Acclaimed composer Henry Jackman (Captain America: Civil War, The Gray Man, Cherry) joins Anthony and Joe Russo for an in-depth exploration of cinematic scoring. From early classical training to cutting-edge electronic textures, Jackman breaks down how theme, tone, and story intersect in film music.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/PcPjjzL9rIk

FOLLOW ON SOCIAL: Instagram: @TheRussoBrothers @AGBOfilms #PizzaFilmSchool #agbofilms 

ABOUT THE SHOW: Created and hosted by Anthony and Joe Russo, “Pizza Film School” is a video podcast that demystifies the filmmaking world with each episode delving into creative processes, favorite films, and personal anecdotes from working in the industry, while enjoying a couple of slices from local pizzerias. An AGBO Production.

00:10 - Welcome Henry Jackman to Pizza Film School 01:45 - How Henry Got Into Music as a Child 02:49 - Life at St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir School 06:55 - From Classical Training to Rave Culture 08:51 - How Drum & Bass Changed Henry’s Musical Perspective 11:04 - The Blend of Classical and Electronic in Winter Soldier 13:05 - Scoring the Winter Soldier: Creative Risks & Storytelling 17:17 - Getting Discovered by Hans Zimmer 20:28 - Film Music Is Storytelling, Not Just Music 22:29 - How Cherry Was Scored with a Suite 25:30 - The Power of Music Over Dialogue in Film 27:00 - Cherry’s Final Scene: Emotion Without Words 29:37 - Writing the 10-Minute Cherry Suite 32:12 - Scoring as a Foundation for Storytelling 35:54 - Scoring the Civil War Airport Battle Scene 38:49 - Why the Music Slows Down at the Moment of Impact 40:00 - Underscoring Heroic Moments in Marvel 41:06 - The Misdirection in Civil War’s Nanosuit Scene 43:00 - Musical Heroism: From Strauss to John Williams 45:19 - Why Fantasy Lets You Embrace Earnestness 46:32 - Small Bites: Henry’s Quickfire Answers 47:05 - Music Henry Wishes He Could Hear for the First Time 50:39 - Henry’s Go-To Karaoke Song 50:53 - Henry’s Favorite Piece of Music

Legendary film editor Jeff Ford (Avengers: Endgame, The Winter Soldier, The Electric State) joins Anthony and Joe Russo for a deep dive into the craft of editing, the collaborative nature of filmmaking, and the surprising origin of Iron Man’s iconic final line. A must-watch for anyone who wants to understand how movies are truly made.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/ocrWqQ1CAcA

FOLLOW ON SOCIAL: Instagram: @TheRussoBrothers @AGBOfilms #PizzaFilmSchool #agbofilms 

ABOUT THE SHOW: Created and hosted by Anthony and Joe Russo, “Pizza Film School” is a video podcast that demystifies the filmmaking world with each episode delving into creative processes, favorite films, and personal anecdotes from working in the industry, while enjoying a couple of slices from local pizzerias. An AGBO Production.

00:30 - Meet Jeff Ford: Editor of the Avengers Saga   01:15 - Editing The Electric State with the Russo Brothers   02:00 - Jeff Ford’s Journey from Super 8 to Marvel   03:00 - The Essence of Editing: Writing with Picture   04:00 - Why Editing Never Matches the Original Script   05:30 - How Cap 2 United the Russos and Jeff Ford   07:00 - Paranoid Thriller Roots of The Winter Soldier   08:30 - Making “Everyone’s on the Same Movie”   10:00 - The Director-Editor Relationship   11:30 - Inside the Emotional Core of Marvel Scenes   14:00 - Breaking Down the Cap & Peggy Scene   17:00 - Editing Performances from Incomplete Footage   19:00 - The Character-Driven Arc of Steve Rogers   22:00 - Editing the Cap vs Bucky Final Fight   26:00 - How Music & Rhythm Shape Action Scenes   29:00 - The Role of Camera Operating in Editing   31:00 - Creating Emotional Endings That Last   33:00 - What Makes a Great Editor-Director Match   35:00 - Nick Fury’s Chase Scene: Action as Music   38:00 - Managing Chaos: Cutting Across Units   41:00 - Pre-Vis, Stunt-Vis & Planning the Cut   43:00 - Working with Directors Like Mann & Watts   45:30 - On-Set Rewrites & Actor-Driven Blocking   48:00 - Why Simplicity Wins in Performance Direction   50:00 - The Origin of “I Am Iron Man”   54:00 - Thematic Symmetry & Emotional Closure   56:00 - Jeff’s Favorite Show to Rewatch for the First Time   57:00 - Who Jeff Ford Would Love to Work With   58:00 - Advice to Young Editors and Filmmakers   59:00 - Wrap-Up: Jeff Ford on Chasing the Perfect Cut  

