“The Dog Stars”: Ridley Scott on Preparing For the End of the World
Ridley Scott discusses his visually stunning adaptation of “The Dog Stars,” why Westerns continue to influence his filmmaking, how storyboarding shapes every shot he makes, and why optimism remains essential to surviving both filmmaking and the apocalypse.
From Personal Loss to Emmy Nomination: Writer/Director Jim Rash’s Journey With “Miss You, Love You”
Emmy-nominated filmmaker Jim Rash discusses drawing from personal loss to create “Miss You, Love You,” directing Allison Janney and Andrew Rannells, filming ambitious long takes, and finding humor, healing, and connection in grief.
Who’s More Human Than a Child? Noah Hawley on Wendy, Humanity, and the Expanding World of “Alien: Earth”
lien: Earth" creator Noah Hawley breaks down expanding the franchise beyond the Xenomorph, turning Earth into a haunted house, exploring AI and humanity through Wendy, and creating the season's most unsettling new creature: the Eye Midge.
Inside “Beef” Creator Lee Sung Jin’s Twisty Blueprint: Rise-Fall Graphs, Wealth Wars & Human Frailty
“Beef” creator Lee Sung Jin takes us inside the making of the Emmy-nominated second season, revealing how country club culture, wealth disparity, real-life experiences, and painstaking “story math” helped shape the interconnected lives of its deeply flawed characters.
How Director Hanelle M. Culpepper Turned “Paradise” Finale “Exodus” Into an Emmy-Worthy Epic
Emmy-nominated director Hanelle M. Culpepper takes us inside "Paradise" finale “Exodus,” revealing how she balanced massive crowd scenes, emotional reunions, and visual spectacle to create one of television's most ambitious and moving episodes.
How “The Wrong Girls” Writer/Director Dylan Meyer Captured the B-Sides of Los Angeles With Kristen Stewart & Alia Shawkat
Writer-director Dylan Meyer discusses making "The Wrong Girls," her punk-inspired, neo-noir-inflected ode to Los Angeles starring Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat, and why shooting with a 95% local crew made her feature debut especially meaningful.
“Supergirl” Director Craig Gillespie on Embracing Grit, Texture & Practical Magic for Kara Zor-El’s Wild Ride
Director Craig Gillespie set out to make “Supergirl” feel tactile—gritty, messy, and real. Starring Milly Alcock and Jason Momoa, the film blends practical effects, raw textures, and emotional stakes to create a lived-in take on the iconic DC hero.
“Voicemails for Isabelle” Writer/Director/Actor Leah McKendrick on Grief, Love & Rewriting the Rom-Com Playbook
Leah McKendrick breathes new life into the rom-com with “Voicemails for Isabelle,” where messages meant for a lost sister lead to an unexpected connection. Inspired by love and loss, her film blends classic influences with bold, modern storytelling.
“Leviticus” Writer/Director Adrian Chiarella Reimagines Exorcism as a Weapon of Queer Erasure
Writer/director Adrian Chiarella reimagines exorcism in “Leviticus,” a chilling queer horror starring Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen, where desire, repression, and fear collide—and the true evil may be what’s forced inside.
Director Hiro Murai Finds the Funny in Fear in “Widow’s Bay”—and a New Side of Matthew Rhys
Hiro Murai brings his signature tonal precision to “Widow’s Bay,” guiding Matthew Rhys, Kate O’Flynn, and Stephen Root through a world where comedy and dread collide—and where darkness itself becomes a tool for fear.
“Passenger” Director André Øvredal on Designing a Demon You Can’t Outrun
For director André Øvredal, the terror at the heart of "Passenger" begins with something deeply familiar: the open road. But what starts as a universal experience quickly spirals into something far more sinister—a relentless, supernatural force that cannot be outrun. Øvredal explains how he grounded the film’s horror in physical reality, crafting a tangible villain, embracing practical effects, and transforming Washington’s diverse landscapes into a nightmarish American journey.
“Is God Is” Writer/Director Aleshea Harris on Faith, Fury, and Igniting a Scorching Revenge Odyssey
Writer/director Aleshea Harris brings a blazing, genre-bending vision to “Is God Is,” a revenge road movie steeped in biblical myth and emotional fire. In adapting her own play, Harris crafts a singular cinematic experience—one where questions of fate, faith, and family burn just as fiercely as the story’s quest for vengeance.
Curry Barker’s “Obsession”: The Indie Horror That Turned L.A. Into a Nightmare Playground
Shot in just 20 days for under $1 million, “Obsession” turned writer-director Curry Barker into one of TIFF’s breakout filmmakers—transforming a simple premise into a dark, feverish crowd-pleaser that caught the eye of Focus Features and proved that scrappy indie horror can still erupt into something big.
Writer/Director Olivia Newman on Finding the Deep Soul of “Remarkably Bright Creatures”
Director Olivia Newman talks about shaping grief, humor, and purpose in “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” starring Sally Field—and why the film’s octopus had to feel as real as its human characters.
Marc Munden on Directing Kids in the Brutally Artful “Lord of the Flies”
More than seven decades after its publication, “Lord of the Flies” still speaks to the anxieties of the present day. Director Marc Munden explains how he reimagined William Golding’s novel as a four-part Netflix series—using first-time child actors, monsoon-drenched locations, and unsettling visual language to explore power, fear, and the fragility of democracy.
Director Lee Cronin on Resurrecting a Very Different Kind of Mummy
For director Lee Cronin, sound is not decoration—it’s narrative. In “The Mummy,” audio, practical effects, and global craftsmanship merge to create a family horror that unsettles long before the monster fully reveals itself.
“Michael” Director Antoine Fuqua on Jaafar Jackson’s Brilliance, Los Angeles, and Bringing “Thriller” Back to Life
Director Antoine Fuqua knew “Michael” had to be authentic—from Hayvenhurst to the original “Thriller” location. Anything less wouldn’t do.
“The Testaments” Director and Executive Producer Mike Barker on Finding Lightning in a Bottle with Chase Infiniti
Gilead has evolved. In “The Testaments,” director and executive producer Mike Barker reveals how an idealized new era—raised on obedience, beauty, and belief—hides an even darker regression beneath the surface.
Writer/Director Kirill Sokolov on Zazie Beetz, Cult Mayhem, and the Nine Circles of Hell in “They Will Kill You”
In "They Will Kill You," director Kirill Sokolov transforms a single apartment building into a descent through Dante’s Inferno. Starring Zazie Beetz as an ex‑con battling a satanic cult, the action‑horror film draws inspiration from "Rosemary’s Baby," old‑school Hong Kong cinema, and practical, Eighties‑style mayhem—all grounded by a deeply personal story of sisterhood and survival.
Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King on the Long-Awaited Comeback of “The Comeback”
Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King discuss reviving "The Comeback" for a third season—and using AI to satirize Hollywood’s latest identity crisis.
