Indiewire's Filmmaker Toolkit

Ten years ago, "The Comeback" was one of the first shows to satirize the rise of reality TV. Last Sunday the show aired its final episode, concluding a season that tackles the rise of the next trend promising to change entertainment forever: AI. Creator and star Lisa Kudrow and creator Michael Patrick King sat down with IndieWire's Chris O'Falt to share what they learned about AI making this third season, and reflect on the show's unique ten year history. Read our review of the final season of "The Comeback" - https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/the-comeback-season-3-review-lisa-kudrow-1235184789/ This week on the Screen Talk podcast, IndieWire editors Anne Thompson and Ryan Lattanzio are live from Cannes, catching you up on the buzz around the festival and which movies are making waves. - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are fortunate to be joined by one of our favorite working filmmakers this week, the masterful Lucrecia Martel. In her first documentary, Martel tells the story of an indigenous Argentinian community facing colonialist forces in one of the most disturbing true crime stories you'll see this year. She brings the full power of film form to this complex story, exploring the ways pain is passed down through memory, and revealing how a trial is always more about theater than true justice. We also touch on the new restoration of her 2008 film "The Headless Woman." To hear Lucrecia's entire answers in her native Spanish, skip to 33:20. Interpretation by Cordelia Montes. Read our full review of the masterful "Nuestra Tierra" https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/nuestra-tierra-landmarks-review-lucrecia-martel-1235147161/ Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series. - https://

In a rare mid-season Toolkit check in, IndieWire's Chris O'Falt sits down with the creator of Euphoria and series cinematographer Marcell Rev to explore what makes Season 3 such a powerful departure for the show. From the custom film stock to the new approach to visual storytelling, don't miss this analysis of some of the most interesting filmmaking happening on TV right now. Read our breakdown of Episode 3's big wedding - https://www.indiewire.com/features/craft/euphoria-season-3-wedding-production-designer-1235190227/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In her scripted debut, documentarian Sohpy Romvari explores with her memories of growing up with her brother's increasingly dangerous behavior. The way she wrestles with how her family responded, her own memories of that time, and how she processed it all through her masterful use of film form. Read our review of "Blue Heron" - https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/blue-heron-movie-review-sophy-romvari-1235144901/ Read our interview with the editor of "Blue Heron" - https://www.indiewire.com/features/craft/blue-heron-interview-editor-kurt-walker-1235189687/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A favorite guest on the Filmmaker Toolkit, the director of "The Green Knight" and "A Ghost Story" is back with his newest original film. Lowery explains how "Mother Mary" began as a writing exercise and developed into a lurid pop fantasy, and discusses the thrills and challenges of working with huge names like Anne Hathaway, Jack Antonoff and FKA Twigs. Read our full review of "Mother Mary" - https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/mother-mary-movie-review-anne-hathaway-a24-1235188817/ Hear more about Lowery's creative experience with Disney that inspired "Mother Mary" - https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/david-lowery-peter-pan-influenced-by-scorese-tarkovsky-1234833803/ Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series. - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American filmmaker Julia Loktev, born in the Soviet Union, returned to Moscow in 2021 to make a documentary on the persistence of independent journalism in Putin’s Russia, only to find herself documenting its death in real time as Russia invades Ukraine. Julia walked us through how she felt living inside this dark moment of Russian history, and how she can't help draw comparisons back home. Read our full review of "My Undesirable Friends" - https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/my-undesirable-friends-part-1-last-air-in-moscow-review-1235053151/ Subscribe to Top Of The Line - IndieWire's new newsletter about the craft of film and TV - https://cloud.email.indiewire.com/signup/ Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series. - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Directors Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher, also known as the comedy duo BriTANicK, join IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill to talk about their new Hulu “Pizza Movie, which elevates lowbrow comedy to high art with its meticulous sense of visual design and structure. McElhaney and Kocher talk about influences, casting, and more in this wide-ranging interview. Read our full review of "Pizza Movie" - https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/pizza-movie-review-britanick-hulu-comedy-1235186676/ Subscribe to Top Of The Line - IndieWire's new newsletter about the craft of film and TV - https://cloud.email.indiewire.com/signup/ Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series. - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, better known as Radio Silence, join IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill to talk about their new film “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.” A sequel to the 2019 thriller “Ready or Not,” “Ready or Not 2” takes the story in surprising new directions while delivering the pleasures of the original. Radio Silence talks about striking that balance, approaching difficult exposition, and more in this interview. Subscribe to Top Of The Line - IndieWire's new newsletter about the craft of film and TV - https://cloud.email.indiewire.com/signup/ Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series. - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maggie Gyllenhaal is back on the Filmmaker Toolkit and bigger than ever for her second feature, a reimagining of The Bride of Frankenstein with a blend of genres, 1930s-style musical numbers, and a focused feminine rage. Maggie talked about the world building of her epic, from the harnessing of IMAX cameras to a graphic novel approach to designing the characters. Subscribe to Top Of The Line - IndieWire's new newsletter about the craft of film and TV - https://cloud.email.indiewire.com/signup/ Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series. - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hit HBO drama "Industry" just dropped its season 4 finale last night, and we have creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay on the Filmmaker's Toolkit to break it all down. They discuss turning the series into a conspiracy thriller this season, incredible moments like Erics walk off and Yasmin's punishing arc, as well as the meaning of the final shot and mysterious flash frame. Can't get enough "Industry?" Revisit our season 3 interview with Mickey and Konrad - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/industry-creators-konrad-kay-and-mickey-down/id1142632832?i=1000671314786 Subscribe to Top Of The Line - IndieWire's new newsletter about the craft of film and TV - https://cloud.email.indiewire.com/signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For her masterful work on "Sinners," Autumn became only the fourth woman in history to be nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar. She opened up with IndieWire VP Chris O'Falt about the prospect of becoming the first woman to win that award, and how being a woman in the field affected her early career and her current balance between work and family. And of course we dig into all the nerdy craft details, including a more candid conversation about the decision to use IMAX than you may have heard elsewhere. Revisit our episode with "Elvis" Cinematographer Mandy Walker, the third woman nominee in the category - open.spotify.com/episode/5iPCSArQfCBhCce1HbdsWE?si=CleehbCZTPmF7POubrB9ow Subscribe to Top Of The Line - IndieWire's new newsletter about the craft of film and TV - https://cloud.email.indiewire.com/signup/ 0:00 - Intro 1:53 - Autumn's career and personal live leading to "Sinners." 15:00 - Why the look of "Sinners" is so personal to Autumn. 18:50 - Capturing the authentic harsh sun & muggy ni

