Team Deakins
The Team Deakins podcast is an ongoing conversation between acclaimed cinematographer Roger Deakins and James Deakins, his collaborator, about cinematography, the film business and whatever other questions are submitted. We start with a specific question and end....who knows where! We are joined by guests periodically. Followup questions can be posted in the forums at www.rogerdeakins.com.
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MOHAMMAD RASOULOF - Director
12/25/2024
MOHAMMAD RASOULOF - Director
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 121 - Mohammad Rasoulof - Director On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we’re joined by director Mohammad Rasoulof (THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG, THERE IS NO EVIL, A MAN OF INTEGRITY). Mohammad’s films have come at great personal cost, both to himself and his fellow filmmakers, and as deep admirers of his work, we were thrilled to speak with him. After learning how Mohammad found his way into filmmaking, we discuss how he outmaneuvered the Iranian regime’s censorship apparatus to covertly make many of his films, and Mohammad reflects on his pivot from using metaphorical cinematic language to using a far more direct language to create images of modern Iranian society. Frequently imprisoned for his films’ clear-sightedness of his country, Mohammad shares how he was forced to repeatedly watch his 2020 feature, THERE IS NO EVIL, with his prison guards, and we discuss the pedestrian origins of the four-part film about the country’s death penalty. We also learn that Mohammad’s films have never been screened publicly in Iran, and he reflects on his films acting as “cinematic boomerangs” that play internationally and find their way back to his Iranian audience through the country’s black market. We later discuss the symbolic imagery present in the beginning and end of THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG, and we learn his reasoning as to why he finally fled from Iran for good after the film’s completion. Translation conducted by Iante Roach. - Recommended Viewing: Every Mohammad Rasoulof film - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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PINAR DEMIRDAG - Co-Founder & CEO of Cuebric
12/18/2024
PINAR DEMIRDAG - Co-Founder & CEO of Cuebric
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 120 - Pinar Demirdag - Co-Founder & CEO of Cuebric In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we wade into the world of artificial intelligence through a conversation with Pinar Demirdag, the co-founder and CEO of Cuberic, a generative AI platform. What follows is a lively discussion about the future possibilities of AI in filmmaking, its current applications in cinema today, and all the ethical and practical questions these changes raise. Pinar also explains what it is that Cuebric actually does, and we discuss the potential ramifications of the proliferation of generative AI tools to filmmakers around the world. Throughout the episode, we reflect on being products of the times we live in and lived through, and Pinar shares to what end she sees artificial intelligence developing. We also reflect on the pace of innovation in the seemingly fast-growing field, and, at the end, we learn which Stanley Kubrick film ultimately inspired the name of her company. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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EDU GRAU - Cinematographer
12/11/2024
EDU GRAU - Cinematographer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 119 - Edu Grau - Cinematographer Cinematographer Edu Grau (THE ROOM NEXT DOOR, PASSING, A SINGLE MAN) joins us in this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. After an encouraging compliment from his art teacher, Edu attended a then-newly established film school in his hometown of Barcelona where he learned to foster his passion for filmmaking. Edu shares with us how, after a six month drought from work, he was selected by director Tom Ford to shoot A SINGLE MAN, and we reflect on working with actor/directors pulling double-duty. We later discuss Edu’s involvement on PASSING and the joy of shooting in black-and-white, and we ruminate on the nature of prep and the nagging anxiety of riding around in the van. Towards the end of the conversation, we later learn how Edu approached his work on THE ROOM NEXT DOOR and eschewed naturalism to help realize director Pedro Almodóvar’s unique vision. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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MARK BRIDGES - Costume Designer
12/04/2024
MARK BRIDGES - Costume Designer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 118 - Mark Bridges - Costume Designer In his podcast debut, costume designer Mark Bridges (THE FABELMANS, JOKER, PHANTOM THREAD) speaks with us on this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. Mark was once a costume assistant on BARTON FINK and HUDSUCKER PROXY alongside Mary Zophres (Season 1, Episode 80), and he shares how he made the jump to being a costume designer in his own right after meeting director Paul Thomas Anderson to work on his debut feature, HARD EIGHT. Throughout the episode, we discuss Mark’s approach to his work, and he shares how he builds out a character’s closet through diligent research and frequent testing. We also discuss how Mark communicates with the hair and makeup department, and he describes the types of conversations he has with the actors embodying a film’s characters. Later, Mark discusses how he designs costumes in black-and-white, and he reflects on the extra legwork done to get ahead of any potential problems while shooting on location. And, while sharing advice at the end of the episode, Mark cautions young designers against making it about the money. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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RACHEL CLARK - Cinematographer
