The Filmmakers Podcast

By Giles Alderson

A podcast about how to make film and TV by filmmakers who actually make them. Interviewing guests from the film-making world from Indie film to Hollywood and everything in between. Hosts Giles Alderso... more

4.8

5757 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about The Filmmakers Podcast:

How many episodes does The Filmmakers Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 872 episodes available.

The Filmmakers Podcast episodes:

October 30, 2025Riz Ahmed: The Art of Acting - From Oscar Winner to Relay's Silent Fixer
On this weeks The Filmmakers' Podcast we are joined by the one-of-a-kind Riz Ahmed—Oscar winner, Actor, producer, and activist.
Riz dives deep into his critically acclaimed performance as Ash, the elusive corporate 'fixer' in David Mackenzie’s tense new thriller, Relay. He discusses the unique challenges of playing a protagonist who uses silence and a telecommunications relay service as his only shield.
Inside the Episode with Riz, Giles Alderson and Dom Lenoir:
The Weight of Silence: How Riz communicated paranoia and emotional depth using only micro-expressions and physical action, given his character is deliberately "voiceless."

Art as Disruption: His philosophy on choosing roles that challenge preconceptions, and how the moral complexity of Ash's job—working for and against corporate power—fits his vision for "disruptive" storytelling.

The Actor/Director Connection: We ask how his meticulous craft as and actor to working with David Mackenzie and other directors on the rhythmic, measured performance of a hyper-organized character like Ash.
Don't miss this candid conversation on film, identity, and the price of survival in the age of total surveillance.

Relay is OUT this FRIDAY.

Links
FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.
A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the vegan
lifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take a
moment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review
& every comment helps us share the film’s important message with
more people. Your support makes a difference!
Help us out and Subscribe, listen and review us on iTunes, Spotify,
Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts but more importantly, tell your pals about this podcast. Thank you!

PODCAST MERCH
Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/

COURSES
Want to learn how to finish your film?
Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/

PATREON
Big thank you to:
Serena Gardner
Mark Hammett
Lee Hutchings
Marli J Monroe
Karen Newman
Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!

SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

CREDITS
The Filmmakers Podcast is written and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson
Edited by @tobiasvees
Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative
Theme Music by John J. Harvey

Riz Ahmed, Relay, David Mackenzie, Sound of Metal, Riz MC, actor interview, corporate thriller, anonymity, Oscar winner, acting process, Lily James, The Night Of.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
48min
October 27, 2025 Director DAVID MACKENZIE: From Starred Up to Hell or High Water to his latest movie Relay starring Riz Ahmed & Lily James
What does it take to sustain a film career across vastly different genres? Director David Mackenzie sits down to discuss his evolution, from his early independent Scottish films (Young Adam, Red Road, Perfect Sense) to major studio productions. We focus on his signature style: building intense, character-driven narratives under extreme pressure. David shares insights into the filmmaking behind his new thriller, Relay, including how he captured the paranoia of corporate espionage, the creative freedom of his production company Sigma Films, casting and working with Riz Ahmed and Lily James and the challenges of directing a character who relies entirely on anonymity.
David Mackenzie’s Relay is a tense, modern thriller starring Riz Ahmed as Ash, an elite, off-the-grid 'fixer' who brokers secret payoffs between corrupt corporations and whistleblowers. Ash maintains absolute anonymity by communicating exclusively through a telephone relay service for the deaf, never meeting his clients. The system is threatened when his latest client, scientist Sarah Grant (Lily James), forces him to break his strict rules, pulling him into a dangerous cat-and-mouse game against corporate assassins and risking the exposure of his entire operation.
Relay is OUT this FRIDAY.
David Mackenzie, Relay, filmmaking craft, director interview, genre-bending, Starred Up, character-driven storytelling, Independent film, Sigma Films.

Links
FILM MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION Filmmaking Book - Jonathan Sadler https://www.amazon.co.uk/Film-Marketing-Distribution-Independent-Filmmakers/dp/085730612X
FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.
A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the vegan
lifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take a
moment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review
& every comment helps us share the film’s important message with
more people. Your support makes a difference!
Help us out and Subscribe, listen and review us on iTunes, Spotify,
Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts but more importantly, tell your pals about this podcast. Thank you!

