Life of Mike with Derick Halliman and Christine Swanson (Ep. 554)
Director Derick Halliman discusses his new film, Life of Mike, with fellow Director Christine Swanson in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses finding depth in a complex and disillusioned main character, favoring small casts and sets for tight control of his environment, and serving multiple roles as the Director, Co-Producer, Writer and Cinematographer of the film.
The film tells the story of Mike Smith, a thriving real estate tycoon, who lives a life devoid of close friends or family. As his birthday unfolds, his wife makes a heartfelt attempt to show him love, setting off a chain of events that make him confront the reality of who genuinely cares for him and who doesn’t.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2025/september2025/lifeofmike_qna_0725
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Eddington with Ari Aster and Tim Blake Nelson (Ep. 553)
Director Ari Aster discusses his new film, Eddington, with fellow Director Tim Blake Nelson in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses finding inspiration for the film in the information spheres of Twitter, interviewing residents of New Mexico on their perspectives of events during the Covid-19 pandemic, and gradually progressing the sense of paranoia in the film until the line between reality and perception is blurred.
The film takes us back to May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when a clash over lockdowns and mask mandates polarizes the town of Eddington, New Mexico. When Sheriff Joe Cross gets fed up with the increasing political tensions, he decides to run for Mayor in what ends up being a tense, turbulent and eventually violent mayoral campaign.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2025/september2025/eddington_qna_0725
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O Último Azul with Gabriel Mascaro and Lily Mariye (Ep. 552)
Director Gabriel Mascaro discusses his new film, O Último Azul, with fellow Director Lily Mariye in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses crafting a dystopian future that speculates on change in societal practices over technological advancement, finding real-life inspiration for the film in his grandparents’ life, and the rigorous attention to detail that went into the film’s sound design.
The film tells the story of 77-year-old Tereza, who has lived her whole life in a small industrial town in Brazil. When she receives an official government order to relocate to a senior housing colony, Tereza decides to take a journey that will fulfill one last wish before her freedom is taken away.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2025/august2025/gcs_o-ultimo-azul_0625
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On Swift Horses with Daniel Minahan and Mary Harron (Ep. 547)
Director Daniel Minahan discusses his new film, On Swift Horses, with fellow Director Mary Harron in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses establishing the 1950s time period while avoiding tropes from other films set in the 50s, utilizing gambling as a metaphor for queerness within the film’s language, and the choreography and rehearsal that went into creating the intimacy scenes.
The film tells the story of Muriel and Lee, who leave their Kansas home to start a family and a new life in San Diego. But their plans are upended by the arrival of Lee’s brother Julius, a wayward gambler with a secret past who draws Muriel down a new and dangerous path.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2025/june2025/onswifthorses_qna_0525
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.
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