11/27/2024
RACHEL CLARK - Cinematographer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 117 - Rachel Clark - Cinematographer Cinematographer Rachel Clark (EDGE OF SUMMER, QUEENIE, I AM RUTH) joins us on this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. Hailing from northeast England, Rachel, far-removed from the film industry, nonetheless found her way into the camera department and has since worked her way up the grades to helm the department herself. We discuss the challenges and obstacles in her journey to becoming a cinematographer, and she reflects on the stubbornness that pushed her through them all. We also discuss how her approach to working as a DP has evolved, and she reflects on her experiences shooting I AM RUTH within the bounds of director Dominic Savage’s unique vision. Rachel also shares her experience shooting EDGE OF SUMMER with children and her yearning to film as much as possible on location in a nearby tin mine. Plus, we learn about Rachel’s fortuitous early-career run-in with cinematographer Robbie Ryan dancing in a field at a music festival. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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MELINDA SUE GORDON - Still Photographer
11/20/2024
MELINDA SUE GORDON - Still Photographer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 116 - Melinda Sue Gordon - Still Photographer On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, still photographer Melinda Sue Gordon (OPPENHEIMER, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, LICORICE PIZZA) joins us to discuss the ins and outs of on-set still photography. We learn how Melinda Sue fulfills studio requests while navigating the many personalities of a cast and crew just trying to make the day, and she shares her approach to capturing images that faithfully represent the characters and tone of a film’s story. We later learn why Melinda Sue pivoted to still photography after studying cinematography at AFI, and she reveals how she cold-called her way onto RAISING ARIZONA early in her career. We also discuss how she successfully adapted to the advent of digital photography, and we learn how most of her images are only ever used internally at a studio to develop a marketing campaign—and (in a major scoop) Melinda Sue reveals which widely-distributed still from KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON was actually a composite. At the end of the conversation, Melinda Sue shares her advice to aspiring on-set still photographers listening in, and we reflect on the pleasure of staring at one static photograph amidst today’s glut of imagery. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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DOMINIC TUOHY - Special Effects Supervisor
11/13/2024
DOMINIC TUOHY - Special Effects Supervisor
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 115 - Dominic Tuohy - Special Effects Supervisor Special effects supervisor Dominic Tuohy (THE BATMAN, 1917, EDGE OF TOMORROW) joins us in this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast to discuss the craft of special effects. With a father active in the film industry, Dom was taken in by the special effects team at Pinewood Studios at an early age, and he's been working in the department for the past 40 years. Throughout the episode, we discuss the invaluable verisimilitude of special effects, and Dom muses over the magic inherent to filmmaking’s smoke and mirrors. He later unmasks the secrets behind pulling off the Batmobile chase in THE BATMAN, and we learn how stunt coordinator Rob Alonzo creatively spent his time during the pandemic induced pause in production to pre-visualize the sequence. Dom also reveals the painstaking (and sometimes painful) work that he and his team endure to push the envelope and make an effect even better. Towards the end of the conversation, Dom reveals how he advises any young person interested in making a life out of making movies, and we reflect on the high price (and deep pleasure) of working in the industry. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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PEDRO PÁRAMO - Directed by Rodrigo Prieto
11/06/2024
PEDRO PÁRAMO - Directed by Rodrigo Prieto
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 114 - PEDRO PÁRAMO - with Rodrigo Prieto On this special episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, our friend and former guest Rodrigo Prieto (Season 1, Episode 112) joins us to discuss his directorial debut, PEDRO PÁRAMO, an adaptation of the eponymous and iconic Mexican novel written by venerated author Juan Rulfo. The focus of our conversation centers around Rodrigo’s experiences as a first-time director, and we cover the lifetime of the film’s journey from prep to release. Rodrigo starts by sharing how he came to direct the project in the first place, and he reveals why he felt he could be the one to tell this story today. We later discuss the novel’s legacy within Mexico and Latin America, and we learn how the themes of the complex story informed many of Rodrigo’s creative choices, from retooling the script to casting the appropriate actors. Rodrigo also shares what his biggest surprise was as a first-time director, and he reflects on the naturalistic direction of his telling of the story while discussing the 1967 adaptation of the novel. We also discuss the leniency with light enabled by modern digital cameras, and Rodrigo reveals how an added budgetary pressure can lead many to avoid spending money on lighting packages of any kind. Throughout the episode, Rodrigo reflects on his love for the magic trick that is cinema, and we learn if and how often he plans to direct again! PEDRO PÁRAMO is available worldwide on Netflix. - Recommended Reading: Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo - Recommended Viewing: PEDRO PÁRAMO - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE - For Cinematographers