Legendary composer Alan Silvestri joins Anthony and Joe Russo at Pizza Film School to break down the unforgettable music behind Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame, Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, and more. Alan Silvestri opens up about his earliest days composing with a pencil and paper, why empathy is essential for film music, and how his themes became emotional landmarks in the MCU. This one’s a masterclass in cinematic scoring.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/xPeBl6p83V4

FOLLOW ON SOCIAL: Instagram: @TheRussoBrothers @AGBOfilms #PizzaFilmSchool #agbofilms 

ABOUT THE SHOW: Created and hosted by Anthony and Joe Russo, “Pizza Film School” is a video podcast that demystifies the filmmaking world with each episode delving into creative processes, favorite films, and personal anecdotes from working in the industry, while enjoying a couple of slices from local pizzerias. An AGBO Production.

00:00 - Intro: Welcome to Pizza Film School   01:06 - Meet Alan Silvestri   01:45 - Alan Silvestri on Winemaking and Red Ranger Syrah   03:00 - Alan’s Musical Origin Story   05:25 - Composing Process: From Guitar to Orchestra   06:34 - Scoring Like a Sculptor   08:00 - Finding the Emotion in Film   09:38 - Creating the Avengers Theme   11:30 - Learning Storytelling Through Music   13:00 - Composing Through Empathy   14:39 - Advice for Young Composers   16:00 - How the Russos Met Alan Silvestri   17:00 - Breaking Down the Portal Scene in Endgame   21:00 - Using Music to Build an Emotional Arc   24:33 - Cap’s Return in Infinity War   27:00 - Leading the Audience with Music   29:00 - Thanos’ Emotional Victory and the Retirement Cue   33:00 - Final Notes and Thanos’ Ending Explained   36:00 - Audience Reactions and Scoring for Opera   38:00 - From Temp Music to Final Score   40:45 - Silvestri on Collaboration and Creative Direction   42:54 - Alan’s Career Advice: Know Your Role   47:00 - Gratitude, Legacy, and the Magic of Music   50:00 - Final Cheers and Farewell  

Get exclusive insights from Geoff Haley, the visionary cinematographer behind Avengers: Endgame's legendary scenes, Joker, Cherry, and Fast & Furious, as he reveals the secrets behind creating gripping action sequences and emotionally impactful visual storytelling with Anthony and Joe Russo.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/zjS7FWCldf8

FOLLOW ON SOCIAL: Instagram: @TheRussoBrothers @AGBOfilms #PizzaFilmSchool #agbofilms 

ABOUT THE SHOW: Created and hosted by Anthony and Joe Russo, “Pizza Film School” is a video podcast that demystifies the filmmaking world with each episode delving into creative processes, favorite films, and personal anecdotes from working in the industry, while enjoying a couple of slices from local pizzerias. An AGBO Production.

01:04 Meet Geoff Haley: Award-Winning Camera Operator  06:56 Insane American Beauty Filming Story  10:49 Geoff Haley Defines His "Imaginary Rectangle"  12:52 Geoff Haley: How I Prep for Filming Movies  15:42 Prepping Dramatic vs Action Scenes  17:46 How Geoff Haley Collaborates With Actors  19:43 Secrets to Great Cinematographer Relationships  21:23 Avengers: Endgame Tokyo Scene Secrets Revealed  27:24 Filming Rain Scenes: Hollywood’s Hidden Truth  29:14 Geoff’s On-Set Injury Story From Endgame!  30:07 Inside Avengers: Endgame’s Epic Funeral Shot  33:04 Psychology & Cinematography: Geoff’s Mind Trick  36:03 Geoff’s Unique Musical Filming Technique  38:09 Breaking Down Cherry’s Powerful Opening Scene  44:23 How Geoff Haley Films Green Screen Scenes

Some of the most visually stunning films of all time—The Truman Show, Skyfall, 1917—owe their immersive environments to Dennis Gassner. On this episode of Pizza Film School, Anthony and Joe Russo sit down with the master designer to explore how he approaches storytelling through set design, how color and shape influence emotion, and why his first job on Apocalypse Now changed everything.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/r3SJaSwsIqs

FOLLOW ON SOCIAL: Instagram: @TheRussoBrothers @AGBOfilms #PizzaFilmSchool #agbofilms 

ABOUT THE SHOW: Created and hosted by Anthony and Joe Russo, “Pizza Film School” is a video podcast that demystifies the filmmaking world with each episode delving into creative processes, favorite films, and personal anecdotes from working in the industry, while enjoying a couple of slices from local pizzerias. An AGBO Production.

