Last March, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the addition of a new Oscar category: Best Achievement in Casting. Allison Estrin, an NYC-based casting director whose credits include “Billions”, “The Other Two”, “Bupkis”, and a slew of movies, joins me today and graciously answers my questions about the craft. We also talk abo…

Today we’re talking about the craft of Food Styling, and I’m joined by two guests with expertise to share. Christine Tobin (“Little Women”, “Julia” and “The Holdovers”) and Melissa McSorley (“Chef”, “Mad Men”, and various Star Wars projects) discuss where Food Styling fits into the larger film set environment, and we compare how period, contemporar…

“What’s Next: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing” is a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes stories from former cast members Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack, and I’m thrilled to host them on this episode of the podcast and talk about the book (which was just published last week). Our conversation is both a teaser for the release and a chance to…

“The Dead Don’t Hurt” is an indie western written and directed by Viggo Mortenson, who also starred in the film and composed the score. Costume Designer Anne Dixon joins me to discuss both the challenges of working on a multinational, low-budget film, the rewards of working with Viggo and the tone he sets (both on set and in front of the camera), a…

Today we’re talking about “Mayor of Kingstown”, the Taylor Sheridan-produced series starring Jeremy Renner. Score Composer Andrew Lockington returns to the podcast to discuss his contributions across all three seasons, and composer Louis Weeks joins me once again to provide a colleague’s perspective. “Mayor of Kingstown” streams on Paramount+, and …

Regular listeners know that this podcast has a lot of respect for the film contribution of props, and we’re excited to discuss the recent endeavors of the Property Masters Guild (founded January 2021). Mikey Trudel and Chris Call, who both serve on the Board of Directors, discuss the PMG’s efforts serving both the society of property masters and th…

Netflix’s eight-episode adaptation of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” was well-received by critics and fans alike, and two more seasons are on the way. Costume Designer Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh discusses the challenge of adapting the popular animated series for live action, and we dive deep into the major battle scenes from the first and last episodes of s…

“Fallout”, the eight-episode video game adaptation currently streaming on Prime, is retro-futuristic apocalyptic chaos at its best. The series has been applauded by gamers and non-gamers alike, and today’s guests — Set Decorator Regina Graves, Propmaster Michael Jortner and Propmaster Peter Gelfman — share story after story about the effort and cre…

It’s a two-guest show! Recreating the historical drama of Apple TV+’s “Manhunt” so it’s relatable to a modern audience was a challenge for both Costume Designer Katie Irish and 1st Assistant Director Gary Goldman. No matter what you think you know about Lincoln’s assassination and the 12-day manhunt that followed, Katie and Gary share some details …

“Ripley” -- the stylish eight-episode series currently streaming on Netflix -- is a very deliberate bit of filmmaking. While the black-and-white filming and exquisitely framed shots draw attention to the cinematography, today co-host Louis Weeks and I are speaking with Score Composer Jeff Russo. We explore how Jeff’s relationship with the character…

“Before I Change My Mind” is a wonderful coming-of-age story with a twist: the gender of our protagonist, Robin (played by Vaughan Murrae), is indeterminate throughout the film. Writer/Director Trevor Anderson shares how his extensive theater experience — and the support of the Edmonton theater scene — was integral to the making of this movie. We a…

“Drugstore June”, starring Esther Povitsky, is a refreshingly low-key comedy that I sincerely enjoyed. Indie filmmaking is challenging, and Cinematographer Sherri Kauk explains how she worked with Director Nicholaus Goossen and the rest of the crew on issues of budget and schedule, ensuring that they got the most bang for their limited buck. She al…

“Griselda”, currently streaming on Netflix, stars Sofia Vergara as the titular cocaine kingpin, prominent in the Miami drug scene of the 1970s and 1980s. The role is a change of pace for the former “Modern Family” star, and my guest Angela Nogaro, Makeup Department Head for the series, was part of the team that made Sofia’s transformation possible.…

The Paramount+ series “Sexy Beast”, with all eight episodes currently streaming, is a prequel to Jonathan Glazer’s 2000 film of the same name. My guest is Producer and Editor Matthew Barber, who joined the production to help establish the tone of the series and worked as an editor on the first and last episodes. We talk about the challenges of doin…

“Oppenheimer” cleaned up at the Academy Awards last weekend, claiming seven statues for its 13 nominations. My guest this episode is the film’s Propmaster, Guillaume DeLouche. Achievement in Propmastering isn’t recognized with an Oscar, but today, we’re going to discuss how props contributed to all of the nominations and wins for Christopher Nolan’…

BONUS EPISODE! Propmastering is not recognized with an Oscar, but what if it was? Gregg Bilson, Jr. (President of mega-prop conglomerate ISS) and Scott Buckwald (property master and friend of the podcast!) discuss a hypothetical slate of films that could be nominated for their props. This episode wraps our Academy Awards coverage, but if you've lis…

