Podcasts · TV & Film

IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit

Chris O'Falt

300 episodes

Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. From screenwriting to film language to cinematography, we'll be examining the innovative ways today's best filmmakers are getting their visions out into the world.

Episodes page 2 of 6

  1. 'The Housemaid' Director Paul Feig

    · 35 min · Explicit

    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…

  2. 'Ponies' Creator Susanna Fogel

    · 52 min

    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…

  3. 'No Other Choice' Director Park Chan-wook

    · 46 min

    Director Park joins the Filmmaker's Toolkit to explore his twisted and prescient satire "No Other Choice." Hear how the story was originally set in America before being adapted to a Korean perspective, and why the…

  4. 'The Secret Agent' Director Kleber Mendonça Filho

    · 48 min

    Kleber Mendonça Filho joins the FIlmmaker Toolkit to break down the making of his thrilling, poignant, and playful drama 'The Secret Agent.' From his deep relationship to star Wagner Moura to the social commentary…

  5. 'The Chronology of Water' Director Kristen Stewart

    · 58 min

    Kristen Stewart has a wild passion for film form, and our conversation about her directorial debut proves it. From the deep relationship she formed with star Imogen Poots, to her love of sound design and breaking apart…

  6. 'The Testament of Ann Lee' Director Mona Fastvold

    · 57 min

    Co-Writer, Director, and Producer Mona Fastvold joins the Toolkit for an in depth discussion of her incredible new period musical. We dig into the research which birthed the transfixing movements and sounds of the…

  7. 'Marty Supreme' Director Josh Safdie

    · 27 min

    Josh Safdie breaks down the craft behind his hectic hustler comedy 'Marty Supreme'. Josh opens up about his relationship to winning and losing, living the dream of working with production designer Jack Fisk, and how…

  8. 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' Director James Cameron

    · 35 min

    Writer, director, producer and editor James Cameron joins IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill for a wide-ranging discussion of “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Cameron talks about his casting process, why maintaining the perspective of…

  9. 'I Love LA' Creator Rachel Sennott

    · 22 min

    The star and showrunner of the hit HBO comedy sat down with IndieWire's Sarah Shachat to talk about how her experience in films translated to writing television, the advice she got from the female directors she's…

  10. 'It Was Just an Accident' Director Jafar Panahi

    · 42 min

    We are fortunate to have the legendary Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi on the podcast to discuss Palme d'Or winning film. Panahi explains how he shot the movie in secret, and how his personal experience with torture…

  11. 'Sentimental Value' Director Joachim Trier

    · 50 min

    Norwegian-Danish filmmaker Joachim Trier joins the Filmmaker Toolkit to discuss his follow up to Worst Person in the World, the filmmaker family drama Sentimental Value. Trier broke down the details of that incredible…

  12. 'Wake Up Dead Man' Director Rian Johnson

    · 41 min

    The writer and director behind the beloved Knives Out mysteries returns to the Filmmaker Toolkit to break down his most personal one yet. Johnson discusses why the central themes of religion proved much harder to work…

  13. 'Armed Only With a Camera' Director Craig Renaud

    · 25 min

    Documentarian Craig Renaud joins IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill to discuss “Armed Only With A Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud.” Renaud talks about both the difficulty and necessity of turning his camera on himself…

  14. Zodiac Killer Project - Director, Charlie Shackleton

    · 44 min

    When Director Charlie Shackelton returned to his failed documentary about the Zodiac Killer, he realized he could make an even more interesting film about the true crime genre and his own creative process. 'Zodiac…

  15. 'Hamnet' Director Chloé Zhao

    · 48 min

    Oscar winning director Chloé Zhao returns to the Filmmaker's Toolkit to break down the devastating emotions and enthralling craft of her new film "Hamnet." You'll wont want to miss Zhao's in-depth breakdown of the…

  16. 'BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions' Director Kahlil Joseph

    · 54 min

    Those who know Kahlil Joseph's work have long been hoping he would make a feature film. The master of short form filmmaking, including collaborations with Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce, has turned his innovative YouTube…

  17. 'Wicked: For Good' Director Jon M. Chu

    · 43 min

    With his two 'Wicked' films, director Jon M. Chu had the rare experience of orchestrating and unifying a massive musical to his vision. Chu was excited to dig into all the details he can finally discuss about the…

  18. 'Rental Family' Director Hikari

    · 35 min

    Director Hikari joined IndieWire's Jim Hemphill to discuss her new comedic drama, staring Brendan Frasier as an actor hired to be a friend and companion to a family in Japan. Hikari explains the fascinating real…