PODCAST MERCH
Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/

COURSES
Want to learn how to finish your film?
Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/

PATREON
Big thank you to:
Serena Gardner
Mark Hammett
Lee Hutchings
Marli J Monroe
Karen Newman
Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!

SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

CREDITS
The Filmmakers Podcast is written and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson
Edited by @tobiasvees
Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative
Theme Music by John J. Harvey

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
41min
October 20, 2025 CHANNING TATUM & KIRSTEN DUNST and director DEREK CIANFRANCE: Talk, Acting, Directing, 'ROOFMAN'
Welcome to The Filmmakers Podcast! We are thrilled to host two phenomenal actors, Channing Tatum (Magic Mike, Foxcatcher) and Kirsten Dunst (Fargo, The Virgin Suicides), to discuss their new film, ROOFMAN (Directed by Derek Cianfrance).
In this exclusive interview, Channing and Kirsten open up to Dom Lenoir about:
The Cianfrance Method: Working with visionary director Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines) and his unique approach to intimacy—including keeping them apart until their first scene, filmed at a Red Lobster.
Star Nerves & Chemistry: Channing Tatum confesses why he was "so intimidated" to work with the Oscar-nominated Kirsten Dunst, and Kirsten shares her sweet reaction, calling him "magic to work with."
The Body of a Dancer, The Face of a Boxer: Channing Tatum details the intense physicality required to play Jeffrey Manchester, squeezing into tight spaces and the emotional challenge of embodying the former Army Ranger.
From Set to Screen: How the bizarre, stranger-than-fiction true crime story was handled with "grace" by the director to explore themes of redemption and human connection.
Roofman tells the bizarre, true story of Jeffrey Manchester, a former soldier turned "polite criminal" who lived hidden inside a Toys “R” Us after escaping prison, where he falls for a single mom (Dunst) and is OUT now in CINEMAS.
Subscribe to The Filmmakers Podcast for more insights on screenwriting, directing, and the best talent in film and TV!
#channingtatum #kirstendunst , #ROOFMAN, #JeffreyManchester, #DerekCianfrance, #TrueCrime, #ToysRUs, #thefilmmakerspodcast #Podcast, #MagicMike, #Foxcatcher, #TheVirginSuicides #Acting

Links
FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.
A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the vegan
lifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take a
moment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review
& every comment helps us share the film’s important message with
more people. Your support makes a difference!
Help us out and Subscribe, listen and review us on iTunes, Spotify,
Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts but more importantly, tell your pals about this podcast. Thank you!

PODCAST MERCH
Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/

COURSES
Want to learn how to finish your film?
Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/

PATREON
Big thank you to:
Serena Gardner
Mark Hammett
Lee Hutchings
Marli J Monroe
Karen Newman
Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!

SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

CREDITS
The Filmmakers Podcast is written and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson
Edited by @tobiasvees
Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative
Theme Music by John J. Harvey

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 11min
October 15, 2025 Jason Clarke, Haley Bennett, Dominic Cooper and showrunner Jon Bokenkamp talk The Last Frontier
Join us for this bumper edition of The Filmmakers Podcast as we chat with the actors and showrunner behind 'The Last Frontier'.

Actors Dominic Cooper, Haley Bennett and Jason Clarke as well as showrunner Jon Bokenkamp chat with Giles Alderson and Dom Lenoir about filming in snowy terrains, Acting choices and name changes and Jon talks about developing, story ideas and showrunning huge TV series.
The Last Frontier is on AppleTV + now.

Links
FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.
A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the vegan
lifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take a
moment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review
& every comment helps us share the film’s important message with
more people. Your support makes a difference!
HELP us out and Subscribe, listen and review us on iTunes, Spotify,
Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts but more importantly, tell your pals about this podcast
PODCAST MERCH
Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/

COURSES
Want to learn how to finish your film?
Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/

PATREON
Big thank you to:
Serena Gardner
Mark Hammett
Lee Hutchings
Marli J Monroe
Karen Newman
Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!

SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

CREDITS
The Filmmakers Podcast is written and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson
Edited by @tobiasvees
Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative
Theme Music by John J. Harvey

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h
October 06, 2025 Making an Micro Budget, Award Wining indie film 'Signs of Life' with minimal crew: Director & writer Joseph Millson
This week we dive deep into indie filmmaking with Joseph Millson and his debut movie as director Signs of Life.
Giles Alderson, Dom Lenoir and Phil Hawkins talk to Joseph about writing his script, awards, directing, inspiration, financing his movie, getting the right people involved, why it worked for him, setting a date, what got him his 20 cinema screening run and distribution deal and what drove him to direct and they have a right laugh as well.
Joseph has acted in films including: The Amateur, River of Blood, Hard Home, War Blade, Fyre Rises, Christmas at Plumhill Manor, Dragonheart: Vengeance, Angel Has Fallen, All the Devil's Men, Tango One, I Give It a Year, Casino Royale and our very own Phil Hawkins' movie Prancer: A Christmas Tale.
Signs of Life is OUT NOW in cinemas and on Digital

Links
FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.
A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the vegan
lifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take a
moment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review
& every comment helps us share the film’s important message with
more people. Your support makes a difference!

PODCAST MERCH
Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/

COURSES
Want to learn how to finish your film?
Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/

PATREON
Big thank you to:
Serena Gardner
Mark Hammett
Lee Hutchings
Marli J Monroe
Karen Newman
Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!

SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

CREDITS
The Filmmakers Podcast is written and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson
Edited by @tobiasvees
Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative
Theme Music by John J. Harvey

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 20min
September 30, 2025 BENNY SAFDIE (Uncut Gems): Directing Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in THE SMASHING MACHINE plus filmmaking tips.
Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems, The Curse) joins this weeks The Filmmakers
Podcast to discuss the challenging process of directing his solo feature
debut, the gritty sports biopic The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne
Johnson as MMA legend Mark Kerr. Fellow filmmakers Giles Alderson and
Dom Lenoir sit with Benny and dive into the Safdie style, his approach
to directing actors and making raw, kinetic cinema.
As one half of the acclaimed Safdie Brothers duo, Benny co-directed,
co-wrote, and edited films that make your heart pound out of your chest.
We’re talking about the incredible, neon-drenched chase thriller "Good
Time," and the anxiety-inducing, chaotic masterpiece "Uncut Gems,"
starring Adam Sandler. These films established a gritty, naturalistic
style, full of propulsive energy, often focusing on outsiders
desperately struggling in the urban landscape of New York.
But he’s not just a master behind the camera! As an actor, he has
completely transformed and disappeared into roles, giving incredible
performances like the troubled Nick Nikas in "Good Time," the
compassionate Joel Wachs in Paul Thomas Anderson’s "Licorice Pizza," and
the brilliant physicist Edward Teller in Christopher Nolan’s
blockbuster, "Oppenheimer." He’s even popped up in TV like "Obi-Wan
Kenobi" and co-created, wrote, directed, and starred in the critically
praised Showtime series, "The Curse."
And now, he’s stepped out as a solo director, writer, and editor with
the highly anticipated film, "The Smashing Machine." This intense
biographical sports drama, which premiered to acclaim at the Venice Film
Festival, stars a completely transformed Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as
pioneering MMA fighter Mark Kerr, alongside the brilliant Emily Blunt
and other great actors. It's a grittier, unflinching look at a champion
struggling with addiction and the pressures of the sport.
He's a true filmmaking polymath who brings a raw, authentic urgency to
everything he touches. It's the brilliant Benny Safdie!
OTHER LINKS

DIRTY BOY cinema listings

FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.
A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the vegan
lifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take a
moment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review
& every comment helps us share the film’s important message with
more people. Your support makes a difference!

PODCAST MERCH
Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/

COURSES
Want to learn how to finish your film?
Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/

PATREON
Big thank you to:
Serena Gardner
Mark Hammett
Lee Hutchings
Marli J Monroe
Karen Newman
Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!

SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

CREDITS
The Filmmakers Podcast is written and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson
Edited by @tobiasvees
Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative
Theme Music by John J. Harvey
For more interviews on filmmaking like this go to
www.thefilmmakerspodcast.com
#Director #creative #BennySafdie, #JoshSafdie, #SafdieBrothers, #directing #interview #thefilmmakerspodcast #filmmakerspodcast, #screenwriting, #editing, #directingstyle, #A24.
#thesmashingmachine , #UncutGems, #GoodTime, #TheCurse, #Oppenheimer, #Licorice Pizza. #DwayneJohnson, #MarkKerr, #MMAmovie, sports biopic, acting vs directing, The Smashing Machine #behindthescenes

