**Minor spoilers for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING** We welcome on the show Hollywood composer Max Aruj, whose latest credit is MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING. In today’s conversation, Max and I discuss his beginnings as a student at USC, how that led to being mentored by Hans Zimmer; also, the circumstances that led Max and Alfie Godfrey to be chosen as the young composers of this latest MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, and the creative challenges behind the film's climactic sequence...
Jun 05, 2025•41 min
This week on the show, it’s Nicholas Stoller — a BAFTA-nominated Hollywood director and screenwriter whose credits YES MAN, NEIGHBORS, THE MUPPETS and FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL. His latest film is YOU'RE CORDIALLY INVITED, starring Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon, and it’s currently streaming on Amazon Prime. In today’s conversation, Nick and I discuss the circumstances that brought his first produced film credit as a 28-year-old writer to be a Jim Carrey; also, Nick’s memories from meeting h...
Apr 22, 2025•41 min
This week on the show, it’s Erik Jendresen —an Emmy-winning Hollywood screenwriter whose credits include the HBO mini-series BAND OF BROTHERS, as well as the two latest installments in the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise. In today’s conversation, deep dive into the writing and making of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING (2023) and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING (2025). Erik discusses the reasons the two films were shot simultaneously over the course of four years, and the ways the pr...
Feb 07, 2025•1 hr 10 min
How wonderful to welcome on the show Timothy Dowling, a Hollywood screenwriter whose credits include the cult classic ROLE MODELS, the Adam Sandler romantic comedy JUST GO WITH IT, and the explosive rom-com THIS MEANS WAR (starring Tom Hardy, Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon). In today’s conversation, Tim and I discuss how one of his first scripts making the Blacklist led to him getting the attention of Will Smith, and who were the other Oscar-nominated actors who almost starred in THIS MEANS WA...
Nov 22, 2024•45 min
What a special opportunity to welcome on the show ALEXANDER WITT, perhaps the most influential second unit director of his generation. When it comes to action cinema, he may as well be responsible for the most iconic action sequences of the last 30 years, with credits that include everything from the epic battles of GLADIATOR, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN and AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, to the car chases in THE ITALIAN JOB, FAST X and the 'Daniel Craig era' of the JAMES BOND franchise — including the mo...
Nov 12, 2024•46 min
We're delighted to welcome on the show EVE STEWART, a 4-time Oscar-nominated production designer whose credits include a wide range of prestige period films (THE KING'S SPEECH, LES MISÉRABLES), Marvel's ETERNALS — as well as this year’s brand new movies KRAVEN THE HUNTER and GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE. In today’s conversation, Eve and I discuss her experience designing the Oscar-winning film LES MISÉRABLES, and my favorite movie of 2017, Gore Verbinski’s gothic thriller A CURE FOR WELLNESS. Aft...
Mar 20, 2024•43 min
What a treat to welcome on the show the Oscar-nominated cinematographer of NAPOLEON Dariusz Wolski, whose credits also include NEWS OF THE WORLD, THE MARTIAN, HOUSE OF GUCCI, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, SWEENEY TODD and four films in the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN franchise. In today’s conversation, Dariusz and I discuss the challenges of photographing the epic battle scenes of the new Joaquin Phoenix movie, replacing Kevin Spacey at the last minute for ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD, working on the PIRATES ...
Nov 22, 2023•30 min
We're excited to celebrate the release of his latest MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE movie by welcoming on the show the film's Oscar-nominated editor Eddie Hamilton, whose credits include MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT, KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE and TOP GUN: MAVERICK. In today’s conversation, Eddie and I discuss MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING PART ONE in spoiler-ific detail: how the filmmakers handled the secrecy of certain sequences, often recreating pieces of Italy on a backlot in England; selecti...
Aug 03, 2023•1 hr 3 min
We're excited to celebrate the release of his newest movie by welcoming on the show Michael Finch, a Hollywood screenwriter whose credits include THE NOVEMBER MAN and the latest chapter in one of the hottest action franchises - JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4. In today’s conversation, Michael and I discuss his philosophy on surviving the industry and the obstacles that screenwriters face — including his experience writing the screenplay for 2010’s PREDATORS. Plus, his work on the new JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4, ...
Mar 20, 2023•34 min
It was awesome to welcome on the show Dan Romer, a Emmy award-nominated composer whose film and TV credits include Netflix's MANIAC, and the Oscar-nominated movies BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD and Pixar’s Luca. In today’s conversation, Dan and I discuss his beginnings as a record producer, later transitioning into film composing. The reasons why, following his work on BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD, he encountered resistance from the industry — and deep-dive into Dan’s creative approach to scoring t...
Dec 26, 2022•30 min
For this masterclass on the Art of Sound in film and TV, we welcome on the show Gwen Yates Whittle, a 2-time Oscar-nominated sound professional whose credits include this summer's JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION, Steven Spielberg's SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, TOP GUN: MAVERICK and the upcoming AVATAR: THE WAY OF THE WATER In today’s conversation, the Skywalker Sound member and I break down some of Hollywood’s biggest sound moments. We discuss Gwen's beginning in the industry and why the prospect of sound edit...
