OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East

Episode 28: Taika Waititi, "Jojo Rabbit"


Listen Later

Kaitlin is joined via phone by Taika Waititi -- the writer, director, and star of the film JOJO RABBIT, and the producer of the show WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS - both of which have earned him nominations at this year's Writers Guild Awards. Taika chats about writing a Nazi satire, using fear as a creative motivator, writing comedy when you aren't attracted to comedy writing, how he engages with the Indigenous filmmaking community worldwide, and more.

Taika Waititi's filmmaking career started in the early 2000s and gained international attention when he received an Oscar for his 2004 short film TWO CARS, ONE NIGHT. Since then, he has written and directed films like EAGLE VS. SHARK, BOY, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE, and THOR: RAGNAROK, which have all been met with widespread critical acclaim.

His latest project, JOJO RABBIT, is a dark comedy based on Christine Leunens's book Caging Skies. Set in Nazi Germany, the film follows Johannes "Jojo" Betzler, a Hitler Youth member who finds out that his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic. Jojo must then question his beliefs, while dealing with the intervention of his imaginary friend -- a fanciful version of Adolf Hitler (played by Taika himself). It has received nominations at this year's Writers Guild Awards, as well as six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

-- Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews:www.onwriting.org/-- Follow Kaitlin on Twitter: @KaitlinFontana Follow the Guild on social media:Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA EastBy Writers Guild of America East

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

62 ratings


More shows like OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East

View all
The Business by KCRW

The Business

659 Listeners

The Treatment by KCRW

The Treatment

604 Listeners

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn by Jesse Thorn

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

2,602 Listeners

WTF with Marc Maron Podcast by Marc Maron

WTF with Marc Maron Podcast

28,751 Listeners

Scriptnotes Podcast by John August and Craig Mazin

Scriptnotes Podcast

2,395 Listeners

You Must Remember This by Karina Longworth

You Must Remember This

13,972 Listeners

Awards Chatter by The Hollywood Reporter

Awards Chatter

1,337 Listeners

The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast by Directors Guild of America

The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

713 Listeners

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso by Lemonada Media

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

1,207 Listeners

IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit by Chris O'Falt

IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit

96 Listeners

Good One: A Podcast About Jokes by Vulture

Good One: A Podcast About Jokes

1,440 Listeners

The A24 Podcast by A24

The A24 Podcast

1,049 Listeners

The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna by Meg LeFauve & Lorien McKenna

The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna

918 Listeners

Team Deakins by James Ellis Deakins, Roger Deakins

Team Deakins

1,099 Listeners

Script Apart with Al Horner by Script Apart

Script Apart with Al Horner

162 Listeners