02:06 How Lawrence of Arabia Made Dennis Gassner a Filmmaker   03:23 Designing for Apocalypse Now – His First Big Break   05:21 Seeing His Work on Screen for the First Time in Apocalypse Now 06:26 The Hidden Story Behind the Apocalypse Now Poster   08:21 What It’s Like Designing for The Godfather Team   10:00 Creating the World of Field of Dreams – The Power of Smell   12:30 Pitching Miller’s Crossing to the Coen Brothers in One Word   16:24 How Architecture Inspired The Truman Show & 1917 19:30 Designing the Cinematic World of Skyfall 23:09 How the Nightclub Scene in The Gray Man Was Built   24:00 The Power of Color in Blade Runner 2049 & The Gray Man 29:21 Designing Laszlo’s Apartment – The Spider’s Web Concept   31:32 How the Gray Man Château Was Found and Designed   35:01 The One Movie That Changed His Career Forever   36:02 The Best Advice for Future Filmmakers   36:31 The One Genre He’s Dying to Design For   37:10 Bringing The Electric State to Life  

Ever wondered how Captain America’s stealth suit was created? Or why Katniss’s flame dress was intentionally toned down? From the wizard robes of Harry Potter to the battle-ready suits of Avengers: Endgame, Judianna Makovsky has shaped some of the most memorable looks in film history. In this episode of Pizza Film School, she breaks down her creative process with the Russo Brothers, sharing behind-the-scenes stories about Marvel, The Hunger Games, The Gray Man, Harry Potter, and beyond!

FOLLOW ON SOCIAL: Instagram: @TheRussoBrothers @AGBOfilms #PizzaFilmSchool #agbofilms 

ABOUT THE SHOW: Created and hosted by Anthony and Joe Russo, “Pizza Film School” is a video podcast that demystifies the filmmaking world with each episode delving into creative processes, favorite films, and personal anecdotes from working in the industry, while enjoying a couple of slices from local pizzerias. An AGBO Production.

Ever wonder what it takes to run the set of the biggest movies in Hollywood? Chris Castaldi, the man behind the smooth operation of Iron Man, Avengers: Endgame, Jurassic World, and Pirates of the Caribbean, joins the Russo Brothers to talk about how he got his start, the pressures of managing massive film sets, and what really happens behind the scenes on blockbuster productions. 🍕🎥

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/tL-zsiVgC2A

02:02 - How Chris Castaldi Got Into the Film Industry   03:00 - The INSANE Ron Howard Story That Launched His Career   06:30 - Breaking Into Big-Budget Blockbusters   09:00 - The Role of an Assistant Director on Set   10:30 - Why Communication is the Key to Running a Film Set   12:00 - Managing the Massive Cast of *Avengers: Endgame*   14:00 - Working With Robert Downey Jr. & Chris Evans on Set   17:00 - The Most Expensive Shot in Movie History (*Avengers: Endgame* Funeral Scene)   19:30 - How They Kept Tony Stark’s Funeral a Secret from the Cast   21:00 - The Complexity of Filming *Avengers: Infinity War* and *Endgame* Back-to-Back   25:00 - How to Keep a Film Set Running Smoothly Under Pressure   27:00 - Chris Castaldi’s Most Stressful Day on Set   29:00 - Behind the Scenes of *Jurassic World* & *Pirates of the Caribbean*   30:30 - Why Chris Castaldi Always Starts Productions With Huge Scenes   32:00 - The Secret to Managing Massive VFX & Stunt Sequences   37:00 - The Wildest Hollywood Memorabilia Collection Ever   39:00 - Chris Castaldi’s Dream Projects: *Star Wars* & *James Bond*   41:00 - The Ultimate *Avengers: Endgame* Cast-Signed Poster Gift   46:30 - Final Words: Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers  

FOLLOW ON SOCIAL: Instagram: @TheRussoBrothers @AGBOfilms #PizzaFilmSchool #AGBOFilms

ABOUT THE SHOW: Created and hosted by Anthony and Joe Russo, “Pizza Film School” is a video podcast that demystifies the filmmaking world with each episode delving into creative processes, favorite films, and personal anecdotes from working in the industry, while enjoying a couple of slices from local pizzerias. An AGBO Production. 