Jun 02, 2022•52 min
We had a blast welcoming on the show Billy Magnussen, a Tony-nominated actor whose credits include GAME NIGHT, BLACK MIRROR, Disney’s live-action ALADDIN, and Daniel Craig’s final chapter as Bond, 2021’s NO TIME TO DIE. In today’s emotionally-honest conversation, we discuss how Billy's early work on a soap opera impacted his process as an actor; what he learned from being directed by Steven Spielberg on the set of BRIDGE OF SPIES; and how, despite his recent success as one of the villains in NO ...
Apr 18, 2022•25 min
Such a treat to welcome as a guest Les Bohem, an Emmy-winning screenwriter whose credits include THE ALAMO, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET: THE DREAM CHILD, as well as some of the biggest disaster movies of the 1990’s - like DANTE'S PEAK and DAYLIGHT, starring Sylvester Stallone. Today’s conversation was recorded to mark the 25th anniversary of DAYLIGHT, and in the episode Les explains how DAYLIGHT was inspired by disaster movies of the 1970s like TOWERING INFERNO and EARTHQUAKE. We discuss the ‘spec...
Apr 04, 2022•1 hr 4 min
It was awesome to welcome on the show Marc Shaiman, a 7-time Oscar-nominated composer and lyricist whose credits include (among others) the musical HAIRSPRAY, and films like WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, SISTER ACT and MARY POPPINS RETURNS. Today’s conversation is a masterclass in musical theater, as we discuss how a simple songwriting audition turned into Marc and his creative partner Scott Whittman writing the musical HAIRSPRAY; a deep dive into the making of MARY POPPINS RETURNS, and Marc’s emotional...
Mar 03, 2022•39 min
What an honor to chat with Martin Campbell, a BAFTA-winning director whose credits include THE MASK OF ZORRO, GOLDENEYE and Daniel Craig’s first James Bond movie CASINO ROYALE... among many others! Today’s conversation marks the 15th anniversary of CASINO ROYALE, and in the episode we discuss how Martin started his career in the UK as a TV cameraman; why he turned down the opportunity to direct THE MASK OF ZORRO 3 times before getting the phone call from Steven Spielberg that finally convinced h...
Dec 13, 2021•49 min
It was so much fun to welcome on the show Ve Neill, a 3-time Oscar winner and Makeup Effects Designer whose credits include EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, BEETLEJUICE, and the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN among many other iconic films. In today’s conversation, Ve and I discuss her early love for the Universal Monsters, and how the appreciation for makeup history fueled her desire to open her very first makeup school, Legends Makeup Academy; the challenges of breaking into the union as a woman in the 1970s, as...
Dec 07, 2021•1 hr 6 min
What a joy to welcome on the show Kevin Lima, an award-winning film director whose credits include Disney classics like A GOOFY MOVIE, TARZAN, and ENCHANTED (starring 6-time Oscar-nominee Amy Adams). In today’s conversation, Kevin and I discuss several topics: how his early days at Disney led him to make A GOOFY MOVIE as his directorial debut, a project born as an emotional exploration of the relationship with his own absent father; the challenges of transitioning into live-action directing with...
Sep 08, 2021•41 min
It was fantastic to welcome on the show David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, a Hollywood screenwriter whose credits include AQUAMAN, RED RIDING HOOD and this month’s newest release, THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT. In today’s conversation, David and I discuss a wide range of topics: from stumbling into the business as an assistant on THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION; taking over over screenwriting duties for the latest film in THE CONJURING franchise, THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT, and how D...
Jun 28, 2021•1 hr 1 min
We're so lucky to welcome on the show Chris Beck, an Emmy-winning music composer with over 150 credits in film and television, including THE HANGOVER, Disney’s FROZEN & FROZEN 2, the ANT-MAN franchise and Marvel’s first original series WANDAVISION. In today’s conversation, Chris and I discuss a wide range of topics: how he wound up a student at the USC Film Scoring Program the one year that legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith was teaching; why Chris considers FROZEN the project that changed h...
Jun 10, 2021•51 min
What a pleasure to speak with Jenny Beavan, a two-time Oscar-winning costume designer whose credits include SHERLOCK HOLMES, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, and Disney’s newest release CRUELLA (starring Oscar-winner Emma Stone). In today’s conversation, Jenny and I discuss a wide range of topics: an in-depth chat on the design of MAD MAX: FURY ROAD; the hypnotic costumes of the 2017 thriller A CURE FOR WELLNESS; how she re-invented the iconic Disney villain CRUELLA, with the new film set in a punk-rock Lond...
May 27, 2021•40 min
It was awesome to welcome on the show Ted Griffin, a director, producer and screenwriter whose credits include OCEAN'S ELEVEN, MATCHSTICK MEN and Martin's Scorsese's THE WOLF OF WALL STREET. Ted has an encyclopedic knowledge of film history, and in today’s conversation we discuss a number of topics: from Ted selling his first script at age 27 and the frustrating first few years working in Hollywood as a screenwriter; his experience writing OCEAN'S ELEVEN, and the creative process behind writing ...
May 05, 2021•56 min
What a treat to speak with Ilya Naishuller, a Russian filmmaker whose credits include HARDCORE HENRY and NOBODY (starring Bob Odenkirk as a kick-ass action star). In today’s conversation, Ilya and I discuss a wide range of topics: how directing a music video that went viral led him to receive a fully-financed offer to make his first feature film; how that film became Hardcore Henry, an indie videogame-like film experience shot as a first-shooter for $ 2 MILLION; a deep-dive discussion on Ilya’s ...
Mar 25, 2021•29 min
It's a pleasure to sit down with Salvatore Totino, a Hollywood cinematographer whose credits include BIRD BOX, THE DA VINCI CODE, SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING and SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY. In today’s conversation, discuss a wide range of topics: from Sal’s career-long relationship with Oscar-winning director Ron Howard and the creative choices they made during the challenging production of CINDERELLA MAN; the death-defying experience of shooting EVEREST, the true story of the extreme 1996 blizzard that...
Mar 09, 2021•37 min
What a treat to be welcomed in the offices of Stunts Unlimited to chat with Jack Gill, an award-winning stunt coordinator and second unit director whose credits include VENOM, CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR and several chapters in the FAST & FURIOUS franchise. In today’s conversation, discuss a wide range of topics: from Jack’s violent beginnings in the stunt industry of the 1970’s, working on TV shows like THE DUKES OF HAZZARD and KNIGHT RIDER, revolutionary at the time for their ground-breakin...
Feb 27, 2021•1 hr 1 min
UPDATE: Erik won a 'Best Cinematography' Oscar for MANK since our conversation! Congratulations! It’s so exciting to sit down with Erik Messerschmidt, ASC - an Emmy-nominated cinematographer whose credits include the popular Netflix series MINDHUNTER, HBO’s RAISED BY WOLVES and David Fincher's latest Netflix film MANK! In today’s conversation, Erik and I discuss his beginnings in the film industry working as a gaffer (learning from the best cinematographers in the business); a deep dive into his...
Dec 05, 2020•54 min
We're honored to welcome to the show Kazu Hiro, an Oscar-winning makeup effects designer from Japan whose credits include THE GRINCH, PLANET OF THE APES and THE DARKEST HOUR, which earned him and Gary Oldman Academy Awards for the stunning transformation into Winston Churchill. In the conversation, we discuss Kazu's personal relationship with makeup legends Dick Smith and Rick Baker (who created iconic makeups for THE EXORCIST and MEN IN BLACK); why a call from Gary Oldman brought him back from ...
Nov 28, 2020•1 hr 11 min
It was a joy to be welcomed in studio by Emmy-winning composer David Arnold, whose credits include CASINO ROYALE, INDEPENDENCE DAY and BBC’s SHERLOCK. In today’s conversation we discuss how avoiding a formal music training (in favor of scoring student films) prepared David for his launch into the film industry—and why David chooses not to listen to film music composed by his peers; how making a record in 1995 (really his own love letter to the James Bond franchise) led him to be hired by the ser...
Nov 17, 2020•39 min
It’s so exciting to sit down with cinematographer Shelly Johnson, whose credits include CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, THE WOLFMAN and BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC. Shelly is an amazing storyteller, and in our conversation we discuss a number of topics: from Shelly getting chosen by Spielberg himself to shoot JURASSIC PARK III as his first studio movie; the complex process of creating a "skinny Steve Rogers" for CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER; how Shelly reconstructed an epic naval bat...
Aug 31, 2020•1 hr 22 min
To complete our conversation we catch up once more with Zoë Bell, a New Zealand actress, stunt double and stunt coordinator whose credits include THE HATEFUL EIGHT, THOR: RAGNAROK and ONCE UPON A TIME... IN HOLLYWOOD. While in Part 1 of our conversation we discuss Zoë's experience on the XENA TV series and memories from shooting KILL BILL in China, today's Part 2 is focused on a wide range of topics: her experience receiving the screenplay of 2007’s DEATH PROOF, her first role as a leading actre...
Aug 16, 2020•1 hr 5 min
We're so lucky to sit down with Zoë Bell, a New Zealand actress, stunt double and stunt coordinator whose credits include THE HATEFUL EIGHT, THOR: RAGNAROK and ONCE UPON A TIME... IN HOLLYWOOD. In Part 1 of our conversation we discuss Zoë’s beginnings in New Zealand stunt doubling Lucy Lawless in the XENA TV series; how a special trip to Los Angeles led her to meet Quentin Tarantino and be cast as Uma Thurman’s stunt double for KILL BILL; Zoë creative relationship with Tarantino and why he insis...
Aug 16, 2020•31 min
