romance of Ernest Burkhart and Mollie Kyle, the film depicts the systematic conspiracy and murders, which spark a major F.B.I. investigation.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2023/November2023/KOTFM_QnA_1023.aspx

Killers of the Flower Moon with Martin Scorsese and Ti West (Ep. 435)

Director Justine Triet discusses her new film, Anatomy of a Fall, with fellow Director Nicole Kassell in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, Triet discusses the deliberation that went into her cinematography to accentuate the sense of mystery, how she directed actors to give multilayered performances, and the consideration that went into crafting the ending.

The film tells the story of Sandra, her husband Samuel and their blind son Daniel, who live a secluded life in the French Alps. When Samuel is found dead, Sandra becomes the main suspect and Daniel the main witness, beginning an unsettling psychological examination of their conflicted relationship.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2023/November2023/AnatomyOfAFall_1023.aspx

Anatomy of a Fall with Justine Triet and Nicole Kassell (Ep. 439)

Director Sofia Coppola discusses her new film, Priscilla, with fellow Director Celine Song in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses how she aimed for a sharp contrast in the Oz-like Elvis world and the drab normal world through her production design, how she deliberately changes the pace of her editing in the presence of Elvis vs when he’s missing, and the relationship between the real Priscilla Presley and Actor Cailee Spaeny.

Based on the 1985 memoir Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley, the film tells the story of how young Priscilla Beaulieu met Elvis Presley, chronicling their legendary relationship and marriage.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2023/December2023/Priscilla_QnA_1023.aspx

Priscilla with Sofia Coppola and Celine Song (Ep. 441)

Director Bradley Cooper discusses his new film, Maestro, with fellow Director Todd Phillips in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses working with Bernstein’s children and how he was given the project, the practice that went into major performance scenes, and capturing the thought process of Leonard Bernstein while in the dual roles of lead Actor and Director of the film.

The film tells the story of world renowned American composer Leonard Bernstein and his decade-spanning journey with Felicia Montealegre. A love letter to life and art, their relationship is an emotionally epic portrayal of endurance, passion and family.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/Maestro_QnA_1123.aspx

Maestro with Bradley Cooper and Todd Phillips (Ep. 448)

Director Todd Haynes discusses his new film, May December, with fellow Director Gregg Araki in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses scouting for the right location to match the specific time and feel of the story, casting and working with longtime collaborator Julianne Moore, and playing with framing and reflections to mirror the multifaceted narrative of the story.

The film tells the story of Gracie and Joe, a married couple who, two decades prior, were the subject of a scandalous tabloid romance. When an actress visits their home to research Gracie for a movie role, the uncomfortable details from the scandal emerge, causing long-dormant emotions to resurface.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/MayDecember_QnA_1123.aspx

May December with Todd Haynes and Gregg Araki (Ep. 450)

Director Sam Esmail discusses his new film, Leave the World Behind, with fellow Director Luke Greenfield in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses the changes he considered when adapting the book to screen, working with the Obama family as producers, and the amount of preparation he underwent before going into production.

The film tells the story of Amanda and Clay, who rent a luxurious home for the weekend with their kids. Their getaway is upended when two strangers arrive bearing news of a mysterious cyberattack and the possibility of the collapse of life as we know it.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/LeaveTheWorldBehind_QnA_1123.aspx

Leave the World Behind with Sam Esmail and Luke Greenfield (Ep. 451)

Director Alexander Payne discusses his new film, The Holdovers, with fellow Director Jason Reitman in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses where the inspiration for the story originated, his favorite aspects of each of the three lead actors’ performances, and the filmic inspirations that contributed to the tone of the story.

The film tells the story of Paul, a cranky history teacher at a boarding school in the 1960s, forced to chaperone a handful of students with nowhere to go over Christmas break. There, he forms an unlikely bond with a troubled student and the school’s head cook, who lost her son in the Vietnam War.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/Holdovers_QnA_1123.aspx

The Holdovers with Alexander Payne and Jason Reitman (Ep. 452)

Director Kristoffer Borgli discusses his new film, Dream Scenario, with fellow Director Tim Heidecker in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses working with Actor Nicolas Cage to create the character he envisioned, his writing process and the influences that went into the story, and how he borrowed from multiple genres in an effort to transcend categorization.

