The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Director Bong Joon Ho, accompanied by his translator Sharon Choi, discusses his new film, Mickey 17, with fellow Director Ava DuVernay in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how his storyboarding process covered every shot, how he approached having a love story for the first time, and the resonance of the film’s social themes with worldwide audiences.

The film tells the story of Mickey Barnes, an everyman hired by a tyrannical government to work as an “expendable” - a human clone willing to die for one dangerous mission after another. Repeatedly meeting his end for the advancement of space exploration, the 17th Mickey survives a seemingly fatal expedition and comes face to face with a new problem: Mickey 18.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2025/May2025/Mickey17_QnA_0325

Director Josh Ruben discusses his new film, Heart Eyes, with fellow Director Zelda Williams in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses balancing the tone of romantic comedy and horror while not trying to betray them, the behind the scenes of special effects work that went into the kills, and the creation and influences of the killer’s look.

The film follows Ally, a cynical ad executive, and her hopelessly romantic colleague, Jay. After a meeting-turned-date, they accidentally become the next target of “Heart Eyes,” a masked maniac with glowing, red eyes who returns every Valentine's Day to slaughter unsuspecting couples, and must fight for their survival.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2025/April2025/HeartEyes_QnA_0325

In a special Anniversary Series discussion, Director Martin Scorsese discusses his film, After Hours, with Actor Griffin Dunne and fellow Director Raymond De Felitta in a screening at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, Scorsese discusses original concepts for the film’s end, how he aimed to find humor in the film by playing it seriously, and the change in reception as time went on.

The film tells the story of Paul Hackett, an office drone who has a romantic encounter with a girl in a Manhattan café and agrees to visit her Soho apartment. The seemingly simple trip descends into a series of awkward, surreal and life-threatening situations with a colorful cast of characters as Paul spends the rest of the night trying to return uptown.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2025/April2025/ERSP_AnniversarySeries_AfterHours_0325

Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), Sean Baker (Anora), Edward Berger (Conclave), Brady Corbet (The Brutalist) and James Mangold (A Complete Unknown) engage in a conversation with moderator Jeremy Kagan for the 34th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film Symposium.

Please note: spoilers are included.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/en/Events/2025/March2025/MTN_TheatricalFeatureFilm2025

Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), Sean Baker (Anora), Edward Berger (Conclave), Brady Corbet (The Brutalist) and James Mangold (A Complete Unknown) engage in a conversation with moderator Jeremy Kagan for the 34th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film Symposium.

Please note: spoilers are included.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/en/Events/2025/March2025/MTN_TheatricalFeatureFilm2025

Director Drew Hancock discusses his new film, Companion, with fellow Director Rob Savage in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses taking inspiration from grounded dramas instead of modern science fiction, working with Actor Sophie Thatcher to establish the feel of the robot character, and his process of discovering shots with his Actors instead of storyboarding parts of the film.

The film follows Iris and her boyfriend Josh as they go on a weekend getaway to a remote cabin with a group of friends. When it comes to light that Iris is a companion robot, the vacation unravels into chaos as she goes haywire and exacts revenge.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2025/March2025/Companion_QnA_0225

Director Neil Burger discusses his new film, Inheritance, with fellow Director Sarah Pirozek in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses the technical choices surrounding his decision to shoot the film on an iphone, how he achieved a “stolen” aesthetic by getting authentic hidden shots of his Actors in the real world, and how the blocking and compositional decisions of the film emerged from the limitations imposed by the “stolen” aesthetic.

The film tells the story of Maya, who suddenly finds herself at the center of an international conspiracy when she learns that her father was once a spy. In her quest for answers, Maya becomes a target and must travel the globe, mastering her father’s skills and unraveling the mysteries of the past.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/en/Events/2025/March2025/Inheritance_QnA_0225

Director Michael Gracey discusses his new film, Better Man, with fellow Director Jason Reitman in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses his intentions behind using a monkey as the lead to tell Williams’ story, his process for conceptualizing scenes that mix fantasy with reality, and the hurdles and successes behind pulling off the Regent Street musical number.

Narrated by Williams, the film follows the singer from childhood outcast to music sensation, battling the demons of fame while finding his true voice as an artist. Soaring to new heights, Williams reaches stardom but never feels truly evolved from his younger self.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/en/Events/2025/February2025/BetterMan_QnA_0125

Director Gia Coppola discusses her new film, The Last Showgirl, with fellow Director Francis Ford Coppola in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses how she approached Actor Pamela Anderson to take on the lead role, the method she used to have her Actors become familiar with one another, and working with her cinematographer to define a visual style that channels the Las Vegas aesthetic.

The film tells the story of Shelly, a Las Vegas showgirl who’s performed with the same act for much of her career. When she’s told the show will be closing in the coming weeks, she struggles to cope with the impending change and her place in life.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2025/February2025/TheLastShowgirl_QnA_1224

Director Shira Piven discusses her new film, The Performance, with fellow Director Jade Jenise Dixon in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses working with her brother as the lead Actor to capture authentic tap dancing performances, making a period piece movie on an independent film budget and mixing 8mm film and real footage from the era to capture a 1930s Berlin time period.

The film tells the story of Harold, an accomplished tap dancer touring Europe with his troupe in the late 1930s. When they are scouted by a Nazi attache for an exclusive performance, he realizes they don’t know about his Jewish identity and is faced with the dangerous dilemma of performing in secret or staying true to himself.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2025/February2025/ThePerformance_QnA_1224