The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Director and Sitcom Legend James Burrows discusses his life and career in highlights pulled from his DGA Visual History interview.

Topics include growing up as the son of Broadway writer/director Abe Burrows (Guys & Dolls), training on The Bob Newhart Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show (10:00), his role as the Director on pilot episodes including Will & Grace (19:00), the development and casting of Cheers (24:00), and how he works with actors through the week of making a new episode of a show (39:00).

Director Liza Johnson discusses her new film, Elvis & Nixon, with Director Bette Gordon. The film gives a fictionalized account of what might have happened in an unusual meeting between Elvis Presley and President Richard Nixon in the White House, forever immortalized in an iconic photograph in the National Archives.

Director Jon Favreau discusses his new film, The Jungle Book, with Director Donald Petrie. The film retells the classic Rudyard Kipling tale about a boy named Mowgli, who is raised by wolves in an Indian jungle.

Director Marc Abraham discusses his new film, I Saw the Light, with Director Peyton Reed. The film tells the story of legendary country-western singer and songwriter Hank Williams, played by Tom Hiddleston. Despite Williams' singular talent, fame and addiction have a tragic effect on his life and personal relationships.

Director Karyn Kusama discusses her new film, The Invitation, with Director Gil Kenan. The film tells the story of an estranged couple who reunite at a dinner party following the death of their son. As the party continues, it becomes clear that something mysterious and terrifying may be going on.

Director Miloš Forman discusses his life and early career in highlights pulled from his Visual History interview.

Topics include his early life and attending film school in Prague (6:00), the Soviet government's banning of his satire The Fireman's Ball (12:00), the DGA's role in his avoiding deportation back to the Eastern block (18:00), the "hooks" in many of his films that inspired his directorial approach (23:00), the importance of casting in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (26:00), and creating the musical sequences in Amadeus (41:00).

Director Jeff Nichols discusses his new film, Midnight Special, with Director Jonathan Levine. The film tells the story of a father and his young son who are forced to go on the run after the world learns that the boy possesses mysterious powers.

Director Deniz Gamze Ergüven discusses her new film, Mustang, with Director John Krokidas. The film follows five teenaged Turkish sisters whose lives are changed after an afternoon of innocent beach play with some male classmates is reported as illicit by a neighbor.

Director Tom Hooper discusses his latest film, The Danish Girl, with Director Michael Apted. The film follows Lili Elbe and her journey as a transgender pioneer during the early 20th century.

Jeremy Kagan moderates the 25th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Feature Film Symposium featuring Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Tom McCarthy, Adam McKay, George Miller, and Ridley Scott on their nominated films. Topics for part three include how the nominees staged particularly complicated scenes and discoveries they made during the editorial process.