This is a Secret Sauce edition of Pizza Film School, a project-focused deep dive into the making of an AGBO release.

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Go behind the scenes of The Bluff with the filmmakers who built it from concept to final cut. AGBO's Angela Russo-Otstot and Michael Disco sit down with director Frank E. Flowers, and co-writer Joe Ballarini for a craft-focused conversation on making The Bluff.

Starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Karl Urban, The Bluff is an action-packed pirate epic set in the Cayman Islands, inspired by Flowers' personal connection to the region. The team explores how the idea evolved from concept to screenplay to production, unpacking the collaboration, world-building, and creative decisions that shaped the final film.

ABOUT SECRET SAUCE

Secret Sauce is a subseries of Pizza Film School that focuses on the making of a single AGBO film or TV series. Hosted by AGBO's creative leadership, each episode explores development, production, and post with the filmmaking teams, offering a practical masterclass on how a project comes to life.

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

FOLLOW ON SOCIAL

Instagram: @TheRussoBrothers @AGBOfilms #PizzaFilmSchool #agbofilms

00:00:22 - The Bluff: A Grounded 19th Century Pirate Story

00:02:05 - The Origin of The Bluff

00:03:53 - Pirates Week in the Cayman Islands

00:05:23 - First Read of The Bluff at AGBO

00:06:12 - Partnering with Cinestar & Zoe Saldana

00:07:47 - The Zoom Pitch That Sold The Bluff

00:10:05 - The Home Invasion Turn: Blending Western, Horror & Pirate Genres

00:11:11 - Protecting the Vision & Getting the Film Made

00:14:28 - Creative Decisions & Authenticity in The Bluff

00:15:06 - Writing in the Cayman Islands & Archival Research

00:18:18 - Cultural Representation & Casting Authenticity

00:19:13 - Using Virtual Production to Prep The Bluff

00:23:47 - Production Design & Importing Sand for Authenticity

00:25:39 - Shooting Challenges: Weather, Islands & Blessings

00:28:39 - Family on Set & Multilingual Pirate Performances

00:32:15 - Post-Production: Editing, Pace & No Reshoots

00:35:54 - Why Writers & Editors Belong on Set

00:37:00 - What The Bluff Means to the Filmmakers

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.