Team Deakins

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 217 Nikolaus Summerer - Cinematographer

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer Nikolaus Summerer (COLOR BOOK, DARK, WHO AM I). If you listened to our conversation with director David Fortune (Season 2, Episode 206), then you know a little bit about Nikolaus already, but in this episode, Nikolaus tells us everything David didn't: how he took advantage of going to film school with a class of wannabe Fellinis, how he persevered to break into the German film industry in Munich, and how he has developed his skills across a wide variety of projects. Nikolaus frequently collaborates with director Baran bo Odar across TV and film, and we discuss how Nikolaus and the rest of the crew shot shows such as DARK and the short-lived 1899. We learn how the look of DARK developed to help international audiences understand different time-periods in German history, and Nikolaus reflects on trying to make the sets of 1899 feel real within the Volume. Nikolaus also shares why he chose to shoot COLOR BOOK, and he reveals how he used his connections at ARRI to secure the right monochromatic camera to shoot the film's striking black-and-white cinematography.

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This episode is sponsored by BenQ

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 216 Denise Di Novi - Producer

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with producer Denise Di Novi (PRACTICAL MAGIC 2, LITTLE WOMEN, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS). Denise has been producing for nearly 40 years, and throughout the episode we discuss her career and what she's learned from the many films she's helped create. Denise shares how she first encountered the script for HEATHERS, and we learn how the film was developed and produced, and we discuss whether the film could even get made today. Following HEATHERS, Denise teamed with director Tim Burton as his producing partner, and she reflects on the transition from producing primarily independent films to producing movies alongside major Hollywood studios. Denise has also produced two LITTLE WOMEN adaptations—in 1994, written by Robin Swicord (Season 2, Episode 209) and in 2019 with Greta Gerwig's version—and she reflects on her experiences being involved in both and reveals what finally gave Greta's screenplay the greenlight. We also learn how she finds and develops projects with filmmakers, and she reflects on her strategy for putting any given film together and what she looks for in a director when taking meetings.

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This episode is sponsored by BenQ

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 215 SKYFALL - with Adam Bricker

"Turning the Tables" returns in this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. The film in focus: SKYFALL. Cinematographer Adam Bricker (Season 2, Episode 213) hosts us this time, and he walks us through the film's major sequences and moments and asks us about the logistical challenges we overcame, the creative intentions behind the vision for the film, and how we and the rest of the cast and crew filmed a globe-trotting adventure almost entirely in the UK. We also reflect on prioritizing practical filmmaking over visual effects, and we discuss the franchise's place in English culture and in cinema. We also reveal the aspect of James Bond's journey in the film that appealed to us enough to accept director Sam Mendes' (Season 1, Episode 18) offer to shoot the film, and we share how the production kept everything moving forward despite numerous last minute changes. Plus, we discuss the importance of a cinematographer needing to know what a shot will look like before rolling the equipment off the truck.

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Recommended Viewing: SKYFALL

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This episode is sponsored by BenQ & Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 214 Maryann Brandon - Editor

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with editor Maryann Brandon (THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, THE FORCE AWAKENS, ALIAS). Maryann was recruited by NYU to enter its film program, and after graduating alongside classmates such as Spike Lee, Ang Lee, and Ernest Dickerson (Season 2, Episode 58), she found work on Bob Rafelson's BLACK WIDOW. Throughout the episode, we discuss Maryann's approach to editing, how she manages the workload on large Hollywood franchise films such as STAR WARS and STAR TREK, and her longtime working relationship with director J.J. Abrams. We learn how they first met and how she balanced editing the series ALIAS while occasionally directing the 2nd unit, and she reveals why she decided to commit to editing full time. Maryann edited the first HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON film, which we also consulted on, and we compare how different working in animation is to live action. Maryann later reflects on the reception to PASSENGERS, and we discuss her opinion on focus groups and test screenings. Plus, Maryann shares her advice for younger editors.

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure & BenQ

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 213 Adam Bricker - Cinematographer

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer Adam Bricker (HACKS, CHEF'S TABLE, AMERICAN VANDAL). After being hosted by Adam at several Q&A's around Los Angeles, we turn the tables on him, and we ask him about his own career, learning about his journey from Chicago to Los Angeles and the many hours he put in cold-calling filmmakers on Craigslist to pitch himself as a cinematographer. We also discuss the value of having an agent as a DP, and Adam reflects on the privilege of having been able to work in Los Angeles during an extended city-wide downturn in production shoot days. Adam was also the sole cinematographer across five seasons and nearly 50 episodes on HACKS, a comedy series on HBO MAX, and he reveals how he and the other filmmakers approached shooting the show, from location scouting and prepping to grabbing the footage on the day. Adam also reflects on nailing the final shot of the series, and he shares how he endeavored to imbue a single-camera sensibility into the multi-cam show. Plus, we discuss Adam's relationship with light meters.

