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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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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...

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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...

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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...

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28:00

Ed Lachman and a cinematographer’s spatial awareness

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/01/20

As far as the art of cinematography goes, few are as accomplished or, dare I say, as revered as Edward Lachman. A frequent collaborator with Todd Haynes and a former partner to Paul Schrader and Steven Soderbergh, Ed has left an indelible mark on the craft.Today, we’re discussing Maria, the Angelina Jolie-led drama that marks Ed’s second collaboration with Chilean auteur Pablo Larraín following El Conde. The film, centered on the infamous opera singer’s final days, came with its share of chal...

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16:00

'September 5' director Tim Fehlbaum on the weight of...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/01/16

It’s one thing to make a film about tragic historical events, but it’s another to depict them gracefully and objectively. This is exactly what director Tim Fehlbaum, his crew, and the stellar ensemble of Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, and Leonie Benesch set out to do in the movie September 5.During our sit-down with Tim, he shared what led him to his third feature, his connection to the 1972 Munich events, his approach to directing this incredibly talented cast, and the complexiti...

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23:39

Shea Whigham breaks out of character

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/01/09

Very few actors possess the level of versatility and underappreciation as Shea Whigham. From starring in indie gems like Wristcutters: A Love Story and Take Shelter to blockbuster franchises such as Mission: Impossible and acclaimed TV shows like Boardwalk Empire, Shea’s range is undeniable.Last June marked the Tribeca premiere of his team-up with Carrie Coon for Jeffrey Reiner’s crime dramedy Lake George, where Shea plays Don, a white-collar ex-convict who forms an unlikely alliance with Phy...

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25:21

How ‘The Brutalist’ cinematographer Lol Crawley moved...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/01/07

You probably know by now that we wouldn’t even risk not talking about the unexpected yet glorious return of VistaVision, with none other than The Brutalist cinematographer Lol Crawley!Brady Corbet’s third feature’s been the talk of the town ever since it’s buzzy Venice premiere and Silver Lion win.Lol tells us not only about his approach to photographing buildings, but what makes his collaboration with Brady go, and we even try to define the undefinable: beauty.(Photo: Courtesy of A24)

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48:08

How DoP Jomo Fray’s camera joined the act in ‘Nickel...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/01/02

Our coverage of one of 2024's most masterfully crafted films wouldn’t be complete without the mind responsible for executing its extraordinary visual language. So, with that, we present our breakdown of Nickel Boys, featuring cinematographer Jomo Fray.Among other things, Jomo tells us about how he is choosing projects, the evolution of the film’s unique look and the creative process behind it, as well as the subsequently obvious, yet unexpected challenges the team faced along the way.

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17:45

Rina Yang fights the battle of perception in ‘The...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2024/12/30

2024's final episode features cinematographer Rina Yang, who joins us to discuss her work on The Fire Inside, the debut feature from cinematographer-turned-director Rachel Morrison.In our chat, we dig into the challenges of capturing the inspiring yet painfully real story of boxer Claressa Shields, from adapting to the Flint, Michigan setting to incorporating different lighting techniques into the story and production.Rina also shares insights on avoiding sport biopic clichés, creating an aut...

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45:59

The brutal art of indie filmmaking with Tyler Nilson...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2024/12/25

The Peanut Butter Falcon, you remember that one, right? Well, the directing duo of Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson are back with Los Frikis! And what’s more punk than staying in the world of indies instead of chasing a big studio deal?In our in-depth conversation with the two, we dive into the creative decisions behind their follow-up to their debut feature, their choice to take a universal story to early ‘90s Cuba, and the ever-evolving (but not always for the better) landscape of independ...

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34:03

Exploring emotions through the lens of...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2024/12/20

We don't talk enough about the cinematography of documentaries. But we should. And this time, we did.Daughters premiered in January at Sundance and was released on Netflix in August. The film, co-directed by Natalie Rae and Angela Patton, centers on and follows four young girls preparing for a special Daddy-Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers. This event is part of a unique fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C. jail. For most of these girls, the dance is their only opportunity t...

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23:20

We Need to Talk About Emmy #16: The cinematography of...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2024/12/18

The series adaptation of Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude has captivated audiences for a week now in its highly anticipated series adaptation. While a story of this scale requires time to fully absorb, we’ve got a little “nudge” to help you dive deeper: our interview with the TV show’s cinematographers, Maria Sarasvati Herrera and Paulo Perez.In this conversation, they take us behind the scenes, sharing not only the journey of bringing the show to life but also their per...

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32:00

Inside the Control Room of 'September 5'

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2024/12/16

To start the week strong, we sit down with cinematographer Markus Förderer and production designer Julian M. Wagner to discuss their work on Tim Fehlbaum’s September 5.The duo shares their initial reactions to the script, how they approached the sensitive subject of the Munich massacre, and the extensive research that went into their technical and material decisions, in order to ensure that the gravity of the event is honored with precision.

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38:00

Directing and portraying the cross-generational...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2024/12/13

After its world premiere in late August at the Telluride Film Festival, the adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s 2019 novel, Nickel Boys has taken festivals, awards season, and audiences by storm over the past few months.We had the opportunity to sit down with writer-director RaMell Ross after a screening and Q&A of the film at the Camerimage Festival, where it played as part of the Directors’ Debut Competition. Then, a week before RaMell’s masterpiece (yes, you read that right) releases in a...

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21:24

Co-writer Clint Bentley on exploring the reality of...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2024/12/06

Our coverage of Sing Sing is far from over! Why would it be? Awards season has just begun!This week, we’re joined by the film’s co-writer and producer, Clint Bentley. After his feature directorial debut, Jockey, Clint passed the director’s chair to his longtime collaborator, Greg Kwedar.In our conversation with Clint, we explored his and Greg’s working relationship, its dynamics, the delicacy and profound impact of Sing Sing, and the many ways art can help us heal and survive.

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14:50

Rodrigo Prieto takes the stand in the director’s chair

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2024/11/29

After lensing one of last year’s most unexpected yet remarkable double-feature pairings - Barbie and Killers of the Flower Moon - Rodrigo Prieto, widely regarded as one of his generation’s finest cinematographers, brings us his feature directorial debut, Pedro Páramo.This time around on the show, we had the privilege of sitting down with Rodrigo at Camerimage, the world’s No1 festival dedicated to the art of cinematography. During our conversation, we talk about the experience of adapting one...

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129 results

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