Team Deakins

EPISODE 87 - GREGOR WILSON - Production Manager

Team Deakins speaks with Gregor Wilson, (JUSTICE LEAGUE, PRISONERS, MAN OF STEAL), and looks closely at the role of production manager. Gregor tells us that one of the first important things he does is hiring the right crew and working to lock in the budget. We learn about Bond companies and the function they fulfill. Gregor shares his experience on Prisoners - his witnessing the relationship between Denis and Roger, his surprise at the cable costs of the camera crew, and the role the weather played in the shooting of the film. He also talks about mistakes that can be made in his role, the importance of stress management, and dealing with the long hours of production. We also delve into keeping up with new technology and dealing with rebates. A deep dive into the wide-ranging role of the production manager!

EPISODE 86 - CALEB DESCHANEL - Cinematographer

Team Deakins sits down with cinematographer Caleb Deschanel for a great conversation. We learn about his experiences on the BLACK STALLION, BEING THERE, THE RIGHT STUFF, AND THE NATURAL. We talk about the key to being really good in the craft (recognizing a better idea), watching the actor do the performance for the first time, working with operators, the importance of crew choice for a DP, and the difference of operating a camera with the wheels. We also explore the critical relationship between DP and Director and how greatness is not always obvious in the making of something. A wide-reaching conversation that you don't want to miss!

EPISODE 85 - MICHAEL LERMAN - Assistant Director

Team Deakins has a great conversation with assistant director, Michael Lerman (1917, DOCTOR STRANGE, SKYFALL). Michael breaks down the job in detail starting from the beginning in prep through the shoot. He tells us it starts with the schedule which is a challenge that never ends during the production. He shares the importance of location scouting for the director, cinematographer and production designer, as well as his role of protecting the director's time so they can spend the time they need with the many departments. He talks about the need of being both a "director's AD" as well as a "producer's AD". We also discuss the importance of marrying 2nd unit and main unit and how this applied to the opening sequence of Skyfall. We cover a lot of ground in the episode so don't miss it!!

EPISODE 84 - MATTHEW LIBATIQUE - Cinematographer

Team Deakins speaks with cinematographer Matty Libatique (A STAR IS BORN, BLACK SWAN, MOTHER!). In our conversation, he shares his experiences of working with director Darren Aronofsky as well as working with director Spike Lee. He touches on the importance of proper exposure in your footage and learning from each film that you make. We also learn about his experiences in the DI process and working on the film A Star is Born. We talk about lighting the frame or framing the light, shooting super 16mm on Black Swan, lenses, and much, much more! You won't want to miss this episode!

EPISODE 83 - DAVID MULLEN - Cinematographer

Team Deakins has the opportunity to talk with cinematographer David Mullen(THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL, NORTHFORK, TWIN FALLS IDAHO). We learn lots of specifics about the shooting and lighting of the film Northfork. He really breaks it all down for us. We also speak in detail about the different ways of flashing film and why you would do it, as well as the ways of taking color out of the visuals on a film. He also shares the difficulty of storyboards that were created without the input of the cinematographer. We cover shooting anamorphic - why and the differences between spherical shooting, his experience of negotiating for a DI finish in the early days of the DI, and how he oversees the look when shooting the packed schedule of television. We learned a lot when talking with David!

RECOMMENDED EPISODE VIEWING: Northfork, Akeelah and the Bee

EPISODE 82 - JEFF NICHOLS, ADAM STONE - Director/Cinematographer Team

Team Deakins has a great conversation with the collaborative team of director Jeff Nichols and cinematographer Adam Stone (MUD, LOVING, TAKE SHELTER). We learn about how they found each other, how they work together, and how that collaboration has grown over the years. They share their preference for shot lists over storyboards and their specificity when choosing locations (and how they drive the location department crazy!). Jeff, who also writes his projects, speaks of not adding camera direction in his scripts. We also talk about the difference in shooting for television and features and the different opportunities found in long-form storytelling. A great look at a close collaboration!

EPISODE 81 - LARRY SHER - Cinematographer

Team Deakins speaks with cinematographer Larry Sher (JOKER, GARDEN STATE, THE HANGOVER). We learn a lot about his many experiences with Todd Philips, including the movies The Hangover and The Joker. We talk about how color is an integral part of his work and how he loves location shooting with the mixtures of light, and how important it is, early on, to settle on what evening, dusk, and sunset mean light-wise. He shares his thoughts on operating, shooting with two cameras, working on big movies, and the differences in shooting film or digital. A lot gets covered!

RECOMMENDED EPISODE VIEWING: The Hangover

EPISODE 80 - MARY ZOPHRES - Costume Designer

Team Deakins sits down with Costume Designer, Mary Zophres (FIRST MAN, LA LA LAND, TRUE GRIT). She shares how she works with actors, large amounts of extras, the production designer, and the DP. She describes the thrill of seeing the actor become the character in the fitting room. Camera tests are important since "your eye tells you different things than the lens does" and she tells some of the things she has discovered through camera tests. She also describes dressing Jeff Bridges on The Big Lebowski, researching First Man and her experience on La La Land. We learn a lot about how the costumes can add so much to the storytelling.

EPISODE 79 - HARRY GRUYAERT - Still Photographer

Team Deakins speaks with the acclaimed stills photographer Harry Gruyaert. What a great conversation! We learn that when he started, he directed and shot for Flemish TV and he explains why he changed his path and became a stills photographer. He shares the importance of intuition in his work and finding your own way of seeing and style. We love what he does with color so we speak a lot about color and how he uses it, and he speaks of when he would use B&W over color. He also goes into detail about his early work in Morocco and how he relates to the subjects of his photographs. He shares what he was thinking when shooting specific shots and tells a wonderful story about his photo with the Magritte painting. He's an artist that works for his own pleasure without concerning himself about how people will react and we certainly love the results he achieves!

EPISODE 78 - CHRIS MILLER & PHIL LORD - Directors, Writers, Producers

Team Deakins speaks with another long term collaborative team - Phil Lord and Chris Miller (CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS, THE LEGO MOVIE, SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE). We cover a lot of topics, including the difference between directing live-action and animation, how they work together, the biggest disagreement they've had, and the challenges of directing comedies. We learn about the making of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The Last Man on Earth TV series, and the process on Spiderman - Into the Spider-Verse. We also learn their take on the possibilities in animation. A really interesting look at a very successful collaborative team!

RECOMMENDED VIEWING: Last Man on Earth (TV), Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs