x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

We Need to Talk About Oscar

We Need to Talk About Oscar offers in-depth interviews with filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals. Although inspired by titles you expect to be represented at the Oscars, our conversations extend to buzzy indie projects and TV shows, exploring both the technical aspects of filmmaking and the personal stories behind them.

tv & film social sciences

All Episodes

35:10

No rest for the independent, with ‘Gazer’ DP Matheus...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/04/04

In this episode, we sit down with Matheus Bastos, the cinematographer of 'Gazer', to talk about his path, intricately weaving tales of passion, creativity, and the sheer love for cinema that drew him into the world of filmmaking.We delve into the production of 'Gazer', exploring the unique challenges of a project shot over an extended timeline, which allowed for a challenging, yet fluid evolution of the narrative and characters. Matheus tells us about the importance of adaptability, revealing how

en

19:50

'Audrey's Children' director Ami Canaan Mann on the...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/03/28

Our conversation with 'Audrey's Children' director Ami Canaan Mann takes us on a journey that explores not just the film itself, but the essence of storytelling, particularly the responsibility inherent in portraying real lives.The film, rooted in the historical context of 1969, serves as a mirror reflecting contemporary societal issues, especially the subtle sexism that women like Audrey faced in male-dominated fields. Ami walks us through the nuances of her directorial approach while showcasing

en

26:08

Magic in the Mundane: How 'Some Nights I Feel Like...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/03/26

Diving straight into the heart of indie filmmaking, this episode features a captivating conversation with Petersen Vargas, the visionary writer-director of 'Some Nights I Feel Like Walking', and Miguel Odron, the film's breakout star in his debut role. The film, which has taken festivals by storm from Tallinn to Glasgow, explores the intricacies of queer identities within the vibrant yet tumultuous Filipino landscape.Together, they discuss how the film's structure—set in a single night—heightens the

en

26:06

Framing fear, with 'Control Freak' cinematographer...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/03/24

This week on the show, Scott Siracusano, cinematographer of 'Control Freak,' takes us behind the scenes of the nuanced process of bringing a feature film to life, especially one that builds on the eerie undercurrents of its short film predecessor. Scott shares his approach to lighting and camera movement, revealing how he crafted scenes to create an atmosphere of tension and suspense.We also discuss the technical challenges of shooting with mirrors—an innovative choice that not only enhances the

en

25:36

From Paintbrush to Camera: Bebe Dierken's cinematic...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/03/18

Bebe Dierken's journey through the cinematic landscape is a tapestry woven with passion, perseverance, and a dash of serendipity. From her early days as a painter, where the still life of pumpkins nearly sent her to a creative grave, to the bustling film sets where she became a revered cinematographer, Bebe's tale is as vibrant as the frames she captures.In our chat, she shares how she stumbled upon cinematography almost by accident, discovering her love for the craft in a dark room rather than a

en

13:48

We Need to Talk About Emmy #17: Peter Craig adapts...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/03/14

As we dive into the creative universe of Peter Craig, the mastermind behind the gripping series 'Dope Thief', we explore the intricacies of storytelling and character development that make this show a must-watch.Peter shares his passion for writing, revealing that the thrill of crafting a narrative comes from fully immersing himself in his characters' lives. He likens the process to an egoless trance, where the line between himself and his characters blurs, leading to deeply authentic portrayals of

en

23:40

We Need to Talk About SXSW #1: Julia Max summons...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/03/09

Family dynamics can be tricky to manoeuvre, but they’re absolutely worth the struggle! Julia Max's debut feature, 'The Surrender' really highlights this. The horror drama features the amazing Colby Minifie alongside the legendary Kate Burton as a mother-daughter duo, delivering a tough but captivating story for those who can handle it.As we sit down with the incredibly talented pair, Julia and Colby share their experiences in bringing this ambitious project to fruition, the expected yet still

en

18:49

Nothing Short of SXSW #1: Cam Banfield’s directorial...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/03/07

As we kick off our coverage of this year's edition of SXSW, we welcome first-time director Cam Banfield on the show, whose short film 'How Was Your Weekend' premieres in the fest's Narrative Competition. The 9-minute film stars James Morosini stuck in the loop of dreadful Monday mornings, alongside the amazing Rachael Harris.Cam walks us through the early days of the project, the fun and challenges of shooting a Monday over the weekend, and the symphony formed by his two leads and the rest of the

en

19:35

Exploring family and chaos, with 'Riff Raff' director...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/02/28

Dito Montiel, the director of memorable films like 'Boulevard' and 'A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints', joins us for a riveting chat about his newest project, 'Riff Raff'. The film features a star-studded line-up, including Jennifer Coolidge, Ed Harris, Bill Murray, and many more, which only adds to the intrigue of this film that delves into the chaotic yet beautiful world of family dynamics. Montiel’s storytelling is rooted in his personal experiences, particularly the familial bonds he formed in

en

27:25

Brace yourselves for 'Lockjaw'

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/02/21

Slamdance is one of those festivals where the voices of the future become the voices of the present! One of the buzziest titles in this year’s lineup is Sabrina Greco’s directorial debut, ‘Lockjaw,’ starring Blu Hunt as Rayna, the main character wearing braces that are the physical manifestation of the titular situation one and a half months after a DUI.But the physical damage is only what’s on the surface. We embark on dissecting the entire affair with the director and star of the refreshingly

en

19:15

Lured into injustice, with the co-director and...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/02/14