The film tells the story of Paul, a family man who finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers start mysteriously seeing him in their dreams. But when his nighttime appearances start taking a nightmarish turn, Paul is forced to navigate his newfound infamy.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/DreamScenario_QnA_1123.aspx

Dream Scenario with Kristoffer Borgli and Tim Heidecker (Ep. 453)

Director Emerald Fennell discusses her new film, Saltburn, with fellow Director David Lowery in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses making an unlikeable protagonist that the audience could empathize with, crafting the story while incorporating the gothic genre, and utilizing cinematography to accentuate feelings of seduction and desire.

The film tells the story of Oliver, an Oxford student struggling to find his place, who befriends the charming and aristocratic Felix. Finding himself drawn into Felix’s world, Oliver is invited to Saltburn, the sprawling and eccentric family estate for a summer never to be forgotten.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/Saltburn_QnA_1223.aspx

Saltburn with Emerald Fennell and David Lowery (Ep. 457)

Director Michael Mann discusses his new film, Ferrari, with fellow Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses integrating melodrama into the story by balancing the family and industry, crafting a believable time period through color composition and mis-en-scene, and including real locations and historical participants in the film.

The film tells the story of Enzo Ferrari, who in the summer of 1957 finds his auto empire in crisis. To regain his status, he enlists his team in the Mille Miglia, a treacherous thousand-mile race across Italy.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/Ferrari_QnA_1223.aspx

Ferrari with Michael Mann and Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Ep. 458)

Director Francis Lawrence discusses his new film, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, with fellow Director Marc Webb in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses capturing a retro-futuristic visual aesthetic, utilizing his camera language while swapping between two main character points of view, and his visualization and rehearsal process for stunt work and action scenes.

In this prequel to the popular franchise, a young Coriolanus Snow mentors for the 10th Hunger Games and develops feelings for the female tribute from District 12, Lucy Gray Baird, years before he becomes the tyrannical president of Panem.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/TheHungerGameBSS_QnA_1223.aspx

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes with Francis Lawrence and Marc Webb (Ep. 459)

Director John Woo discusses his new film, Silent Night, with fellow Director Brian Helgeland in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses his influence echoed throughout modern action films, the importance of classic Hollywood and musical films to his taste, and telling a story absent of any dialogue starring a speechless character.

The film tells the story of Brian, a man who witnesses the death of his son when the boy is caught in gang crossfire on Christmas Eve. Recovering from a wound that cost him his voice, Brian embarks on a bloody quest to punish those responsible, all without uttering a word.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/SilentNight_QnA_1223.aspx

Silent Night with John Woo and Brian Helgeland (Ep. 461)

Director Sean Durkin discusses his new film, The Iron Claw, with fellow Director Catherine Hardwicke in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how he aimed to make a complex narrative exploring the absence of grief, filming with live wrestling fans during the ring scenes, and utilizing one-takes to keep the performances authentic.

The film tells the true story of the Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, and under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/TheIronClaw_QnA_1223.aspx

The Iron Claw with Sean Durkin and Catherine Hardwicke (Ep. 462)

Director George Clooney discusses his new film, The Boys in the Boat, with fellow Director Jon Watts in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses the logistical nuances of filming scenes on the water, finding actors who could inhabit their characters and show physical prowess, and taking notes from other rowing movies as well as borrowing filming techniques from the actual 1936 Olympics.

The film tells the true story of the University of Washington men’s rowing team, who stun the world when they unexpectedly win gold at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/BoysInTheBoat_QnA_1223.aspx

The Boys in the Boat with George Clooney and Jon Watts (Ep. 463)

Director Zack Snyder discusses his new film, Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire, with fellow Director Louis Leterrier in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how he aimed to capture the post-Star Wars pulp science fiction aesthetic, his process when pitching the film, and how he worked on stunt scenes with his Actors.

The film tells the story of Kora, who crash-lands on a moon at the edge of the universe, and finds new life among peaceful farmers. But when peace is traded for bloodshed, newly formed revolutionaries must learn to fight together to defend their land, and survive the war on their moon.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/Events/2024/February2024/RebelMoon_QnA_1223.aspx

Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire with Zack Snyder and Louis Leterrier (Ep. 464)

Martin Scorsese, Greta Gerwig, Alexander Payne, Yorgos Lanthimos and Christopher Nolan engage in a conversation with moderator Jeremy Kagan for the 33rd Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film Symposium. 

Please note: spoilers are included.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/en/Events/2024/March2024/MTN_TheatricalFeatureFilm2024

Meet the 2024 Nominees for Theatrical Feature Film - Part 1 of 2 (Ep. 465)

Martin Scorsese, Greta Gerwig, Alexander Payne, Yorgos Lanthimos and Christopher Nolan engage in a conversation with moderator Jeremy Kagan for the 33rd Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film Symposium.