10/30/2024
TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE - For Cinematographers
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 113 - Technical Knowledge for Cinematographers - with David Mullen In this special episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we’re joined by our friend and cinematographer David Mullen (Season 1, Episode 83) to discuss what and how much technical knowledge a cinematographer ought to know these days. The conversation includes specific explanations of technical details (such as the difference between film grain and digital noise) and more general subjects (such as the importance of telling a story and eliciting an emotional response from the audience). We also share a number of work stories, including Roger’s early-career exposure to cinematographer Douglas Slocombe’s internal light-meter and David’s experience seeing his work on a TV show smothered by a yellow filter during post. Reflecting on the diversity in images in older Hollywood films despite limited film stock and optical options, we maintain the position that the look of a film is the product of a cinematographer’s eye (rather than the technology one uses), and David elucidates how cinematographer Oswold Morris developed the desaturated look of director John Huston’s adaptation of MOBY DICK using the technology available to him to serve the storytelling. We also reflect on the lost knowledge of how films were made in the early digital days of the 2000s and stress the need to study and remember filmmaking history, recent and ancient. Towards the end, we also consider director Yasujiro Ozu’s prolific and effective use of a single 50mm lens when the conversation drifts towards the phenomenon of people avoiding “boring lenses”. Plus, we highlight the need to understand basic high school mathematics (no excuses!). Cinematographers at all levels, from the aspiring to the battle-worn, can enjoy and learn from this discussion, and we hope you enjoy listening. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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DAN LEMMON - VFX Supervisor
10/23/2024
DAN LEMMON - VFX Supervisor
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 112 - DAN LEMMON - VFX Supervisor VFX Supervisor Dan Lemmon (THE BATMAN, DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, AVATAR) joins us on this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. Expanding upon our collection of conversations with filmmakers who worked on THE BATMAN, Dan is more than eager to discuss his work on the film, and he breaks down his team’s contributions to the Batmobile chase sequence and the look of the film as a whole. We also discuss the value of shooting references for the VFX department, and Dan reveals his reasoning for advocating to shoot as much as possible in-camera. We later learn how VFX houses are adapting to deliver their work at the same quality under tightening budgets, and we reflect on how the pace of innovation in the field has changed over Dan’s career. Dan also explains how motion capture technology works and how it’s evolved to allow for films like AVATAR and the recent PLANET OF THE APES trilogy to exist as envisioned by their directors. Towards the end, we reflect on the modern trend towards naturalism and the diminishment of theatricality in how stories are told cinematically. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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JESSE JAMES Live Q&A
10/16/2024
JESSE JAMES Live Q&A
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 111 - JESSE JAMES Live Q&A - with Wendy Roderweiss This special episode of the Team Deakins Podcast features a recording of what was a live conversation between Team Deakins and filmmaker and DePaul University professor Wendy Roderweiss following a screening of THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago. During the conversation, we discuss our experiences shooting the movie and working together as creative and life partners, and James reveals how her involvement allowed Roger to simultaneously shoot JESSE JAMES while colour timing JARHEAD. She also discusses how she balanced the workload between the two films (and countries!). We later share the genesis of the opening montage, and we also reflect on the limited use of the Deakinizer lenses invented for the film. We also answer a series of audience questions, and we reflect on our time working with the DePaul students during our visit to Chicago. Roger also offers his (brief) review of the print used at the screening! This was recorded in early 2024 during our visit to DePaul University to participate in a series of events with their students. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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JON SANDERS & ANNA MOTTRAM - Writer/Director & Actor/Writer