The world of 'Game of Thrones' has never felt quite like this before. Showrunner Ira Parker spoke with us about making a half hour comedy that eschews the dragons and royal politics for a smaller character piece with a kinder tone. Ira explained how he evolved the typical 'Game of Thrones' style in order to connect the filmmaking to his lead characters soul, and revealed some of the alternate paths this season could have taken in the adaptation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Baz Luhrmann sits down with IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill to discuss EPIC: Elvis Presley In Concert. While making his 2022 biopic, Luhrmann uncovered boxes of unseen Elvis footage that inspired a new kind of documentary he describes as a cinematic “dreamscape.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A rare treat today on the Filmmaker Toolkit: a deep dive into feature animation directing! Directors Byron and Jared explain how the film was essentially in pre-production, production, and post-production simultaneously across it's 5 year development. They also dug into the ways casting and character creation intertwine, and the challenge of packing every frame to the brim with detail. Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series. - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Subscribe to Top Of The Line - IndieWire's new newsletter about the craft of film and TV - https://cloud.email.indiewire.com/signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Visual effects supervisor Baneham and Wētā FX senior effects supervisor Eric Saindon talk to IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit podcast about working on James Cameron's 197-minute epic — that has only seven seconds with no visual effects. Hear which sequences were most challenging to pull off, and just how much of the Avatar world is built for real alongside VFX. Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series. - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Subscribe to Top Of The Line - IndieWire's new newsletter about the craft of film and TV - https://cloud.email.indiewire.com/signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mary Bronstien's second feature is making waves for Rose Byrne's lead performance, but the filmmaking is equally as impressive and brave. Bronstien had a blast unpacking the expressive camera and sound design, revealed what it's like to direct Conan O'Brien, and digs into her take on therapy in movies. Subscribe to Top Of The Line - IndieWire's new newsletter about the craft of film and TV - https://cloud.email.indiewire.com/signup/ Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series. - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sirât is a truly unique experience, a journey not only into desert rave culture but into the desert of our minds and our souls. From the Oscar nominated sound design, to the haunting visuals and non-professional cast, Director Oliver Laxe joined the Filmmaker's Toolkit to open up about the making of a film that must be seen to be believed. Subscribe to Top Of The Line - IndieWire's new newsletter about the craft of film and TV - https://cloud.email.indiewire.com/signup/ Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series. - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IndieWire's Chris O'Falt sat down with the director of the Sundance darling turned Best Picture nominee for an in depth discussion of the film's subtle beauties. From Joel Edgerton's near wordless performance, to the 360 degree all natural light sets and the use of editing to evoke memory, you'll learn why 'Train Dreams' packs such a punch on an indie budget. Watch the video version of this conversation and read our full breakdown of the making of 'Train Dreams' here: https://www.indiewire.com/p/netflix-train-dreams-clint-bentley/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Director Paul Feig discusses his latest film, "The Housemaid," and tells IndieWire about the importance of Hitchcock's tone, musical themes, Taylor Swift, test screenings, why movies are breathing things that go beyond the script, and the joy of repeat viewings in theaters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ponies is a delightful series about two women who become CIA spies during the Cold War. In our very generous conversation, creator Susanna Fogel explores the development of her characters and the show's unique take on designing Moscow, as well as some of the honest trade-offs required to get a streaming series over the line these days. Subscribe to Top Of The Line - IndieWire's new newsletter about the craft of film and TV - https://cloud.email.indiewire.com/signup/ Listen to the Screen Talk Podcast. Every Friday IndieWire editors Anne Thompson & Ryan Lattanzio break down insider news from Hollywood and debate the latest films and series. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indiewire-screen-talk/id893977298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices