Happy Independence Day. Spike Lee joined Franklin and Kate to talk about narrative filmmaking, his longtime collaborators, and the movement for Black lives. From Do the Right Thing , to Malcolm X , to Bamboozled , to his ilm for Netflix, Da 5 Bloods , the trio talks about how culture talks to movies, and how movies talk back to the culture. Questions? Comments? Criticism? Hit us up on social media at @theblcklst. This episode first aired in mid-2020. To learn more about The Black List, visit www...
Jul 08, 2025•47 min•Ep. 78
Emmy winner and two-time Oscar nominee Kirby Dick joins Kate and Franklin for a riveting conversation about the role of investigative journalism in film and the responsibility of storytellers to speak truth to power. The acclaimed director, known for his groundbreaking work exposing abuse and institutional cover-ups, discusses the #MeToo movement, his HBO Max documentary On the Record (co-directed by Amy Ziering), and why he “doesn’t love movies”—at least not in the conventional sense. From navi...
Jul 01, 2025•42 min•Ep. 77
Maybe you love Adaptation, or Synechdoche, or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.The prolific screenwriter Charlie Kaufman discusses some of the diverse and notable projects of his career, starting with his early days as a staff writer for shows like Get A Life, and The Dana Carvey Show. He also recounts the unbelievable, and ultimately life-changing story of his screenplay for Being John Malkovich , a film that nobody initially wanted to make. Franklin and Kate dive with Charlie into the con...
Jun 24, 2025•39 min•Ep. 76
When cultural tastemakers get stuck inside what do they watch, read, or play? In this throwback episode that has since become a classic, Franklin and Kate talk to each other about the things they discovered or rediscovered during lockdown. From Animal Crossing and Sarah Cooper, to Ted Lasso and Michaela Coel's I May Destroy You , you'll have some new gems to add to your list. See the show notes for more details! Questions? Comments? Criticism? Hit us up on social media at @theblcklst. This convo...
Jun 17, 2025•36 min•Ep. 75
Actor and director Jay Ellis joins Kate and Franklin for some real talk. Jay opens up about starring in Top Gun: Maverick and how becoming a father has shifted his perspective on life and work. He also reflects on his iconic role as Lawrence in Insecure —including some truly wild fan encounters—and takes us behind the scenes of his directorial debut on the show. The trio covers career milestones, Mel Brooks, and the magic of storytelling. Plus, in one of the most unexpected turns, Jay shares how...
Jun 10, 2025•41 min•Ep. 74
Jeremy O. Harris joins Kate and Franklin to talk about eliciting polarized audience reactions to Slave Play , describes his co-writing process with Janicza Bravo on Zola and talks about accessing the fascinating intersections of high and low culture, and so much more. Questions? Comments? Criticism? Hit us up on social media at @theblcklst. This conversation took place in 2020. To learn more about The Black List, visit www.blcklst.com. Mentions: +Slave Play: http://slaveplaybroadway.com +Zola: h...
Jun 04, 2025•46 min•Ep. 73
Academy award winning writer and director Lee Isaac Chung joins Kate and Franklin to talk about the trip to Rwanda that changed his filmmaking trajectory, his deep admiration for Charlie Chaplin and Wong Kar-wai, the making of his irresisitable Minari, and so much more. Questions? Comments? Criticism? Hit us up on social media at @theblcklst. This conversation took place in 2020 To learn more about The Black List, visit www.blcklst.com. Mentions: Minari: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/minar...
May 29, 2025•38 min•Ep. 72
A very special encore. Kate talks to Barbara Crampton, BJ Colangelo, and Gigi Saul Gurerro about their lives in the horror community, what they're working on, what types of stories they'd like to see told about women in horror, and so much more. Questions? Comments? Criticism? Hit us up on social media at @theblcklst. This conversation is from 2020. To learn more about The Black List, visit www.blcklst.com. Mentions: Barbara Crampton: https://twitter.com/barbaracrampton BJ Colangelo: https://twi...
May 14, 2025•58 min•Ep. 71
Encore episode with award-winning journalist Soledad O'Brien. She joins Franklin for a conversation about growing up Black, her approach to documentary filmmaking, the state of journalism in the Trump era, and so much more. Questions? Comments? Criticism? Hit us up on social media at @theblcklst. This conversation was recorded in 2020. To learn more about The Black List, visit www.blcklst.com. Mentions: +New York Times, Soledad O'Brien: A Me Too Movement for Journalists of Color, www.nytimes.com...
May 06, 2025•52 min•Ep. 70
[Encore] Kate and Franklin sit down with Steven Canals, the brilliant mind behind Pose, to talk about growing up Afro-Latinx in the Boogie Down Bronx, why Cardi B is everything, and how a 2004 screening of Paris is Burning lit the spark that would eventually become one of TV’s most groundbreaking shows. They dig into the complicated, beautiful realities of intersectional identity, the tough questions that came up in the Pose writers’ room, and how Steven stayed true to his vision every step of t...