10/09/2024
JON SANDERS & ANNA MOTTRAM - Writer/Director & Actor/Writer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 110 - JON SANDERS & ANNA MOTTRAM - WRITER / DIRECTOR & WRITER / ACTOR On the episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with writer/director Jon Sanders & actor/writer Anna Mottram (PAINTED ANGELS, A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER, A CLEVER WOMAN). As old friends and a fellow filmmaking couple, we had a lot to talk about! Roger and Jon reminisce on coming up together amidst the fallout television left hanging over England’s film scene, and we all compare our experiences working with our partners over a lifetime. Anna muses on the act of improvisation as an actor, and Jon shares how he works with the cinematographer to pull off the series of long takes that define their films. We later discuss the liberating force of digital cameras, and we learn why they opt to improvise every scene and shoot their films in chronological order. Towards the end, we reflect on their commitment to the theatrical experience, the reach of their films, and on the touching feedback Jon and Anna receive from their viewers. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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KEVIN BAILLIE - VFX Supervisor
10/02/2024
KEVIN BAILLIE - VFX Supervisor
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 109 - KEVIN BAILLIE - VFX SUPERVISOR On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with visual effects supervisor Kevin Baillie (HERE, PINOCCHIO, FLIGHT) in an engaging conversation about the evolving use of VFX in film. We learn what types of discussions Kevin has with filmmakers to determine how to incorporate VFX effectively into their projects, and we discuss his belief in using the right tool for the right job. While looking back in history, we marvel in the immersive quality of Ray Harryhausen’s pioneering work on JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS and discuss the function of VFX within a piece of storytelling. We also discuss the increasingly prevalent role of VFX in production and on a perceived creative bifurcation between the production stage and the post-production stage. A frequent collaborator of director Robert Zemeckis, we discuss how the director’s relationship to visual effects has changed over the years, and Kevin reveals the intent behind the VFX in the upcoming feature HERE. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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TIM BLAKE NELSON - Actor / Writer / Director
09/25/2024
TIM BLAKE NELSON - Actor / Writer / Director
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 108 - TIM BLAKE NELSON - ACTOR / WRITER / DIRECTOR On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with actor, writer, and director Tim Blake Nelson (LEAVES OF GRASS, THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS, LINCOLN) about a wide range of topics. We had the pleasure of working with him on O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU?, and we had a wonderful time catching up with him. We learn all about his journey from Oklahoma to his first breaks as an actor, and we discuss the artistic and academic foundation that informs his choices as a filmmaker. James and Tim both studied the classics in college, and they compare their Latin and Greek syllabi and reflect on how they still draw from what they learned during their education. Picking the subject back up later in the episode, we also learn the truth behind the apocryphal myth as to whether anyone actually read Homer's Odyssey before shooting O BROTHER. Tim later reflects on his parallel career as a playwright, and we learn why he doesn’t direct his own plays as he muses on the different demands of conceptualizing a story for the stage versus one for the screen. Later, we discuss his career as a director, and Tim shares his increasingly difficult experiences funding his independent films. Towards the end, we discuss his recent role as the star of his son’s feature debut, ASLEEP IN MY PALM, and we ask Tim about his recent novel, CITY OF BLOWS, and learn how the story was inspired by Tim’s real experiences in Hollywood during the COVID-19 pandemic. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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PETER JAMES - Cinematographer
09/18/2024
PETER JAMES - Cinematographer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 107 - PETER JAMES - CINEMATOGRAPHER On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, cinematographer Peter James (MAO’S LAST DANCER, BLACK ROBE, DRIVING MISS DAISY) joins us to talk about his career. Growing up in Sydney, Australia, Peter spent five years in his youth working at a small studio working on commercials and local television programs before finding his to working on features. Peter shares his process for overcoming his dyslexia to break down scripts, and at one point in the conversation, he even teaches us a new lighting trick. Peter later discusses how he and the crew battled the elements to shoot the colonial-era set BLACK ROBE on location in the Canadian wilderness. Towards the end, we conduct some forensics on Peter’s IMDb page, and we reflect on the power of the inverse-square law. - Recommended Viewing: BLACK ROBE - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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TRISTAN OLIVER - Cinematographer
06/14/2024