The Academy Awards are only a week away, and today we’re discussing the Oscar nominees for Original Song. My guests — Chris Molanphy (chart analyst and podcast host), Louis Weeks (score composer), and Tom Peyton (song writer) — offer an assessment of these nominees that encompasses both the technical and the meta. The 2023 Nominees for Original Son…

Our tour through the technical categories continues with a discussion of the Oscar nominees for Original Score. My guests — Louis Weeks (score composer), Chris Molanphy (chart analyst/pop critic), and Jennie Armon (executive producer/music supervisor) — offer a multi-layered set of insights. The 2023 Nominees for Original Score: •"American Fiction"…

The Oscar nominees for Film Editing compose an interesting slate of films this year, and editors Christopher Angel and Amy Duddleston return to share their insights. For those following along at home, you may be amused to know that they disagree on the merits of at least one of these movies, but they both reinforced my opinion about the one nominee…

Our Academy Awards series continues with a discussion of the Oscar nominees for Makeup and Hairstyling. Joining me today are Angela Nogaro (Makeup) and Yvonne Depatis-Kupka (Hair), discussing not only the nominated films but - once again - questions about the selection process and who is considered part of the team. Why is there only one name on th…

Film professionals discussing the nominees in their area of expertise: that’s Below the Line at the Oscars. Today, we’re talking about Cinematography, and my returning guests — Patrick Cady and David Tuttman — are directors of photography with stories to share. The 2023 Nominees for Cinematography: •"El Conde" •"Killers of the Flower Moon" •"Maestr…

Costume Designers Helen Huang And Allison Choi Braun return to offer their insights on this year’s Oscar nominees for Costume Design. We mark our halfway point through the Academy Awards season with another great conversation, discussing not only the five nominated films but also how the craft of costume design is such an integral aspect of the fil…

It’s difficult to sell 12 episodes of Oscars coverage, but if you appreciate the work done by crew, you’re going to appreciate this season, where film professionals discuss the nominees in the category of their expertise. Today’s animated conversation about the nominees for Animated Feature benefits from returning guests, Kent Seki and Camille Lega…

We’re continuing our deep dive discussions about the Oscar nominees in the technical categories, and today, Production Designer Bob Shaw and Set Decorator Regina Graves - Oscar nominees themselves - offer their insights about the five nominees for Production Design. The 2023 Nominees for Production Design: •"Barbie" •"Killers of the Flower Moon" •"…

It’s non-stop conversations about the Oscar nominees in the technical categories from now until the Academy Awards, and I hope you'll follow us for the full season. Today, Kent Seki and Chris Batty return to discuss the nominees for Visual Effects. This year, it looks like any of these nominees could deservedly take the prize. Join us for insights …

Below the Line continues our Fifth Annual Oscar Series with a discussion of the nominees for achievement in Directing, and I’m joined by a returning panel of fellow below-the-liners: Katie Carroll, Bill Hardy, Roger Mendoza and Shaun O’Banion. It’s the first year we’ve discussed the directors nominated for the Academy Award, but it’s in lieu of our…

Our Fifth Annual Oscar Series begins now! Once again, we’ve got panels of film professionals discussing the nominees in their category of expertise. First up: Oscar nominee Steve Morrow (production sound mixer) and Oscar winner Don Sylvester (sound editor) discuss this year's nominees for Sound. The 2023 Nominees for Sound: •“The Creator” •“Maestro…

Now for something completely different! “Gen V” is a bombastic and provocative take on the Superhero genre, and Film Editor Maura Corey threads a needle balancing the action, the satire, and the humor from scene to scene. Gianni Damaia returns to the co-host seat, and - once again - it’s a laugh-out-loud conversation that I hope you’ll enjoy as muc…

2022’s “Aftersun” is a slow-burn of a movie which nonetheless resonated with a sizable audience, and Film Editor Blair McClendon brings us inside the collaboration that sits at the center of this film (which is currently streaming on Showtime and Paramount+). Fellow editor (and friend of the podcast) Christopher Angel identified “Aftersun” as an ov…

“Hatching”, a successful Finnish horror film currently streaming on Hulu, is a good case study for exploring the differences between European filmmaking and the U.S. studio system. I’m joined today by the Producer of “Hatching”, Mika Ritalahti, and two Executive Line Producers from Mistrus Media Film Production, Gints Grube and Elina Gedina. While …

“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” was released in theaters early this year and is now streaming on multiple platforms. Tyler Cordova, Co-Visual Effects Producer, is here to explain how practical effects and visual effects work together to create the magic of the film. And for the first time on the podcast: we’re discussing specific scenes i…

“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” wrapped earlier this year after four seasons on Amazon Prime, and Production Designer Derek Hill is here to offer behind-the-scene insights for a team that was based out of Budapest but filmed across Europe, from Greece to Croatia to the Canary Islands. Oh, and COVID: there was COVID.…