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
51min
September 26, 2025 Nicky Bentham & Suhayla El-Bushra on Their Powerful New Film 'Brides' Producing & Screenwriting on Challenging Narratives of Indie Filmmaking.
Welcome back to the latest episode of The Filmmakers Podcast, the show that takes you behind the scenes of making feature films and TV.
This week, we are privileged to host the brilliant creative team behind Brides, an urgent and empathetic feature film that tackles one of the most complex and heartbreaking social issues of our time.
First, we welcome our Oscar-nominated producer, Nicky Bentham. Known for critically acclaimed and diverse films like the sci-fi hit Moon starring Sam Rockwell, the drama The Duke with Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren, and the Oscar-qualified short film The After, Nicky is here to discuss her latest powerful project Brides.
Joining her is the film’s celebrated screenwriter, Suhayla El-Bushra. A renowned playwright and television writer with credits including the TV series Ackley Bridge and a stage adaptation of The Suicide for the National Theatre, Suhayla is the precise and compassionate writer who penned this complex story directed by Nadia Fall.
They are here to discuss Brides, a film inspired by real-life events. It follows two disillusioned teenage best friends, Doe and Muna, as they run away from their troubled lives in the UK, making a perilous journey towards Syria. The film, a thought-provoking road drama that stands for empathy and understanding, exploring the vulnerability and desperation that drives marginalized young women to seek identity and belonging in radical choices. The film challenges dominant narratives, insisting that we look at the choices of young people through a lens of compassion rather than condemnation.
Let's dive into their conversation about this gripping and vital film. This is The Latest Filmmakers Podcast.

OTHER LINKS

DIRTY BOY cinema listings

FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.
A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the vegan
lifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take a
moment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review
& every comment helps us share the film’s important message with
more people. Your support makes a difference!

PODCAST MERCH
Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/

COURSES
Want to learn how to finish your film?
Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/

PATREON
Big thank you to:
Serena Gardner
Mark Hammett
Lee Hutchings
Marli J Monroe
Karen Newman
Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!

SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

CREDITS
The Filmmakers Podcast is written and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson
Edited by @tobiasvees
Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative
Theme Music by John J. Harvey

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
55min
September 17, 2025 Making a feature film for under 250k in 7 days with 'TAPE's Bizhan Tong and Stephen Belber
Join us for this weeks The Filmmakers Podcast as we chat to director and writer Bizhan Tong and screenwriter Stephen Belber to talk about their latest feature film TAPE.

Tape is an adaption of Stephen's written feature (also called TAPE) back in 2001, directed by Richard Linklater.
They chatted with Giles Alderson about how they collaborated and made TAPE, They talked about Regrets, Not forgetting those who helped you along the way. Why you need to ask for favours
Getting the rights to remake a movie, Adapting a Linklater movie and getting his blessing.
Raising finance, Rehearsals, Releationships, Trauma in filmmaking and around it and why it is very important to keep an open mind to ideas on a film set.
TAPE is released on digital this Friday 19th September.
OTHER LINKS

DIRTY BOY cinema listings

FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.
A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the vegan
lifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take a
moment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review
& every comment helps us share the film’s important message with
more people. Your support makes a difference!

PODCAST MERCH
Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/

COURSES
Want to learn how to finish your film?
Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/

PATREON
Big thank you to:
Serena Gardner
Mark Hammett
Lee Hutchings
Marli J Monroe
Karen Newman
Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!

SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

CREDITS
The Filmmakers Podcast is written and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson
Edited by @tobiasvees
Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative
Theme Music by John J. Harvey

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 14min
September 09, 2025 Willem Dafoe & Nadia Latif talk 'The Man in My Basement'
Welcome back to The Latest Filmmakers Podcast, the show that takes you behind the scenes of the most anticipated films with the creative minds who make them.
This week, we're honored to have a pair of brilliant artists to discuss their new psychological thriller, a film that explores the chilling depths of history, identity, and the burden of legacy.
It's a short one but a good one as Dom Lenoir hosts. First, we have an actor whose illustrious career spans decades and genres, from his iconic portrayal of the Green Goblin in Spider-Man to his voice work as Gill in Finding Nemo and his Oscar-nominated roles as Sgt. Elias in Platoon, Max Schreck in Shadow of the Vampire, and Vincent van Gogh in At Eternity's Gate. He is, of course, the legendary Willem Dafoe.
Joining him is a phenomenal talent making her feature film directorial debut. Known for her impactful work in theater and powerful short films like White Girl, she also co-wrote the screenplay for their new movie. Please give a warm welcome to director and writer Nadia Latif.
They are here to discuss their new film, The Man in My Basement, an unnerving adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Walter Mosley. The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, tells the story of a down-on-his-luck man in Sag Harbor who finds his life and his family's hidden history turned upside down by a mysterious tenant.
Let's dive in. This is The Latest Filmmakers Podcast.

