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The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Directors Guild of America
DGA Theatre
Los Angeles
Filmmaking
World War II
Hollywood
Film Production
Cinematography
Casting
Directors Guild Of America
Rental Family
Blitz
Barry Jenkins
Cinema
Filmmaking Process
Film Editing
Acting
Directorial Achievement
Documentary Filmmaking
His Three Daughters
Rebel Moon

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes624Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
TV & Film

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Artwork for The Director’s Cut

Latest Episodes

Director Chris Rock discusses his new film, Misty Green, with fellow Director Spike Lee in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses how lead Actor Rosalind Eleazar was selected for the part, finding which scenes worked ... more

YouTube

Director Alex Stapleton discusses her new film, The Brittney Griner Story, with fellow Director Laura Belsey in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, she discusses her process of shooting master interviews first to find a foundat... more

YouTube

Director Michael Russell Gunn discusses his new film, The Brink of War, with fellow Director Rawson Marshall Thurber in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses using transcripts from the real event as reference for ... more

YouTube

Directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss discuss their new film, Teenage Wasteland, with fellow Director Alice Gu in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they discuss poring through 500 hours of archival footage to find the fi... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Michael Russell Gunn
Director
Self
Episode: The Brink of War with Michael Russell Gunn and Rawson Marshall Thurber (Ep. 622)
Rawson Marshall Thurber
Director
Self
Episode: The Brink of War with Michael Russell Gunn and Rawson Marshall Thurber (Ep. 622)
Amanda McBaine
Director on Teenage Wasteland
Alice Gu introduced them; collaborators on Teenage Wasteland
Episode: Teenage Wasteland with Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss and Alice Gu (Ep. 621)
Jesse Moss
Director on Teenage Wasteland
Collaborator with Amanda McBaine on Teenage Wasteland
Episode: Teenage Wasteland with Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss and Alice Gu (Ep. 621)
Dave Green
Director of Coyote vs. Acme
Warner Bros. / Independent project
Episode: Coyote vs. Acme with Dave Green, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Ep. 620)
Phil Lord
Co-director/producer, screenwriter
Lord/Miller
Episode: Coyote vs. Acme with Dave Green, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Ep. 620)
Christopher Miller
Co-director/producer, screenwriter
Lord/Miller
Episode: Coyote vs. Acme with Dave Green, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Ep. 620)
Adam Shankman
Director of Stop! That! Train; interviewee in this episode
Episode: Stop! That! Train! with Adam Shankman and Nzingha Stewart (Ep. 619)
Nzingha Stewart
Director who spoke with Shankman about filming Stop! That! Train
Episode: Stop! That! Train! with Adam Shankman and Nzingha Stewart (Ep. 619)

Hosts

Liz Garbus
Host/Interviewer with a background in documentary and feature directing
Valerie Weiss
Co-host/Interviewer with expertise in directing and producing

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Ira Sachs

    Bette was brutal. She did all the talking.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JNLCIA
    United Statesa year ago
  • Insight Into A Fascinating World

    Thank you so much for posting these DGA special screening Q&A’s between directors for the public to enjoy. Great job.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Duckypass
    United Statesa year ago
  • Absolutely Invaluable

    Still amazed that this awesome podcast is not more widely well know especially by people in our industry. Invaluable for those working in the film & tv. Informative, funny and with a diverse range of interviewees too. It makes such a huge difference when the interviewer is immersed in the industry and it’s fascinating history as much as the guests. Keep up the fine work. A must listen 🙏🏼🎬❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    patrickfirstad
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • When it comes to podcasts about the making of movies, this podcast is worth the try about the filmmaking process, what are the challenges and hurdles that come by, how they are overcome and what it is like being on the set with the cast and crew in the business. It is for anyone who wants to learn the details of the film business and what it means to be a filmmaker not just in mainstream films, but also documentary films, indies, and episodic television shows is covered as well.

    Podchaser
    4
    Jordan Ramirez
    2 years ago
  • A film school

    So many gems shared in every episode. Grateful for the directors’ generosity in giving insight into their process + craft.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    La Escuelita
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the depth and craft-focused conversations, especially for filmmakers seeking practical insights.
The format and industry immersion are appreciated, though audio quality feedback appears variably noted.
Many highlight the diversity of guests and the value of peer-to-peer interviewing.
Some comments call for longer episodes or improved audience-question treatment in Q&As.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#236
United Kingdom/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#74
Italy/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#174
Germany/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#233
Australia/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#51
Norway/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#153
Israel/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Teenage Wasteland with Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss and Alice Gu (Ep. 621)
Q: So I absolutely loved it and I imagine all of you guys did too. So how did this story come to you, and what sparked your interest?
The filmmakers discuss discovering Fred's archival material, meeting him, and recognizing the potential to tell a broader story about civic courage through the teens' footage, which guided their approach to casting, archiving, and the film's structure.
Coyote vs. Acme with Dave Green, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Ep. 620)
Q: Do you board everything for the Rocky puppet scenes, or was it a different approach?
We did storyboards for all Rocky scenes and used previs and a virtual stage with puppeteers to plan movements and eyelines, then refined on set with the puppet to guide performances.
The Invite with Olivia Wilde, Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer (Ep. 617)
Q: Why did you choose to shoot on film, and how did that affect the production?
Shooting on film was essential to achieve a texture that supported the film's intimate drama; the decision required commitment, but Sundance helped recoup costs, and the result contributed to a classic, tactile look.
The Invite with Olivia Wilde, Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer (Ep. 617)
Q: How did improvisation influence the final cut?
Improv fed the evolving story; big ideas were generated on set, and we kept a designed framework so the performances could stay loose yet purposeful, with editors trimming to keep a tight emotional tone.
The Invite with Olivia Wilde, Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer (Ep. 617)
Q: What motivated you to shoot The Invite in order and in a single location?
I wanted to strip the story down to its relational core, rehearse with actors, and let the narrative unfold in sequence to preserve authentic dynamics, using a single location to focus on character development over spectacle.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Director’s Cut

What is The Director’s Cut about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A salon of in-depth conversations with today's leading directors, conducted by peer collaborators who bring a craft-focused lens to filmmaking. Episodes center on the practical realities of bringing visions to life—from budgeting and scheduling to casting, collaboration, and on-set problem solving—often highlighting collaborative directing, low-budget ingenuity, and the balance of artistry with logistics. Notably, the show frequently frames storytelling as a collaborative craft among directors, editors, designers, and writers, with a strong emphasis on process, ethics, and mentorship within the film and documentary worlds. This makes it a valuable listen for aspiring guests and sponsors looking to reach industry professionals who value craf... more

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1. IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit
2. Team Deakins
3. Script Apart with Al Horner
4. The A24 Podcast
5. Scriptnotes Podcast

How many episodes of The Director’s Cut are there?

The Director’s Cut launched 11 years ago and published 624 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Director’s Cut?

Recent guests on The Director’s Cut include:

1. Michael Russell Gunn
2. Rawson Marshall Thurber
3. Amanda McBaine
4. Jesse Moss
5. Dave Green
6. Phil Lord
7. Christopher Miller
8. Adam Shankman

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