Costume Designer Liz Vastola talks about her work on “Twisted Metal”, the comedy/action video game adaptation currently streaming on Peacock. I’ve never played the video game, but co-host (and fellow podcaster) Gianni Damaia brings some hard-won expertise to our laugh-out-loud discussion of the series.…

Score Composer Andrew Lockington talks about his work on Taylor Sheridan’s “Special Ops: Lioness” (currently airing on Paramount+), and co-host Louis Weeks (composer, recording artist, and friend of the podcast) provides another layer of insight to our conversation. We discuss Andrew’s work on multiple levels, from the intention behind specifics pi…

My guest is Daril Fannin, CEO of Kino Studios. We talk about how Daril’s experiences as an army veteran, writer and executive producer led to the founding of Kino, with the goal of making Hollywood more open, equitable, efficient and diverse. Kino also runs a robust behind-the-scenes program which emphasizes - you guessed it - the contributions of …

2022’s “The Menu” was an intriguing film that defied genre expectations. WIth 14 principle cast members and a tight shooting schedule, it was also a logistical challenge of epic proportions. First Assistant Director Gary Goldman takes us behind the scenes with stories about the cast, the supporting background, and the food. I mean, the FOOD: it was…

“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” - now in its second season on Paramount+ - continues to make the familiar franchise new again. Director of Photography Benji Bakshi talks about how cinematography contributes to the genre-uniqueness of each episode, and we talk in detail about the recently-aired, first-ever Star Trek musical episode.…

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” - in theaters now - is both a cutting-edge computer-animated feature and a really enjoyable film. Head of Cinematography Kent Seki and Art Director Arthur Fong share how an emphasis on the “teenage” element of the title characters informed every aspect of the filmmaking over a course of production spann…

The “Hellraiser” film released late last year on Hulu was a creative reimagining of Clive Barker’s 1987 original. Production Designer Kathrin Eder discusses the challenge of rebooting a 35-year-old horror classic, Director David Bruckner’s reliance on practical effects wherever possible, and bringing all of these elements together while filming in …

“The Flash”, the latest DC superhero to earn a solo outing on the big screen, may be a spectacle of visual effects, but Sound Editors John Marquis and Nancy Nugent Title are here to explain why the movie experience is affected as much by what you hear as what you see. The integration is key, but recognizing the contributions of sound can unlock a c…

On June 23rd, the Directors Guild of America ratified a new three-year agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP); the vote was 87% in favor. Today I’m discussing the agreement with Kevin Koster, who works as a 1st Assistant Director, served as a member of the negotiating committee, and is a returning guest to th…

Costume Designer Helen Huang and Assistant Costume Designer Austin Wittick return to discuss their work on “Beef”, the 2023 Netflix limited series starring Stephen Yeun and Ali Wong. We take the opportunity to discuss not only how costume design contributes to this story behind the scenes but how diversity is important for all the stories that Holl…

Today we’re talking about 1987’s “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors”, and I’m joined by an all-star panel of guests. 1st Assistant Director Dennis Maguire, Production Designer Mick Strawn, and Director of Photography Roy Wagner tell the tale of a difficult shoot that was nonetheless the basis for friendships that have endured for more tha…

As the Writers Guild of America strike enters its second month, I’m joined by Kerri Wood Einertson (National Director for Government Affairs & Public Policy, SAG-AFTRA), Tyler McIntosh (Political/Legislative Director, IATSE), and Michael Wasser (Assistant to the President and Legislative Director, DPE) to discuss how the WGA contract issues resonat…

Today we’re talking about "Babylon", Damien Chazelle’s 2022 epic feature set during the early years of Hollywood, and my returning guest is Production Sound Mixer Steve Morrow.By Skid - DGA Assistant Director

"Quasi" is a lighthearted comedy from the Broken Lizard comedy troupe currently streaming on Hulu, and my guests today are the Hair and Makeup Department Heads, Lorna Reid and Amy Sparks.By Skid - DGA Assistant Director

The Writers Guild of America has been on the picket line for three weeks, and Lowell Peterson, WGA-East Executive Director, joins me to talk about the negotiations, the issues at stake for the union, and what to expect now that the strike is underway.By Skid - DGA Assistant Director

THE PODCAST IS BACK. To kick off the new season, I’m joined by writer/director/producer/actor Ben Milliken to discuss his directorial debut, “SNAG”, which is currently available to stream on demand.By Skid - DGA Assistant Director

We’re wrapping up our coverage of awards season with a look at the Oscars ceremony itself, and my guests are three quarters of the sound team nominated for their work on "Elvis". Wayne Pashley, David Lee and Michael Keller bring a below-the-line perspective to the honor of “just being nominated”, the challenge of bringing guests to the Academy Awar…

It’s been 10 episodes of film industry professionals sharing the benefits of their expertise, and we’re concluding our Oscar series with an in-depth look at the nominees for Cinematography. My returning guests — Patrick Cady and David Tuttman — are directors of photography with stories to share. Enjoy the Academy Awards this weekend! I hope our ins…