Apr 29, 2025•45 min•Ep. 69
In a special Emmy-themed roundtable, Franklin and Kate welcome three powerhouse creators—Billy Porter ( Pose ), Robin Thede ( A Black Lady Sketch Show ), and Ramy Youssef ( Ramy )—for an unfiltered, deeply personal conversation recorded just ahead of the 72nd Annual Emmy Awards. This episode breaks the usual format to let the magic of the moment unfold. The trio dives into what it means to bring their full selves to the screen, the evolving responsibility of the artist, and the lessons they’d sh...
Apr 16, 2025•52 min•Ep. 68
Olympic gold medalist. Figure skating icon. Self-proclaimed "dramatic monster." Adam Rippon joins Franklin and Kate for an unhinged and hilarious episode that covers everything from Molly Shannon obsession to curating the perfect skating soundtrack. The trio dives into Useless Celebrity History, shares pop culture hot takes, and gets wonderfully derailed during a chaotic movie quiz. Plus, Adam opens up about his first on-screen crush (spoiler: Zac Efron inHigh School Musical ) and the very unexp...
Apr 09, 2025•45 min•Ep. 67
In this episode, Franklin and Kate sit down with visionary director Cathy Yan to discuss her dynamic approach to crafting action sequences in Birds of Prey . From blending practical effects with high-energy combat to her grounded take on VFX, Cathy shares how she brought Gotham’s most stylish mayhem to life. The conversation also delves into her journey from journalist to filmmaker, revealing how her investigative mindset influences her storytelling. Plus, Cathy opens up about her views on the e...
Mar 31, 2025•38 min•Ep. 66
[Reprise] Franklin and Kate are joined by the incredible Radha Blank—director, playwright, rapper, and friend of The Black List. Her debut feature, The 40-Year-Old Version , premiered at Sundance and earned her the Directing Award, making an unforgettable mark on the industry. The film is a deeply personal and hilarious take on reinvention and artistic expression. Radha takes us through her journey—from playwriting and rapping to stepping behind the camera for her first feature. We also dive int...
Mar 24, 2025•52 min•Ep. 65
[Encore! ¡Otra!] Two powerhouse talents, one unforgettable episode. When The Black List teamed up with Hulu to launch the first-ever Latinx List, it was only natural for Franklin and Kate to sit down with two of the initiative’s driving forces: Gloria Calderón Kellett ( One Day at a Time ) and Tanya Saracho ( Vida ). In this classic conversation, the acclaimed showrunners discuss how their friendship fuels creativity, their commitment to uplifting the next generation of Latinx storytellers, and ...
Mar 17, 2025•53 min•Ep. 64
[Listen again]. Filmmaker Alice Wu joins Franklin and Kate to discuss her journey back into Hollywood as a queer Asian-American storyteller. She shares how Chinese-language films shaped her love of cinema, her time away from the industry, and the creative process behind The Half of It —a fresh take on the teen romantic triangle movie. From Saving Face, which was a huge hit at Sundance, to The Half of It landing on the Black List, Alice’s path is as inspiring as her films. Questions? Comments? Cr...
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 63
Gremlins, Goonies, Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire —iconic films that few of us haven't seen. But how did they come to be? In this episode, Kate sits down with legendary filmmaker Chris Columbus to explore his journey from aspiring screenwriter to Hollywood heavyweight. Columbus shares how his college screenplay sold for just $5K, the professor who told him success was 50% talent, 50% luck, and the serendipitous moment when Steven Spielberg discovered his Gremlins script. Plus, behind-the-scenes stor...
Mar 03, 2025•44 min•Ep. 62
Jay Ellis ( Top Gun: Maverick, Insecure ) joins Kate and Franklin for their signature movie survey, diving into the films that shaped him—from Spaceballs (his surprising answer for what made him fall in love with movies) to He Got Game and White Men Can't Jump. They also talk about his experience starring in Top Gun: Maverick , how fatherhood has changed his perspective, his Insecure directorial debut, and more. Plus, a deep dive into basketball movies and '90s sports film nostalgia....
Feb 19, 2025•41 min•Ep. 61
Franklin and Kate sat down with comedy legend Ed Helms to explore his journey from Saturday Night Live -fueled interest in high school, to performing with the Upright Citizens Brigade as a young adult to making waves on The Daily Show during the George W. Bush era. They discuss how those experiences shaped his perspective on political comedy today, dive into his roles in blockbuster hits like Vacation and The Hangover trilogy, and chat about his Netflix project, Coffee & Kareem . Plus, don’t...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 60
In honor of her electric performance of a Michael Jackson cover--to honor the late great Quincy Jones, at this year's Grammys ceremony, we're bringing back her conversation with Franklin and Kate from a few years ago. The trio talk about how her music has informed her film career, her childhood memories of Steel Magnolias , seeing herself onscreen in Sister Act 2 , and so much more. Questions? Comments? Criticism? Hit us up on social media at @theblcklst. This encore episode's conversation took ...