With the final voting for this year's Academy Awards underway, we bring you a short film that's thematically as timely as it gets. 'A Lien' chronicles a far too common and unjust tearing apart of a family in the midst of the father's immigration process.The 15-minute short is directed by brothers David and Sam Cutler-Kreutz, and today we are joined by Sam and cinematographer Andrea Gavazzi to discuss the baffling situation, the personal stories behind it, and the multi-faceted nature of the family's

en

16:45

Jarin Blaschke brings color to the world of 'Nosferatu'

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/02/11

The unsurprising surprise hit of late 2024 - early 2025 was undoubtedly Robert Eggers’ gothic horror retelling of Nosferatu. The familiar story of Count Orlok, portrayed by Bill Skarsgård, is captured from a fresh perspective, through the eyes and nightmarish life of Ellen, played by Lily-Rose Depp. The two are accompanied in their gory ventures by other talented actors, including Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe, Emma Corrin, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.The not only thematically but visually striking

en

19:09

Maria Bakalova reconciles with grief in ‘O Horizon’

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/02/09

Bulgarian actress Maria Bakalova took Hollywood and the world by storm as Tutar in 2020's Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, and her choices ever since have lived up to that. Whether playing a vital role in Halina Reijn and A24's first venture, Bodies Bodies Bodies, voicing Cosmo in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, or just last year playing Ivana Trump alongside Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong in The Apprentice, she also finds time for passion projects like Triumph, her home country's Oscar submission this

en

16:08

‘Magic Hour’ captures actors Miriam Shor and Josh...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/02/06

Festival season is in full swing, and this time, we had the pleasure of speaking with Miriam Shor and Josh Stamberg, the stars of Magic Hour, Jacqueline Christy's directorial debut, which premieres at this year's Santa Barbara International Film Festival.Miriam, who you might know from Younger, and Josh, who starred in Fleishman Is in Trouble and WandaVision, discuss the evolution of their acting careers, the relationships they have built with the characters they've portrayed over the years and

en

15:50

Drew Hancock realizes AI in 'Companion'

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/01/31

We're not used to seeing refreshing, high-quality movies (other than intended OScar palyers) hit theatres in January, or as some like to call it, Dumpuary. Of course, there are always exceptions, like Paddington 1 and 2, Split, or Cloverfield.This January, on the brink of February, writer-director Drew Hancock’s feature debut, Companion, joins that list. The romcom-esque sci-fi thriller, starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid, undeniably brings a fresh perspective to one of the most pressing topics

en

22:12

Vera Drew revisits the early days of 'The People's...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/01/29

As we rapidly approach the 40th Independent Spirit Awards, you'll hear a few conversations with this year's nominees. One of them is comedian, writer, director, and star of her own feature debut: Vera Drew!In our conversation with her, she shares the ups and downs of bringing The People's Joker to life—a film that defies not only genre but all expectations. Beyond that, Vera takes us on a trip down multiverse lane, dissects the character, the very idea of the Joker and all it represents, and much

en

19:45

We Need to Talk About Sundance #3: The unintentional...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/01/27

One of the few things the pandemic couldn’t put a stop to was creativity. Our next guest is a perfect example: first-time director Gala del Sol, who began developing her debut feature during a time of great uncertainty.Gala’s incredibly ambitious Rains Over Babel premieres at Sundance in the NEXT section, offering something fresh and new while working within a familiar story and structure.In our conversation, we discuss the birth and evolution of the film, the importance of our upbringing, and how

en

23:55

We Need to Talk About Sundance #2: The search for ‘LUZ’

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/01/26

Three worlds, three dimensions? Not necessarily... However, director Flora Lau’s interpretation of the search for something both on a physical and spiritual level is exactly what we get to witness in Flora’s second feature LUZ.To up the ante, we haven’t been joined by this many guests before, as this time, in writer-director Flora Lau, producer Yvette Tang, actresses Sandrine Pinna and Huang Lu, and composer Mimi Xu.In our conversation with them, the group reflects on the physical manifestati...

en

55:25

We Need to Talk About Sundance #1: One of a kind 'By...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/01/25

We could write endlessly about why you should look out for Amanda Kramer's By Design, but we’ll let the film’s synopsis speak for itself: “A woman swaps bodies with a chair, and everyone likes her better as a chair.” Honestly, what more do you need to strap in and watch this hour and a half long film starring Juliette Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, and narrated by Melanie Griffith?!Like all films, there are two sides to the story: one behind the camera and one in front of it. We had the incredible op...

en

19:22

Chris Sullivan visits Soderbergh’s Hollywood in...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/01/24

Even though this year’s edition of the Sundance Film Festival has just kicked off, today marks the release of one of the buzziest titles from last year’s festival. We’re talking about none other than one of the two Steven Soderbergh movies to see the light of day (well, actually the silver screen), the technically ingenious, thematically spooky Presence!Our guest today is someone who you might know from TV shows such as This Is Us or The Knick, and films like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. I...

en

122 results

Similar Podcasts

Scoop Viewfinder

Gene Viewfinder

IGN Movie Reviews

IGN

The Adam Friedland Show Podcast

The Adam Friedland Show

BEHIND THE VELVET ROPE

David Yontef

Love Island: The Morning After

Lifted Entertainment part of ITV Studios