Present Company

Kodi Smit-McPhee joins the show to talk about his performance as Peter Gordon in Jane Campion's much anticipated film, The Power Of The Dog. Set in 1920's Montana, the film follows rancher Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his brother George (Jesse Plemons). When George brings home his new wife Rose (Kirsten Dunst) and her son Peter, Phil responds to the pair with mocking cruelty, until the unexpected happens.

In this interview, Smit-McPhee describes his journey from the Australian movie scene to Hollywood, recounts his audition forThe Power Of The Dog, and details some of the unconventional acting techniques he and Campion utilized to bring Peter to life.

Smit-McPhee also explains what it was like to work closely with his co-stars, touches on his love of philosophy, and opens up about some of the challenges he's had to navigate alongside his developing career.

Halle Berry joins the show to talk about her directorial debut, Bruised. The film follows Jackie Justice (Halle Berry), a disgraced MMA fighter who returns to the cage to seek redemption after the son she had given up as a baby suddenly re-enters her life.

In this interview, Berry describes her immediate fascination with the script, her journey to the director's chair, and how she re-worked the story (which originally followed a 20-something Irish Catholic white woman) to center on a middle-aged Black mother.

Berry also describes the intense physical training she went through to prepare for the role, touches on the challenges of straddling her many responsibilities on set, and reflects on how she has learned to manage fear in both her personal life and over the course of her career.

Dwayne Johnson joins the show to talk about his new action comedy, Red Notice. The film follows John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson), an FBI agent determined to bring down the two most wanted art thieves in the world (Ryan Reynolds & Gal Gadot).

In this interview, Johnson talks about how the project got off the ground, what it was like filming with his long-time friend Ryan Reynolds, and the story behind his production company Seven Bucks Productions.

Johnson also speaks openly about the fear and vulnerability he faced when transitioning from the world of WWE to Hollywood, describes how he finds peace in his daily routine, and offers a word of advice on how to cut through the chaos and focus on your goals.

Andrew Garfield sits down to discuss his latest film tick, tick…BOOM!, in which he plays Jonathan Larson, the American playwright and composer who gave the world the musical phenomenon Rent. The film marks the feature directorial debut of Lin-Manuel Miranda, and it’s also the first time audiences will see Garfield singing and dancing as he steps into the world of musical theater.

The Academy Award nominee and Tony winner shares his intense preparation for the role, the urgency that lies at the heart of the story, and the importance of activist artists. He also reflects on the unique pressures faced by young actors today, the lessons he’s learned from directors like Mike Nichols and Martin Scorsese, and the gift in embracing challenges that at first feel impossible.

Rebecca Hall joins the show to talk about her feature directorial debut, Passing. The film follows two Black women (Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga) who can “pass” as white but have chosen to live on opposite sides of the color line in 1920's New York City. As their lives become increasingly intertwined, both must contend with new threats to their carefully constructed realities.

In this interview, Hall takes us back 13 years to when she first came across Nella Larson's 1929 novel, discusses how uncovering of her own family history forced her to grapple with the subject matter, and explains how she worked with Thompson and Negga to bring the two beautifully complex lead characters to life.

Hall also speaks candidly about the challenges of getting the film off the ground, touches on the importance of shooting the film in black and white, and shares details about her experiences as a first time filmmaker.

Regina King joins the show to talk about her performance as Trudy Smith in the epic Western, The Harder They Fall. The film follows Nat Love (Jonathan Majors), a young outlaw dead set on seeking revenge against his lifelong enemy Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) and his infamous companions Trudy Smith (Regina King) and Cherokee Bill (LaKeith Stanfield). When Nat discovers Rufus has been released from prison, he rounds up an unlikely team to take down Rufus and his gang once and for all.

In this interview, King shares how her initial skepticism of the project turned into intrigue, gives insight into her on-set dynamic with Elba and Stanfield, and describes the energetic environment director Jeymes Samuel was able to create on set despite the challenges of shooting mid-pandemic.

King also reflects on motherhood, how love overpowers fear in her life, and speaks to the power of patience.

Jeymes Samuel joins the show to talk about his feature directorial debut, The Harder They Fall. The film follows Nat Love (Jonathan Majors), a young outlaw dead set on seeking revenge against his lifelong enemy Rufus Buck (Idris Elba). When Nat discovers Rufus has been released from prison, he rounds up an unlikely team to take down Rufus and his infamous gang once and for all.

In this interview, Samuel talks about his lifelong fascination with the Western genre, the importance of deconstructing and revitalizing it through a modern lens, and how he used his own original music to carefully shape the characters and story we see on screen.

Samuel also shares his singing talents, touches on working with producer Jay-Z, and talks candidly about his fear of the dark.

Welcome back to another episode of Present Company On The Road! In this interview, Krista sits down with Dakota Johnson at the Telluride Film Festival to talk about her performance in Maggie Gyllenhaal's feature directorial debut, The Lost Daughter.

Adapted from Elena Ferrante's novel by the same name, The Lost Daughter follows Leda (Olivia Colman), a college professor vacationing in Greece who becomes obsessed with a young mother named Nina (Dakota Johnson) and her daughter. Over the course of Leda's trip, her proximity to the duo prompts memories from her own early days of motherhood, forcing Leda to confront her past.

In this interview, Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey, The Peanut Butter Falcon, Our Friend) discusses why she was drawn to the role, her experience working with first-time director Maggie Gyllenhaal, and the isolating effects of shooting during COVID-19.

Johnson also shares the motivation behind her production company TeaTime Pictures and hints at her own future directorial ambitions.

Welcome to the first episode of Present Company On The Road -- a brand new segment bringing you to some of the biggest film events in the country. In this episode, Krista sits down with Kirsten Dunst at the Telluride Film Festival.

It's been nearly three decades since Kirsten Dunst first made a name for herself in Hollywood. She started modeling and appearing in commercials at just three years old -- a full eight years before her breakout role alongside Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise in Interview with the Vampire. Since then, she's brought us unforgettable performances in projects such as The Virgin Suicides, Melancholia, and Fargo.

Now, Dunst has delivered yet another phenomenal performance as Rose in Jane Campion's new feature adaptation, The Power of the Dog. In this interview, she discusses what it was like to once again share the screen with her partner Jesse Plemons, how she prepares for a role, and how her long history of working with female directors impacted her as an artist. Dunst also touches on the fears she grapples with as a parent and imparts some wisdom onto the next generation of actors.

Jake Gyllenhaal joins the show to talk about his latest film, The Guilty, in which he plays Joe Baylor, a 911 operator struggling to save one of his distressed callers. Gyllenhaal, who is also a producer on the film, discusses why he wanted to transpose the original Danish film into an American context, the importance of centering the film around systemic issues, and the challenges of shooting during COVID-19.

Gyllenhaal also discusses the delicious culinary creations he's been whipping up during quarantine and touches on how he navigates his own fears in an artistic space.