TRISTAN OLIVER - Cinematographer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 106 - TRISTAN OLIVER - CINEMATOGRAPHER In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer Tristan Oliver (ISLE OF DOGS, PARANORMAN, CHICKEN RUN). Tristan generously shares his extensive knowledge of stop-motion animation with us, and we spend the majority of the episode learning the ins and outs of shooting 9-inch puppets in a warehouse. Tristan reveals how he (and up to 50+ active units) prepares the lights and cameras for scenes in such a way that doesn’t impede upon the work of the animators physically bringing the characters to life, and we discuss the effectiveness of applying the principles and practices of live-action cinematography into the world of animation. In addition to his work in stop-motion animation, Tristan has contributed to live-action projects such as POOR THINGS and the uniquely realized LOVING VINCENT, and he reflects on his experiences in both projects. In the back half of our conversation, Tristan shares how he really felt working with director Wes Anderson on FANTASTIC MR. FOX and ISLE OF DOGS, from learning how to work together on the former to engaging in a battle of wits over the feasibility of deep focus in the latter, and we learn in which films Tristan sees the most of himself. At the end, we close our conversation with an appreciation for the enduring quality of that which is handmade over that which is merely manufactured. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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TURNING THE TABLES - "Our Partnership"
06/14/2024
TURNING THE TABLES - "Our Partnership"
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 105 - Turning the Tables: “Our Partnership” - with Rick Carter Production designer Rick Carter (Season 2, Episode 95) returns to the Team Deakins Podcast for a special episode in which Rick turns the tables, and his questions, towards us. The focus of his questioning? Our partnership as Team Deakins. Rick mines the origins of our relationship and helps illuminate why Team Deakins works as well as it does, and we discuss how, as storytellers, we collaborate with one another and our fellow crew members to help visualize a film. James shares how she leverages her addiction to solving problems as an asset for the crew, and Roger reflects on how his total trust in James enables him to be in two places at once. Rick later steers the conversation towards the intuitive aspects of filmmaking, and we discuss the importance of keeping one’s head straight during a shoot. Rick also expands the scope of our discussion to include the entire production, and we reflect on the magical energy of a crew working together in service of a clear vision as a unified creative unit. Towards the end, we also discuss the nature of the podcast as a means of communication, and we marvel at the fact that we’ve yet to actually meet Rick in person. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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STEVE DUNN - Assistant Director
06/12/2024
STEVE DUNN - Assistant Director
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 104 - STEVE DUNN - ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Assistant director Steve Dunn (WALK THE LINE, A LITTLE PRINCESS, DANCES WITH WOLVES) joins us on this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast to discuss his life and career in a candid conversation. Steve fell in love with film as a child living in Venezuela, and after returning to America, he ended up convincing his university professors to accept course-specific short films in place of term papers. After graduating from USC, Steve drove off to Atlanta and landed a two-week PA gig alongside the GUNSMOKE crew on a mercenary job during the classic show’s break in schedule. Steve later reveals how he made the transition from low-budget filmmaking in middle America to more mainstream filmmaking in Hollywood, and we learn how Steve leveraged his relationship with director Paul Schrader to break into assistant directing. Steve discusses how, as an assistant director, he keeps things moving at any cost, and he shares why he sometimes elects to designate himself as the lighting rod of blame on difficult shoots. We also discuss how Steve manages the different personalities on set, and he shares a number of episodes from his career in which he lost or narrowly avoided losing his job. Towards the end, we also learn how Steve came to finally work with director Robert Altman, one of his cinematic heroes. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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IVAN SEN - Director
08/21/2024
IVAN SEN - Director
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 103 - IVAN SEN - DIRECTOR On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we’re speaking with director Ivan Sen (LIMBO, GOLDSTONE, MYSTERY ROAD). In addition to directing his films, Ivan is simultaneously responsible for the editing, cinematography, sound, and a myriad of departments typically delegated to others—his being a one man crew is a frequent point of discussion, and we learn how shooting on his own (or with relatively few collaborators) allows him to capture the emotional moments elusive to the circus of larger productions. We learn how Ivan’s childhood moving around inland Australia informs the subjects of his films, and we discuss the power of place and its place in Ivan’s story development process. During our discussion of his latest film, LIMBO, Ivan reflects on the increasing sense of formalism in his work and why he feels more excited for and more sensitive to the filmmaking process now than when he was just starting out. Towards the end, Ivan also shares his thoughts on the state of the Australian film industry and on being aware of the market realities of filmmaking and film exhibition when developing a project. We deeply admire Ivan’s films, and we were thrilled to be able to speak with him about them. - Recommended Viewing: LIMBO - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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LUKASZ ZAL - Cinematographer