Feb 03, 2025•20 min•Ep. 59
Be Water filmmaker Bao Nguyen joins Kate and Franklin to talk about bringing Bruce Lee to a new generation, his Saturday Night Live documentary, depictions of the Vietnam War on screen, and a lot more deep cut film talk. Questions? Comments? Criticism? Hit us up on social media at @theblcklst. This conversation originally took place in 2020. To learn more about The Black List, visit www.blcklst.com. Mentions: +Be Water: espn.com/mma/story/_/id/29249053/be-water-how-watch-stream-espn-bruce-lee-do...
Jan 27, 2025•43 min•Ep. 58
Film historian and cultural commentator Karina Longworth joins Franklin and Kate to talk about her love for Judy Garland, the imaginative world of Film social media, and her iconic podcast, You Must Remember This, and more. In honor of the season premiere of YMRT (the 21st season!), we bring back this excellent interview. Meanwhile, we send out our thoughts to the entire community of greater Los Angeles during this catastrophic wildfire event. Questions? Comments? Criticism? Hit us up on social ...
Jan 21, 2025•40 min•Ep. 57
What do the NBA, the Chicago Bulls, and Michael Jordan all have in common? Iconic storytelling, brought to life by Jason Hehir, the director of The Last Dance —a documentary miniseries that became a cultural phenomenon during the early months of the Covid lockdown. In this conversation, Franklin and Kate dive deep with Jason to uncover how he got Michael Jordan to finally open up, the parallels between hip-hop and the NBA’s meteoric rise to global fame, and the art of humanizing larger-than-life...
Jan 06, 2025•49 min•Ep. 56
Her film Nightbitch arrives on Hulu this week; revisit a captivating interview with director and actor Marielle Heller. Too often seen as understated and underappreciated, Heller is undeniably a filmmaking powerhouse. In this conversation, she reflects on her theater roots, the challenges of navigating gender dynamics in the industry, and the experience of directing Tom Hanks in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood . Known for eliciting memorable performances from actors like Amy Adams ( Nightbit...
Dec 31, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 55
You may know him as Jean-Ralphio from Parks and Rec , or the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog. Friend of The Black List family, Ben Schwartz, joins Kate and Franklin for an insanely funny conversation about his improv adventure on Middleditch and Schwartz , bringing Dewey to life in the DuckTales reboot, his Netflix series, Space Force , and so much more. Questions? Comments? Criticism? Hit us up on social media at @theblcklst. This episode was originally released in 2020. In honor of the release of ...
Dec 23, 2024•52 min•Ep. 54
[Encore] Writer and director of The Farewell, Lulu Wang, joins Kate and Franklin to talk about navigating the indie film marketplace, drawing inspiration from her classical piano training, streaming vs. theatrical distribution, and so much more. Questions? Comments? Criticism? Hit us up on social media at @theblcklst. This episode originally aired in 2020, behind a paywall. To learn more about The Black List, visit www.blcklst.com. Mentions: +The Farewell: rottentomatoes.com/m/the_farewell_2018 ...
Dec 17, 2024•49 min•Ep. 53
British screenwriter and playwright Jack Thorne ( His Dark Materials, Wonder , Enola Holmes , Crip Tales ) has created adaptations of extraordinarily beloved characters and works. He.talks to Franklin Leonard and Kate Hagen about the art and responsibility of storytelling--from adapting Harry Potter and The Cursed Child for the stage, to his perspective on collaboration and authorship. Thorne thinks in terms of empowering key storytellers--aware of how much a face tells the story and how much ac...
Dec 10, 2024•45 min•Ep. 52
Remember the Oscars best picture flub? Jordan Horowitz is the guy who stopped that train before it wrecked. In this episode, he and his producing-directing. partner (and life partner) Julia Hart tell the story of that wild night when their film La La Land was announced as the winner, but wasn't. They also describe bringing Black women superheroes to life in Fast Color , working together as a couple, and so much more. Originally released for subscribers only in 2020. Questions? Comments? Criticis...
Dec 02, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 51
Insecure showrunner Prentice Penny joins Kate and Franklin to talk about his movie-loving roots, his project Brooklyn Nine-Nine , working with Issa Rae, being inspired by Spike Lee, cutting his teeth on television. Plus: the origin story and goals that led him to write and direct the film Uncorked, which presented a different type of father-son relationship. This conversation took place in 2020. Questions? Comments? Criticism? Hit us up on social media at @theblcklst. To learn more about The Bla...
Nov 25, 2024•54 min•Ep. 50
The premiere episode of The Black List, reprised! Franklin and Kate kicked off The Black List Podcast with filmmaker and actor Paul Feig ( @paulfeig ) to discuss the 20th anniversary of Freaks and Geeks , his very first film; They went deep on what makes a great comedy, and about the female characters he loved and creates--and so much more. A classic episode from 2020. Questions? Comments? Criticism? Hit us up on social media at @theblcklst. To learn more about The Black List, visit www.blcklst....
Nov 19, 2024•52 min•Ep. 49