Please note: spoilers are included.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/en/Events/2024/March2024/MTN_TheatricalFeatureFilm2024

Meet the 2024 Nominees for Theatrical Feature Film - Part 2 of 2 (Ep. 466)

Director Reinaldo Marcus Green discusses his new film, Bob Marley: One Love, with fellow Director Jeffrey W. Byrd in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses shooting in Jamaica to include authentic actors and locations, finding his Bob Marley in the 11th hour, and having Ziggy Marley supervising on-set.

The film tells the inspirational true story of Bob Marley, the legendary Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter and guitarist, and his journey as he becomes a pioneer and master of his craft.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/April2024/BobMarley1Love_QnA_0224.aspx

Bob Marley: One Love with Reinaldo Marcus Green and Jeffrey W. Byrd (Ep. 467)

Director Nicholaus Goossen discusses his new film, Drugstore June, with fellow Director Sammi Cohen in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses his first time writing, directing and editing a film himself, balancing his Actors’ improvisational scenes with the script when working on a tight shooting timeline, and referencing indie 80s and 90s movies to achieve a cinematic texture.

The film tells the story of June, a wannabe-influencer who’s life grows increasingly complicated as she juggles personal and interpersonal problems. Taking matters into her own hands, June heads out to get over her ex, solve a crime and become more of an adult.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/April2024/DrugstoreJune_QnA_0224.aspx

Drugstore June with Nicholaus Goossen and Sammi Cohen (Ep. 468)

Director Johan Renck discusses his new film, Spaceman, with fellow Director Crystal Moselle in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses Adam Sandler’s casting and role in helping the film take off, consulting with real astronauts about the loneliness and melancholy of space, and working with an Actor and cgi character on a set simulating zero-g.

The film tells the story of Jakub, an astronaut on a solo mission at the edge of the solar system. Increasingly concerned with the life he left behind, he sets out to fix his marriage with the help of a mysterious timeless creature living in the bowels of his ship.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/April2024/Spaceman_QnA_0224.aspx

Spaceman with Johan Renck and Crystal Moselle (Ep. 469)

Director Jeff Wadlow discusses his new film, Imaginary, with fellow Director Ari Sandel in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses working with a child actor, creating his creatures with a renowned creature effect house, and collaborating with the film’s lead, DeWanda Wise, as a producing partner.

The film follows Jessica, whose daughter develops an eerie attachment to a stuffed bear they find in the basement of her childhood home. What begins as innocent games quickly becomes sinister, as they realize that the bear is much more than just a stuffed toy.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/May2024/Imaginary_QnA_0324

Imaginary with Jeff Wadlow and Ari Sandel (Ep. 470)

Director Denis Villeneuve discusses his new film, Dune: Part Two, with fellow Director Steven Spielberg in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses the throes of filming in the desert in comparison with Lawrence of Arabia, the comic and painterly inspirations for his imagery, and adjusting his adaptation to closer fit Frank Herbert’s original intentions.

In this sequel to 2021’s Dune, Paul unites with Chani and the Fremen people while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Torn between love and the fate of the universe, he attempts to prevent a terrible future, in this continued adaptation of Frank Herbert’s groundbreaking novel.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/May2024/DunePartTwo_QnA_0324

Dune: Part Two with Denis Villeneuve and Steven Spielberg (Ep. 471)

Director Maureen Bharoocha discusses her new film, The Prank, with fellow Director Lena Khan in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses the influence of Hitchcock and Heathers on her tone, utilizing the score to control tension throughout the film, and working with Rita Moreno to portray the Actor in her first villain role.

The film follows Ben and Tanner, two seemingly ordinary high school seniors. But when they both fail a physics test, they decide to exact revenge on their teacher by framing her for the murder of a missing student.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/May2024/ThePrank_QnA_0324

The Prank with Maureen Bharoocha and Lena Khan (Ep. 472)

Director Michael Mohan discusses his new film, Immaculate, with fellow Director Adam Robitel in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how his personal background played into his making of the film, his creative partnership with actress Sydney Sweeney on and off the camera, and using Italian locations to try and keep the setting in a timeless state.