08/14/2024
LUKASZ ZAL - Cinematographer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 102 - LUKASZ ZAL - CINEMATOGRAPHER On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we’re speaking with cinematographer Lukasz Zal (THE ZONE OF INTEREST, COLD WAR, IDA). Born and raised in Poland, Lukasz yearned to express himself creatively in his youth, but it wasn't until he filmed a communion that he found his creativity was best practiced through cinematography. We also learn how Lukasz took over the role of cinematographer on IDA and how he and director (and fellow Pole) Pawel Pawlikowski worked together. He later reveals the humorous reason the camera finally moves at the end of the film, and we discuss how shooting the film in colour and then converting the footage into black and white affected the final images. Later, Lukasz shares his experiences working on DOVLATOV in St. Petersburg, and we take a moment to appreciate the rich cinematic and artistic traditions of the Russian people. Towards the end, we also discuss the practical challenges of shooting THE ZONE OF INTEREST and how director Jonathan Glazer’s idea of “Big Brother in Nazi Germany” informed the ultimate tone of the film. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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WILLIE BURTON - Production Sound Mixer
08/07/2024
WILLIE BURTON - Production Sound Mixer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 101 - WILLIE BURTON - PRODUCTION SOUND MIXER On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, production sound mixer Willie Burton (OPPENHEIMER, LOVE & BASKETBALL, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION) joins us to talk about his career and the world of audio. We learn how Willie’s love for all things audio began as a teenager in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and drove him to hitching a ride with a visiting minister out to California to pursue a higher education and deepen his knowledge in the field. After a string of odd-jobs and an engineering career in the sonar division of the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Willie weathered years of rejection before gaining admittance into the sound union, becoming the first African-American in the local’s history, and finally began his long career in film and television. Throughout the episode, Willie remembers those who helped him advance in his career; among them fellow trailblazer Sidney Poitier, who gave Willie his first break sound mixing a feature on the Poitier-directed LET’S DO IT AGAIN. Willie later shares how he likes to prepare for a film, and we discuss some of the challenges Willie faced recording sound on OPPENHEIMER and TENET. Towards the end of our conversation, we ask Willie if he’s ready to hang it up, and we also learn about Willie’s involvement in a new educational program in Kansas City exposing young men and women to the world of filmmaking. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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COLOUR - 100th Episode Special
07/31/2024
COLOUR - 100th Episode Special
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 100 - Colour - with Donald Mowat & Greig Fraser In this special entry of the Team Deakins Podcast, we’re celebrating the 100th episode of our second season by sharing our conversation about colour in film with former guests (and good friends) cinematographer Greig Fraser and makeup artist Donald Mowat. Greig discusses his endless search for the right lighting and camera combination to achieve a complexity and depth in skin tones he sees in 1970s-era American cinema, and we reminisce about the consistency in results born from the compatibility between tungsten lights and film stock designed for tungsten lighting. Donald also recalls the “Magenta Scare” when the red-adjacent colour became a point of fixation for filmmakers, and we consider the value of relying on the experts with whom we work. Throughout our winding discussion, some of the topics we cover include: actors’ skin tones changing under stress, the evolving politics of the makeup department, the diverse (and distressing) settings and screens in which dailies are viewed, the trouble with painting a set grey, the varying qualities of LED lights, the varying qualities of coloured gels, how Greig tests for skin tones, how Donald sneaks reference photos for his department, and watching really bad films while on a shoot. Also included: Technicolor-era trivia from Roger. A huge thank you to everyone still listening to the podcast! - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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ALFONSO CUARÓN - Writer / Director
07/24/2024
ALFONSO CUARÓN - Writer / Director
