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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

20:57

Building bridges in Brooklyn, with ‘All God’s...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/09/27

This week, we sit down with director Ondi Timoner to talk about her documentary ‘All God’s Children,’ which follows the partnership between Congregation Beth Elohim and Antioch Baptist Church in Brooklyn.Ondi walks us through how the project began with her sister’s activism and the challenges of filming within sacred spaces while balancing her roles as both filmmaker and family member. We explore the messy realities of the partnership - including moments that threatened to fracture the alliance -

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15:47

Policing Your Feelings: Carmen Emmi on the emotional...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/09/20

This week, writer-director Carmen Emmi takes us through his creative process for ‘Plainclothes,’ where he threw technical perfection out the window to focus on raw, heartfelt storytelling.Carmen shares his journey from cinematographer to director, and how he navigated the transition from worrying about flawless shots to weaving a personal story that resonates with queer audiences. We talk about the film’s festival run, including stops at Sundance and Frameline, and the meaningful connections he’s

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18:55

The soundscape of the supernatural, with 'Rabbit...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/09/17

Writer-director Bryn Chainey joins us to discuss 'Rabbit Trap,' his haunting exploration of how supernatural folklore mirrors our deepest human experiences. Bryn reveals his unique approach to using nature and the otherworldly as tools for confronting inner truths, tracing his thematic evolution from early work like 'Moritz and the Woodwose' to this latest feature.Our conversation centers on Bryn's innovative integration of sound and visuals, where he treats audio not as an afterthought but as the

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20:45

Shaking up the future, with 'Happyend'...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/09/15

This week, we talk with cinematographer Bill Kirstein about his work on ‘Happyend,’ which premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year.Bill shares stories from his childhood, and how that rebellious spirit carries into his approach to filmmaking. We explore what draws him to projects where directors have bold visions that challenge conventional execution.Our conversation digs into the artistic choices behind Happyend, a near-future story about friendship set against impending disaster. Bill walks

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31:25

Anu Valia on the many layers of 'We Strangers’

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/09/12

This week, we sit down with writer-director Anu Valia to talk about her feature debut ‘We Strangers,’ which premiered at SXSW 2024.Anu walks us through the journey from festival premiere to theatrical release, and how her relationship with the film has evolved along the way. We dig into the story of Ray, a woman navigating spaces where she feels like an outsider, and explore how Anu wove themes of identity, class, and belonging into her character’s journey.Coming from directing episodes of

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16:18

Director Oliver Hermanus on how music shapes the...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/09/10

Director Oliver Hermanus joins us to discuss 'The History of Sound,' drawing from his South African background to explore how cinema can foster empathy across divides. Oliver reflects on his commitment to creating narratives that invite audiences into unfamiliar perspectives, shaped by experiences in a country where marginalized voices were systematically silenced.Our conversation explores his collaboration with Ben Shattuck, who adapted his own short story despite having no screenwriting

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24:09

We Need to Talk About Emmy #25: Alex Disenhof on the...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/09/08

Cinematographer Alex Disenhof joins us to discuss his work on HBO's limited series 'Task,' revealing the dramatic shift from the fantastical landscapes of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' to the gritty streets of Philadelphia. Alex opens up about his creative philosophy—that every project demands genuine emotional investment, and without that personal connection to the script, he simply cannot deliver his best work.Our conversation explores the nuanced art of genre transition, as Alex

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18:52

Yeo Siew Hua wants you to see through ‘Stranger Eyes’

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/08/29

Yeo Siew Hua joins us to discuss 'Stranger Eyes,' the thriller that made history as the first Singaporean film ever to compete for the Golden Lion at Venice International Film Festival. A year after this landmark achievement, he reflects on creating a deeply culturally rooted story that resonates internationally, exploring how surveillance paranoia transcends geographical boundaries while remaining authentically Singaporean.Our conversation delves into Siew Hua's distinctive approach to day and

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15:14

Improv Magic: How Sam Davis and Co redefined short...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/08/22

Academy Award nominated filmmaker Sam Davis joins us to discuss 'The Singers,' his genre-bending adaptation of Turgenev's 19th-century tale that transforms a lowly pub into a stage for unexpected human connection. Working exclusively with first-time actors discovered on TikTok and YouTube, he reveals how embracing spontaneity led to moments of pure cinematic magic—including a bathroom performance that became one of the film's most powerful scenes.Our conversation explores Sam's commitment to

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19:25

We Need to Talk About Emmy #24: Christophe Nuyens on...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/08/17

Cinematographer Christophe Nuyens joins us to discuss his work on 'Andor' Season 2, where he partnered with director Ariel Kleiman to expand the show's established visual language. Treating each episode block as a standalone film, Christophe reveals his character-driven approach to framing—finding angles that immerse audiences in the emotional weight of rebellion rather than relying on spectacle alone.Our conversation touches on his international filmmaking experience and how working across Belgium,

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17:56

We Need to Talk About Emmy #23: Ante Cheng takes us...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/08/14