The film tells the story of Cecelia, an American nun who is offered a new role at a picturesque convent in the Italian countryside. But once there, her dream assignment quickly turns into a living nightmare when she discovers her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/May2024/Immaculate_QnA_0324

Immaculate with Michael Mohan and Adam Robitel (Ep. 473)

Director Robert Lorenz discusses his new film, In the Land of Saints and Sinners, with fellow Director Brian Helgeland in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses retaining the film’s authenticity in its Irish cast and texture of its 1970s setting, balancing the tone with moments of humor and severity, and using landscape shots of the remote Irish location to accentuate the mood of the film.

The film tells the story of Finbar Murphy, a man living a quiet life in a remote Irish fishing village, eager to leave his dark past behind. But when a menacing crew of terrorists arrive, he is forced to choose between keeping his secret identity hidden, or defending his community from the encroaching violence.


See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/May2024/LandofSaintsNSinners_QnA_0424

In the Land of Saints and Sinners with Robert Lorenz and Brian Helgeland (Ep. 474)

Directors David and Nathan Zellner discuss their new film, Sasquatch Sunset, with fellow Director James Ponsoldt in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they discuss working with actors who are performing in full makeup, their use of live animals throughout the film, and utilizing a score that integrates the sounds of nature as an instrument.

The film tells the story of a family of sasquatches living in the misty forests of North America. Over the course of one year, they embark on an absurdist, epic, hilarious, and ultimately poignant journey as they fight for survival in an ever-changing world.


See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/May2024/SasquatchSunset_QnA_0424

Sasquatch Sunset with David Zellner, Nathan Zellner and James Ponsoldt (Ep. 475)

Director Ned Benson discusses his new film, The Greatest Hits, with fellow Director Marc Webb in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses filming at landmark Los Angeles locations to ingrain the city as part of the story, working with the cinematographer to artistically convey the time traveling sequences, and working with his composer to craft a soundtrack that compliments a musically-inclined story.

The film tells the story of Harriet, who discovers that specific songs can transport her to the past to relive cherished moments with her former partner. But after meeting someone new in the present, she struggles to decide whether to alter the past and reclaim what she lost, or make peace with it and move on.


See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/June2024/GreatestHits_QnA_0424

The Greatest Hits with Ned Benson and Marc Webb (Ep. 476)

Director Michael Showalter discusses his new film, The Idea of You, with fellow Director Kay Cannon in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses the in-depth process of casting the Hayes character, working with a songwriter who writes for real pop bands to make a full soundtrack, and taking care to craft a realistic story that respects the genre.

The film tells the story of Solène, who while chaperoning her daughter at Coachella, finds instant chemistry with the lead singer of a popular boyband. But while their whirlwind romance creates an undeniable spark, it isn’t long before his superstar status causes challenges, and Solène discovers life in the spotlight may be more than she bargained for.


See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/June2024/IdeaOfYou_QnA_0524

The Idea of You with Michael Showalter and Kay Cannon (Ep. 477)

Director Lucy Walker discusses her new film, Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa, with fellow Director Ondi Timoner in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses comparing and contrasting the act of mountain climbing with the struggle of personal life, exploring Lhakpa’s children’s arcs to add to the stakes of the story, and finding and fighting for the end of her feature.

The film follows the true story of Lhakpa Sherpa, the first Nepali woman to summit and survive Mount Everest. Now a single mother living a quiet life in Connecticut, she returns to the mountain in hopes of building a better life for her family.


See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/June2024/DocSeries_MountainQueen-0524

Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa with Lucy Walker and Ondi Timoner (Ep. 478)

Director Wes Ball discusses his new film, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, with fellow Director Barry Jenkins in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses the importance of mis-en-scene and notes taken from his time helming the Maze Runner series, working in a production that relied heavily on mocap and digital replacement, and the unique process he underwent with his editors in the cutting process.

Set 300 years after the events of the previous apes trilogy, the film tells the story of a young ape named Noa, who defies his tyrannical king and teams up with a human to embark on a harrowing journey. On his quest, he’ll uncover mysteries that lead him to question everything he’s been taught and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.


See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2024/June2024/KingdomOfThePOTA_QnA_0524

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes with Wes Ball and Barry Jenkins (Ep. 479)

Director Yance Ford discusses his new film, Power, with fellow Director Kristi Jacobson in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses the endeavor of going through hundreds of years of archival material, how he wanted to challenge the notion of traditional experts in a documentary by approaching people from police-impacted communities, and the post production journey that led him to include his narration in the documentary.

The film investigates the American policing system, which has exploded in scope and scale over hundreds of years. Driven to contain threats to social order, now it can be described by one word: Power.

Power with Yance Ford and Kristi Jacobson (Ep. 480)

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.

Popular tracks by The Director's Cut