OTHER LINKS

DIRTY BOY cinema listings

FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.
A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the vegan
lifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take a
moment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review
& every comment helps us share the film’s important message with
more people. Your support makes a difference!

PODCAST MERCH
Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/

COURSES
Want to learn how to finish your film?
Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/

PATREON
Big thank you to:
Serena Gardner
Mark Hammett
Lee Hutchings
Marli J Monroe
Karen Newman
Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!

SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

CREDITS
The Filmmakers Podcast is written and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson
Edited by @tobiasvees
Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative
Theme Music by John J. Harvey

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
27min
September 01, 2025How to write and direct comedy features with ‘Poor Things’ Writer Tony McNamara & ‘Austin Powers’ Director Jay Roach: 'The Roses'
This week on The Filmmakers Podcast, returning hosts Conor Boru and Francis Annan are joined by writer Tony McNamara and producer/director Jay Roach to discuss their latest feature film The Roses (2025), starring
Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Andy Samberg, to name a few.
Tony McNamara – Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of The Favourite, Poor Things and creator of The Great – is known for his sharp wit, inventive storytelling and fresh take on historical drama.
Jay Roach – acclaimed director of Austin Powers, Meet the Parents, Bombshell and the Emmy-winning Game Change – has built a career spanning studio comedies, political dramas and award-winning television.
In this conversation, they discuss:
the creative messiness of writing

the value of collaboration

choosing the right ideas to pursue

directing comedies

producing your own films

tips and tricks for emerging filmmakers

dealing with pre-production anxiety
… and much more.
THE ROSES is out now!
A tinderbox of competition and resentments underneath the façade of a picture-perfect couple is ignited when the husband's professional dreams come crashing down.

OTHER LINKS
FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.
A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the vegan
lifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take a
moment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review
& every comment helps us share the film’s important message with
more people. Your support makes a difference!

PODCAST MERCH
Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/

COURSES
Want to learn how to finish your film?
Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/

PATREON
Big thank you to:
Serena Gardner
Mark Hammett
Lee Hutchings
Marli J Monroe
Karen Newman
Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!

SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

CREDITS
The Filmmakers Podcast is written and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson
Edited by @tobiasvees
Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative
Theme Music by John J. Harvey

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
45min

FAQs about The Filmmakers Podcast:

How many episodes does The Filmmakers Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 872 episodes available.

More shows like The Filmmakers Podcast

The Business by KCRW

The Business

674 Listeners

Scriptnotes Podcast by John August and Craig Mazin

Scriptnotes Podcast

2,433 Listeners

The No Film School Podcast by No Film School

The No Film School Podcast

425 Listeners

Happy Sad Confused by Josh Horowitz

Happy Sad Confused

1,283 Listeners

The Next Best Picture Podcast by Evergreen Podcasts

The Next Best Picture Podcast

510 Listeners

Front Row by BBC Radio 4

Front Row

127 Listeners

Soundtracking with Edith Bowman by Edith Bowman

Soundtracking with Edith Bowman

156 Listeners

The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast by Directors Guild of America

The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

755 Listeners

IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit by Chris O'Falt

IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit

107 Listeners

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso by Higher Ground

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

1,444 Listeners

The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna by Meg LeFauve & Lorien McKenna

The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna

973 Listeners

Team Deakins by James Ellis Deakins, Roger Deakins

Team Deakins

1,121 Listeners

Script Apart with Al Horner by Script Apart

Script Apart with Al Horner

213 Listeners

MUBI Podcast by MUBI

MUBI Podcast

161 Listeners

Kermode & Mayo’s Take by Sony Music Entertainment

Kermode & Mayo’s Take

338 Listeners