  19. 'One to One: John & Yoko' Director Kevin Macdonald

    · 32 min

    Kevin Macdonald knows John Lennon and Yoko Ono are one of the most scrutinized relationships pop culture history. So he took a new approach to these icons: exploring how the TV they were watching from their Manhattan…

  20. 'The Running Man' Director Edgar Wright

    · 32 min

    Director Edgar Wright sat down with the Filmmaker Toolkit to dig into his high-octane adaptation of Steven King's The Running Man. We dive into the world building, working with Glen Powell, and of course the craft…

  21. 'Nouvelle Vague' Director Richard Linklater

    · 46 min

    Richard Linklater returns to the Filmmaker Toolkit to discuss his loving recreation of the French New Wave. Linklater shares why the movies of that period meant so much to his filmmaking journey, and reflects on how…

  22. 'The Alabama Solution' Directors Andrew Jarecki & Charlotte Kaufman

    · 54 min

    Documentary filmmakers Andrew Jarecki & Charlotte Kaufman spent one fateful day filming a barbecue at an Alabama state prison, a day filled with inmates telling them the pleasant day they were witnessing was a lie…

  23. 'Frankenstein' Director Guillermo del Toro

    · 38 min

    Beloved Director Guillermo del Toro sits down with the Filmmaker Toolkit to talk about making his dream film, and how 'Frankenstein' has been a part of each of his prior films. Then del Toro opens up about an end to…

  24. 'Bugonia' Director Yorgos Lanthimos

    · 47 min

    A new Yorgos Lanthimos film is always an event at IndieWire, and 'Bugonia' might be his most topical and direct one yet. Yorgos digs into the key decisions that make this tense character piece feel so large in scope…

  25. 'Hedda' Director Nia DaCosta

    · 37 min

    Writer and director Nia DaCosta joins IndieWire's Sarah Shachat to dive deep into her 1950s-set adaptation of Hedda Gabler. DaCosta explains how the film's lush look and sound came from years of building her team, and…

  26. 'Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere' Director Scott Cooper

    · 58 min

    Director Scott Cooper sat down for a revealing and personal conversation about helming this anticipated and highly scrutinized biopic. Cooper talks about Bruce Springsteen's intense involvement in the film, making a…

  27. 'The Mastermind' Director Kelly Reichardt

    · 36 min

    An IndieWire favorite, director Kelly Reichardt returns to Toolkit with her new film The Mastermind. Reichardt told us about working with Josh O'Connor, putting her own spin on the heist genre, and the cast-and-crew…

  28. 'Task' Creator Brad Ingelsby

    · 50 min

    The creator of one of the hottest shows of the Fall joined IndieWire's Chris O'Falt for a spoiler-packed deep dive deep into the psychology of the characters and how he constructed the perfect seven episode arc. He…

  29. 'The Lowdown' Creator Sterlin Harjo

    · 47 min

    The creator of 'Reservation Dogs' is back with a new series staring Ethan Hawke as a man investigating crimes and corruption in Oklahoma. Sterlin shared some of the noir stories that inspired him, and explains why he…

  30. 'Roofman' Director Derek Cianfrance

    · 36 min

    Director Derek Cianfrance joins IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill to talk about his latest film, “Roofman.” A true story about an escaped criminal who hides out in an abandoned toy store, “Roofman” is a comedy — and thus a…

  31. 'Good Boy' Director Ben Leonberg (and his dog Indy!)

    · 34 min

    Who's a good boy? Indy, the star of this new horror film told entirely from his point of view. Director Ben Leonberg brought Indy into the office for a fun chat about filming a movie in his own home for 3 years,…

  32. 'The Smashing Machine' Director Benny Safdie

    · 53 min

    In his solo directorial debut after making 'Good Time' and 'Uncut Gems' with his brother Josh, Benny Safdie pushed his signature chaotic style to a deeper, more personal place. From his rigorous authenticity in the…

  33. 'The Lost Bus' Director Paul Greengrass

    · 42 min

    The master of recreating real crisis is back. Director Paul Greengrass joins IndieWire's Chris O'Falt to discuss his newest survival thriller based on a true story from the 2018 California Wildfires. Greengrass…

  34. 'Play Dirty' Director Shane Black

    · 31 min

    Writer-director Shane Black joins IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill to talk about his latest film, the action-comedy “Play Dirty.” They discuss Black’s approach to adapting author Donald Westlake, why he likes to set action…