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Recommended Viewing: HACKS

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This episode is sponsored by BenQ & Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 212 MOTHER MARY - with David Lowery

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, director David Lowery (Season 2, Episode 60) returns to discuss his latest film, MOTHER MARY, now available to stream at home. Throughout the episode, we discuss the making of the movie, and topics include: the origin of the two lead characters, shooting the dialogue-heavy script, the evolution of the concert footage, and filming the bulk of the movie in 2023 and the remainder in 2024. We learn how the "ghost" was visualized and captured practically, where the supernatural elements of the movie came from, how actress Anne Hathaway prepared for her character's elaborate dance choreography, and why the film was shot in Germany even though it's set in England. David also shares how the process of developing MOTHER MARY differed and mirrored the development of his other films. In addition to learning how David filmed the movie, we also discuss how much work was done in post, and David reveals the level of invisible VFX work in the final cut. Plus, David shares some information about his next project.

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Recommended Viewing: MOTHER MARY

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 211 Eddie Marsan - Actor

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with actor Eddie Marsan (NO ORDINARY HEIST, BACK TO BLACK, RAY DONOVAN). During our conversation, we discuss Eddie's youth in East London, being discovered by casting in a club at 18, his disciplined approach to his craft, working with a range of directors including Mike Leigh (Season 1, Episode 76), Edgar Wright (Season 2, Episode 169), and Steven Spielberg, playing a countless number of supporting roles, and the shortcomings of filmmakers who fail to give working and lower class characters volition, autonomy, and humanity. Eddie also reflects on acting as "evil" characters, and we discuss the qualities of several of them from throughout his career. Towards the end of the episode, we ask Eddie how younger generations of actors are different compared to the ones who came before, and he encourages young actors to not wait for the system to change and create space for the roles they want to play. Plus, Eddie reveals the type of character he'd love to play but has yet to.

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 210 Ron Howard - Director

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with director Ron Howard (AVEDON, APOLLO 13, A BEAUTIFUL MIND). Ron has worked professionally in film and television since the age of 4, and he reflects on his life and career throughout the episode, from chewing fake glass with Yul Brenner as a child actor to directing a wide variety of features and documentaries for almost 50 years. A graduate of the Roger Corman movie factory, Ron reveals what he learned about leadership and collaboration while directing GRAND THEFT AUTO, his directorial debut, under Roger's guidance, and we discuss whether any modern equivalent exists for filmmakers today as a proving ground. Ron also shares how he pushed himself early on to always be creating, and we discuss the creation of several of his films and what he aims for in every movie he makes. We later ask what draws him to a potential project, and we discuss his foray into directing documentaries and how it differs from shooting fiction. We worked with Ron on A BEAUTIFUL MIND, and we had a wonderful time catching up with him.

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure ⁠

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 209 Robin Swicord - Writer / Director

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with writer and director Robin Swicord (WAKEFIELD, WHEN THEY SEE US, PRACTICAL MAGIC). Throughout the episode, Robin is frank about her experience working in the film industry as a woman, and we discuss how she's seen the culture and behaviour within the industry change over the years. Robin wrote the script for the 1994 adaptation of LITTLE WOMEN, and she shares what it took for the studio to finally greenlight the film after 12 years of development. She also reflects on the long development process of BENJAMIN BUTTON, and she reveals what her initial vision for the story was. After years as a writer, Robin was able to direct her first feature, THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB, and she shares how she cast the film on short notice and how she prepped for it as a first-time director. We later discuss how she shot her second film as a director, WAKEFIELD, in just 18 days, and she reflects on what she brought from her experiences on her first film to the second one.

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure ⁠

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 208 John Lee Hancock - Writer / Director

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with writer and director John Lee Hancock (THE HIGHWAYMEN, THE ROOKIE, A PERFECT WORLD). John was born and raised in Texas and we learn how he made the transition from practicing law to screenwriting and what he stayed busy with to survive in Los Angeles after moving there. John later reflects on learning filmmaking from Clint Eastwood and Kevin Costner during the production of A PERFECT WORLD (which John wrote), and he reveals how he came up with the idea of the film. We also learn how producer Mark Johnson (Season 2, Episode 97) accidentally set him up to direct his first film, and John reveals some of the benefits of being a writer while also working as a director. John also reflects on the grand-scaled production of THE ALAMO, and we discuss the historical and cultural backdrop of Texas at the time of the events of the movie. Towards the end, John shares some information with us about his next film, and we discuss the economic difficulties of filming within the United States that lead to productions shooting abroad.

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Recommended Viewing: A PERFECT WORLD