Want to know what it takes to land a Marvel role? Sarah Finn, the casting director behind over 100 films, joins Anthony and Joe Russo to share the secrets behind her iconic casting process. Learn about the intense Spider-Man auditions, casting Chadwick Boseman, Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., and how she found the now Academy Award-winning talent like Ke Huy Quan for Everything Everywhere All At Once. A must-watch for actors & film fans.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/ToOrEQV9ohk 

02:00 - Sarah Finn’s Superhero Origin Story in Casting   05:19 - What Does a Casting Director Really Do?   07:30 - The Hidden Process of Casting & Auditions   09:00 - Casting Robert Redford in Captain America: Winter Soldier   13:12 - Finding Authenticity in Mosul and Casting a Foreign-Language Film   18:22 - How Sarah Finn Helped Build the Marvel Cinematic Universe   19:30 - The Secret to Casting Chris Evans as Captain America   25:30 - Casting Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther   28:01 - The Search for Spider-Man: Casting Tom Holland   30:41 - Tom Holland’s Audition Process & Screen Tests   35:24 - Casting Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man 38:35 - How Everything Everywhere All At Once Was Cast   41:00 - Casting Ke Huy Quan: A Hollywood Comeback   43:38 - Jamie Lee Curtis Joins Everything Everywhere All At Once   45:15 - How Filmmakers Match Actors to Themes & Tones   48:17 - "Small Bite" Questions with Sarah Finn   49:37 - The Last Time Sarah Felt the “Electric” Moment in Casting   50:44 - Final Words: Advice for Aspiring Actors 

FOLLOW ON SOCIAL: Instagram: @TheRussoBrothers @AGBOfilms #PizzaFilmSchool #AGBOFilms

ABOUT THE SHOW: Created and hosted by Anthony and Joe Russo, “Pizza Film School” is a video podcast that demystifies the filmmaking world with each episode delving into creative processes, favorite films, and personal anecdotes from working in the industry, while enjoying a couple of slices from local pizzerias. An AGBO Production. 

Anthony and Joe Russo sit down with screenwriters, co-presidents of story at AGBO, and their longtime collaborators Chris Markus and Stephen McFeely to discuss their work on Marvel and at AGBO.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/XNXc34NKsT0 

FOLLOW ON SOCIAL: Instagram: @TheRussoBrothers @AGBOfilms #PizzaFilmSchool #AGBOFilms

ABOUT THE SHOW: Created and hosted by Anthony and Joe Russo, “Pizza Film School” is a video podcast that demystifies the filmmaking world with each episode delving into creative processes, favorite films, and personal anecdotes from working in the industry, while enjoying a couple of slices from local pizzerias. An AGBO Production. 

PIZZA FILM SCHOOL SEASON 3 IS HERE! The Russo Brothers sit down with their longtime collaborators whose artistry has been instrumental in the Russos’ projects, including their upcoming Netflix film, THE ELECTRIC STATE, starring Millie Bobbie Brown and Chris Pratt. Guests for season three include highest grossing screenwriting duo Chris Markus and Stephen McFeely, casting director Sarah Finn, producer and first AD Chris Castaldi, three-time Academy Award-nominated costume designer Judianna Makovsky, Academy Award-winning production designer Dennis Gassner, camera operator and producer Geoff Haley, Grammy-winning composer Alan Silvestri, editor and producer Jeff Ford, and composer Henry Jackman. Season three of “Pizza Film School” was filmed at AGBO’s headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. 

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/N4p_zclxMVM?si=db_y_q6G6N62geA- 

FOLLOW ON SOCIAL: Instagram: @TheRussoBrothers @AGBOfilms #PizzaFilmSchool #AGBOFilms

ABOUT THE SHOW: Created and hosted by Anthony and Joe Russo, “Pizza Film School” is a video podcast that demystifies the filmmaking world with each episode delving into creative processes, favorite films, and personal anecdotes from working in the industry, while enjoying a couple of slices from local pizzerias. An AGBO Production.