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 99 - ALFONSO CUARÓN - WRITER / DIRECTOR Writer and director Alfonso Cuarón (ROMA, CHILDREN OF MEN, Y TU MAMÁ TAMBIÉN) joins us on this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast to talk about his career and about filmmaking. Growing up in Mexico, Alfonso sought solace in the cinema, and he crewed and assisted on documentaries around the country throughout his youth, setting the foundation for his visual sensibilities by studying the photography of Ansel Adams and observing a DP manipulate natural light to shoot vegetables. After directing his first feature, Alfonso was brought to Hollywood by director Sydney Pollack to work on an episode of the anthology series FALLEN ANGELS, and Alfonso recalls for us his encouraging conversation with actor Alan Rickman that helped him overcome the petrifying pressure of shooting within the Hollywood machine. Alfonso later shares how director Guillermo del Toro convinced him to helm the third HARRY POTTER film, and he reveals which elements of the franchise he pushed to evolve and change. Alfonso also reflects on his relationship with visual effects, and we discuss why prep and bringing one’s collaborators into one’s process brings out the best in any film. Towards the end, Alfonso reflects on his experiences working on his upcoming limited series and shares his fear that television, not cinema, is the one conquering the other; however, despite this fear, we discuss the past, present, and potential future of filmmaking through an optimistic lens. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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ETHAN HAWKE - Actor / Director
07/17/2024
ETHAN HAWKE - Actor / Director
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 98 - ETHAN HAWKE - ACTOR / DIRECTOR On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we’re joined by actor and director Ethan Hawke (WILDCAT, BLAZE, BOYHOOD). James once worked with Ethan on WHITE FANG in Alaska, but before that, Ethan started acting in his youth in the theatre before landing his life-changing role on DEAD POETS SOCIETY. Throughout our discussion, Ethan reflects on his evolving relationship to film, art, and acting and shares a number of his thoughts on the nature of filmmaking. Ethan shares how he adjusts to the working style of different directors and what he’s applied to his own discipline of acting after directing a number of projects. We later discuss rehearsals, learning how director Sidney Lumet once adjusted a scene with Ethan because of having run through the scene with him, and Ethan shares why would never ask a director to change their preferred way of working. We also learn how Ethan developed and directed BLAZE and what the guiding principles were behind the direction of WILDCAT. An engaging conversation with a truly talented artist! - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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MARK JOHNSON - Producer
07/10/2024
MARK JOHNSON - Producer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 97 - MARK JOHNSON - PRODUCER Producer Mark Johnson (THE HOLDOVERS, BETTER CALL SAUL, GALAXY QUEST) joins us on this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. After growing up in Spain and a brief stint as an extra on DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, Mark worked in commercials in New York City before finding his way into the Directors Guild of America’s Assistant Directing training program. Mark later survived William Friedkin’s globe-trotting production of SORCERER, emerging from the dirt and mud having risen to the position of 2nd AD, and eventually broke into producing with director Barry Levinson’s DINER. During our discussion, we learn how Mark finds projects to produce and what he looks for in projects brought to him. Mark also reflects on the varying styles of directors and how he personally defines the responsibilities of a producer. We also learn how Mark shepherded GALAXY QUEST (a favourite of ours) into existence, and he shares a number of insights into the journey of its development, production, and release. We later learn how Mark first met writer Vince Gilligan and of their long-term professional relationship that led Mark to producing BREAKING BAD and BETTER CALL SAUL, and he reflects on the differences between working in television versus film. Mark is responsible for introducing us to director Denis Villeneuve before we worked together on PRISONERS, and it was a pleasure to be able to catch up with him in this episode. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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GEORGE COTTLE - Stunt Coordinator / 2nd Unit Director
07/03/2024
GEORGE COTTLE - Stunt Coordinator / 2nd Unit Director
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 96 - GEORGE COTTLE - STUNT COORDINATOR / 2ND UNIT DIRECTOR Stunt coordinator and 2nd unit director George Cottle (BARBIE, OPPENHEIMER, TENET) joins us on this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. At 16, George spent a summer assisting stunt coordinator Greg Powell at Pinewood Studios, and his life has been dedicated to stunts ever since. George shares how he met the requirements for the British Stunt Register (while explaining what the organization actually does) and how the structure of the stunt department encourages the gradual but meaningful development of skills in its members. We also question George about his recent expansion into 2nd unit directing and learn how he coordinated the car chase in BARBIE using his daughter’s walkie-talkies. We later learn how new technologies and advances in visual effects have assisted the stunt department in safely executing elaborate stunts, and George reflects on the department’s modern pivot away from its historically machismo culture. George also reveals how he determines whether an actor can (or should) participate in a stunt, and we learn how he builds out his team when hired for a job. We also get George to reflect on the unique challenges of designing stunts for TENET amidst its many locales and its time-defying script. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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RICK CARTER - Production Designer