How do you visually transport audiences across three decades while maintaining narrative cohesion? Ante Cheng, whose breathtaking cinematography on 'Pachinko' Season 2 earned him an Emmy nomination, joins us to unravel this complex creative puzzle. Fresh off his recognition for the season's opening chapter, Ante discusses the ambitious leap from an already celebrated first season and the artistic freedom that showrunner Soo Hugh and new directors afforded him.Beyond the technical mastery, Ante opens

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21:39

We Need to Talk About Emmy #22: Kalina Ivanov’s...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/08/11

Production designer Kalina Ivanov takes us inside the visual world of HBO's 'The Penguin,' revealing how she adapted Matt Reeves' Gotham for television. From the surprising discovery that Penguin's iconic Maserati is actually purple to the intentional color storytelling that contrasts Oz's pastel childhood memories with his dark present reality.We discuss her collaboration with cinematographer Darren Tiernan in creating Gotham as a living character, the technical challenges of transitioning from

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25:00

Visual storytelling and cultural roots: James J....

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/08/07

Filmmaker James J. Robinson joins us to discuss his debut feature 'First Light,' which premieres at the Melbourne International Film Festival. Robinson opens up about his Filipino-Australian identity and how reconnecting with his roots shaped this deeply personal project, exploring themes of cultural heritage, belonging, and authentic representation.We dive into James' transition from still photography to filmmaking, his philosophy of creating breathing room in visual storytelling, and the ethical

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21:43

Sibling Synergy: Ramon Zürcher takes us inside the...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/08/01

Filmmaker Ramon Zürcher joins us to discuss 'The Sparrow in the Chimney,' the final installment in his trilogy with twin brother Silvan that explores family dynamics through a seemingly simple birthday gathering. We dive into how the brothers navigate their creative partnership—sometimes co-directing, other times working solo—while maintaining their unique collaborative relationship.Ramon walks us through the film's exploration of two very different sisters, Karen and Jule, whose contrasting

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19:25

Interpreting the Unfamiliar, with 'Familiar Touch'...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/06/27

Writer-director Sarah Friedland joins us to discuss 'Familiar Touch,' her debut feature that follows Ruth, an octogenarian woman navigating memory and desire as she transitions into assisted living.We explore how the film reclaims the coming-of-age genre for older characters, with Sarah describing it as a "coming-of-old-age" story that emphasizes how Ruth remains herself even as her world transforms. From the lengthy development process to working with Kathleen Chalfant in the lead role, Sarah

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21:12

Fawzia Mirza transforms personal truth into 'The...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/06/20

This week, we're joined by Fawzia Mirza, the writer-director behind 'The Queen of My Dreams', a deeply personal film that has garnered multiple award nominations since its TIFF premiere.Fawzia opens up about her artistic evolution from acting to filmmaking, revealing how creating this story became essential for processing her identity as a queer Muslim woman. Her journey into directing wasn't just creative ambition—it was about carving out space for narratives that mainstream cinema consistently

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19:49

From free flights to creative freedom: The trio...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/06/13

Fresh off their Tribeca premiere, we are joined by the creative team behind 'The Travel Companion' - Alex Mallis, Travis Wood and Wes Auburn. Their latest project brilliantly captures the messy reality of creative ambition through Simon, a struggling documentarian whose desperation for free flights becomes a mirror for every filmmaker's hustle. But this isn't your typical "artist suffers for art" story.In our conversation, Alex, Travis, and Wes pull back the curtain on their collaborative process,

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20:18

Back in the Driver’s Seat with Sarah Adler, star of...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/06/12

Sarah Adler joins us to discuss her return to the character of Aya in ‘Dead Language’, the feature-length adaptation of the Oscar-nominated short film ‘Aya’.In our conversation, Sarah reflects on revisiting a role after more than a decade, exploring how both she and the character have evolved since the original 2012 short. She shares insights into working again with directors Mihal Brezis and Oded Binnun, who made the decision to have her reprise the role despite the time gap—a choice that

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19:06

Flying High: The Journey of 'Kites' and its director...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/06/11

Walter Thompson-Hernandez joins us to discuss his film ‘Kites’, which premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. In our conversation, Walter reflects on the five and a half year journey that brought ‘Kites’ to life, describing how the project evolved organically rather than following a traditional scripted approach. Working without a strict script, Walter embraced a fluid storytelling method that allowed characters to shape their own narratives—a technique that mirrored the dynamic nature of

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19:02

Cabin Fever: Nora Kirkpatrick on exploring...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/06/10

Nora Kirkpatrick has burst onto the scene with her debut feature 'A Tree Fell in the Woods', and she joins us for a delightful deep dive into her creative process. With a cast that reads like a who's who of talent—Alexandra Daddario, Daveed Diggs, Josh Gad, and Ashley Park—Kirkpatrick explores her desire to present multiple perspectives on a singular event, ensuring no character becomes the "bad guy".Nora reflects on the painstaking yet exhilarating journey of bringing her vision to life, comparing

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121 results

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