  35. Using AI in Documentary Filmmaking with Stephanie Jenkins, APA Founder

    · 57 min

    Filmmaker’s Toolkit Podcast with Chris O’Falt (IndieWire) Welcome to the Filmmaker’s Toolkit Podcast, hosted by IndieWire’s Chris O’Falt. This week we dive into one of the most urgent conversations in nonfiction…

  36. 'HIM' Director Justin Tipping

    · 26 min

    Director and co-writer Justin Tipping joins Toolkit to talk with IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill about his surreal new horror film from Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions. Tipping explains how he found his visual language…

  37. 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' Director Rob Reiner

    · 27 min

    Rob Reiner returns to Filmmaker Toolkit to talk with IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill about “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.” Reiner discusses returning to the characters who launched his career, working as an actor for…

  38. 'Friendship' Director Andrew DeYoung

    · 41 min

    On this week’s IndieWire’s Filmmakers Toolkit, Chris O’Falt talks with writer-director Andrew DeYoung about his dark comedy Friendship—now streaming on HBO Max. He reveals how he shaped Tim Robinson’s offbeat energy,…

  39. Live with 'New Jack City' Director Mario Van Peebles

    · 37 min

    Mario Van Peebles joins IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill for a live version of Filmmaker Toolkit to talk about his directorial debut, “New Jack City.” In a conversation that followed a 35mm screening of the 1991 gangster…

  40. 'Will & Harper' Director Josh Greenbaum

    · 47 min

    Director Josh Greenbaum took IndieWire behind the scenes of the planning, shooting, and editing of his Emmy nominated documentary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  41. 31 Rules for Directing Episodic TV with Jon Cassar

    · 42 min

    Emmy-winning director Jon Cassar joins IndieWire features writer Jim Hemphill for a special episode on Jon’s 31 rules for television directors. These are things he’s learned over the course of 30-plus years and over…

  42. 'Sly Lives!' Director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson & Producer Joseph Patel

    · 36 min

    "Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)" is a documentary that knows to tell the story of Sly Stone's life and music, you need exceptional craft and storytelling discipline. From depicting music with experimental…

  43. 'Dimension 20' Creator & Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan

    · 34 min

    Brennan Lee Mulligan, executive producer and GM of "Dimension 20," offers IndieWire a peak inside the dimensional dome and discusses how cinematic tools, from editing and art design to sound effects and physical props,…

  44. 'Fixed' Director Genndy Tartakovsky

    · 41 min

    This episode is a real treat for animation fans, a deep dive into the art and process with the beloved creator of Samurai Jack, Dexter's Lab, Primal, and now the new Netflix movie Fixed. Genndy explained why he fought…

  45. 'The Pitt' Creator R. Scott Gemmill

    · 42 min

    Legendary TV creator R. Scott Gemmill joins the Toolkit to breakdown one of this years biggest shows: 'The Pitt.' Gemmill lifts the curtain on the show's medical accuracy, revealing how doctors consulted from script to…

  46. 'Pee-Wee as Himself' Director Matt Wolf

    · 49 min

    Paul Rubens, the man who created and became Pee-Wee Herman, has eluded a documentary about his life for a long time. While Matt Wolf was finally able to make a film exploring this complicated artist, it came at a…

  47. 'Together' Director Michael Shanks

    · 38 min

    First time director Michael Shanks joined us on Toolkit for a fascinating discussion about the crazy intimacy of directing a real life couple, his roots as an Aussie kid binging After Effects tutorials, and why his…

  48. 'The Naked Gun' Director Akiva Schaffer

    · 36 min

    As one of the writers behind Lonely Island, and the director of hits like 'Popstar and 'Hot Rod', director Akiva Schaffer was a brilliant choice to helm a revival of one of cinema's most iconic comedy franchises. We…

  49. Can A.I. Actually Help Write a Screenplay? with 'Contagion' Writer Scott Z. Burns

    · 36 min

    On Toolkit we want to explore the challenges facing filmmakers today, and a growing concern is A.I. But we find for all the promises and fears of what A.I.will do, there are few conversations about what A.I. is…

  50. 'You Can Count On Me' Director Kenneth Lonergan

    · 55 min

    Kenneth Lonergan, one of our host's favorite filmmakers, joins Toolkit to reflect on his first film as a director, 'You Can Count On Me.' He walks us through his transition from writer to the director's chair, and…

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