06/26/2024
RICK CARTER - Production Designer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 95 - RICK CARTER - PRODUCTION DESIGNER Production designer Rick Carter (THE FABELMANS, AVATAR, MUNICH) joins us on this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. Despite growing up around Hollywood, Rick was a rebel, and it wasn’t until after dropping out of college and traveling the world as a hippy that Rick finally found his way into filmmaking. Rick shares why he fell into the art department and, throughout the episode, reflects on how he conceptualizes spaces with his fellow filmmakers before bringing them into our reality. Rick also reflects on the podcast itself—it being an archive of filmmakers of a certain epoch of filmmaking—and eagerly adds his own voice to its chorus. We also focus on Rick’s experiences working on director Steven Spielberg’s MUNICH and on the decision-making that went into finding the location for the staircase scene set in Athens. - Recommended Viewing: MUNICH - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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BILL BENNETT - Cinematographer
06/19/2024
BILL BENNETT - Cinematographer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 94 - BILL BENNETT - CINEMATOGRAPHER On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, cinematographer Bill Bennett speaks with us about the world of commercial filmmaking. Born into a family of engineers, Bill came to love art through his mother’s own development as an artist, and he quickly changed majors in college to pursue his passion. Finding his way to LA, Bill built sets for commercials for years until breaking his way into camera operating and eventually cinematography in the field. Bill reveals how commercial filmmakers transitioned from film to digital formats and of his involvement in the development of the Arriflex 435 camera, a major breakthrough at the time. Bill later reflects on the impact of the Arri Alexa camera on the design of digital cameras at large and on the moment a digital camera demonstrated its value as a viable replacement for film cameras to him on a car commercial shoot. Bill also shares plenty of advice for young filmmakers looking to enter the world of commercial production and what his own views are on what makes someone stand out from the crowd. Towards the end, we discuss how commercial filmmaking is changing with new technologies like artificial intelligence and volume lighting systems. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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DANIEL KALUUYA - Actor
06/12/2024
DANIEL KALUUYA - Actor
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 93 - DANIEL KALUUYA - ACTOR On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we're speaking with actor Daniel Kaluuya (JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH, GET OUT, SICARIO). A former class clown from Camden Town, Daniel describes his early initiation into the London youth theatre and arts scene up until being scouted to write and act on the popular British show SKINS. We had the pleasure of working with him on SICARIO, and he reveals how much the production changed his perception of acting and empowered him to try “doing nothing” in a scene. We learn about the discipline he applies during prep to inhabit his characters, and we discuss the particular challenges and responsibilities of playing Fred Hampton in JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH. Later, Daniel discusses his preparation for GET OUT and reflects on his experience being the face of a film that blew up far beyond his initial expectations. Daniel also reveals what he learned about himself following a year-and-a-half-long sabbatical from acting after shooting SICARIO. Throughout the episode, Daniel shares his love for working with directors who have something to say and know what they need to shoot to say it. - Recommended Viewing: GET OUT, SICARIO - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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DON BURGESS - Cinematographer
06/05/2024
DON BURGESS - Cinematographer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 92 - DON BURGESS - CINEMATOGRAPHER On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer Don Burgess (AQUAMAN, CONTACT, FORREST GUMP). Always the outdoorsman, Don spent much of his youth and young adulthood filming sports movies and learning the ropes while hanging off them on the side of a mountain. We learn how he fell in with director Robert Zemeckis in a pivotal meeting to shoot FORREST GUMP and how they typically prepare and work together through production. We also discuss Don’s night work on CAST AWAY and the difficulties of working on a tropical island. We reflect on deriving strength from longtime crew members, and Don reveals how, after the introduction of film incentives, he’s since developed local crews around the world. Later, Don gives us a recent example of when he was able to remotely DP a shot across the Pacific Ocean with his trusted New Zealand crew. Among his many illustrious credits, Don can also boast of surviving the 2nd unit on the arduous production of director William Friedkin’s SORCERER. - This episode is sponsored by Godox
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