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

20:35

Finding the man behind the lyrics, with ‘Blue Moon’...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/12/05

Today, we talk with writer Robert Kaplow about ‘Blue Moon,’ the Richard Linklater film that took decades to bring to the screen.Robert shares how his long-gestating interest in Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers evolved over the years, and how he looks back on the journey now that it’s become the backbone of a Linklater film. We explore what it was like having his first screenplay made into a film and collaborating with the director and Ethan Hawke.We also dig into the challenge of revealing Larry Hart

en

19:47

Shih-Ching Tsou reclaims the devil's hand in...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/11/28

Writer-director Shih-Ching Tsou joins us to discuss 'Left-Handed Girl,' her deeply personal solo directorial debut that premiered at Cannes Critics' Week and has been selected as Taiwan's entry for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards. Shih-Ching reflects on her decades-spanning collaboration with Sean Baker, who co-wrote, produced, and edited the film, and how their creative partnership shaped this intimate family drama.Our conversation explores the remarkable time, patience, and effort

en

27:03

Clint Bentley and Adolpho Veloso on collaborating...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/11/21

Director Clint Bentley and cinematographer Adolpho Veloso join us to discuss 'Train Dreams,' their adaptation of the Denis Johnson novella. The filmmakers reflect on the origins of their collaboration and how their partnership shaped the translation of Johnson's spare, evocative prose into visual storytelling from both a writer-director and cinematographer's perspective.Our conversation explores their thoughtful use of inserts as a narrative device, revealing how these moments expand the film's

en

14:53

From secrets to sequels: Simon Cellan Jones on 'The...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/11/18

Director Simon Cellan Jones joins us to discuss 'The Family Plan 2,' the second installment of what has become a franchise following the 2023 hit. Simon reflects on the fruition of this sequel and the timeline between making the two films, revealing how quickly they moved from the first film's success to developing its follow-up.Our conversation explores how the family dynamics have shifted now that Dan's secret past has been uncovered. With everyone in on the truth, Simon discusses the challenge of

en

22:30

‘There Was, There Was Not’ director Emily Mkrtichian...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/11/14

Director Emily Mkrtichian joins us to discuss 'There Was, There Was Not,' her documentary that began filming in 2016 and evolved in devastating ways no one could have anticipated. Emily opens up about the mythology embedded in the film's title, a traditional Armenian storytelling phrase, and how the story she set out to tell transformed from hopeful beginnings into a chronicle of war and survival as conflict erupted.Our conversation explores how Emily reckoned with this unpredictable evolution,

en

25:59

Seamus McGarvey on reshaping light and vision in 'Die...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/11/11

Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey joins us to discuss 'Die My Love,' his latest collaboration with director Lynne Ramsay. Seamus reflects on their decades-spanning friendship and creative partnership, revealing how Ramsay's unique filmmaking style continually reinvents cinema.Our conversation delves into the technical choices that define the film's aesthetic, particularly the decision to shoot on Ektachrome and employ day for night techniques. Seamus explains how these choices serve the narrative's

en

22:23

We Need to Talk About Emmy #28: Mike Makowsky on the...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/11/07

This time around we are joined by Mike Makowsky, creator of the limited series ‘Death by Lightning,’ about bringing the story of one of America’s lesser known presidents to the screen.Mike shares how he connected with Candice Millard’s book and what it took to get a 4-episode historical series made in the current TV landscape, where IP recognition often drives decisions.We also dig into comedy’s role in serious and tragic moments, and how humor shapes the way we process historical drama.(Photo

en

26:09

Cherien Dabis bears witness across generations in...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/11/04

Writer-director-actress Cherien Dabis joins us to discuss 'All That's Left of You,' a film following a Palestinian family across three generations of conflict. Cherien opens up about evacuating the production from Palestine to Cyprus, Greece, and Jordan just two weeks before filming began due to escalating violence.Our conversation explores how Cherien balanced writing, directing, and acting while managing this unprecedented crisis. She reveals how these interconnected roles informed one another and

en

31:49

John-Michael Powell sculpts violence in 'Violent Ends'

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/10/31

Writer-director John-Michael Powell joins us to discuss 'Violent Ends,' his southern crime thriller hitting theaters on Halloween. Powell opens up about the leap from his micro-budget debut 'The Send-Off' to this significantly larger production, sharing insights into navigating that scale shift.Our conversation explores John-Michael's extensive editing background and how it shaped his approach to directing. He discusses how his editorial experience allows him to move efficiently on set and make

en

24:13

Sailing towards compassion, with the co-directors of...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/10/25

Co-directors Salvatore Scarpa and Max Burgoyne-Moore join us to discuss Largo, their short film about a young Syrian refugee in the U.K. that took nearly five years to develop. The filmmakers open up about the dynamics of their creative partnership, exploring how two voices shaped one vision, and what can be achieved within the constraints and creative possibilities of short film format.We dig into the film’s exploration of displacement and their choice to depict a reversal of migration, examining

en

22:08

We Need to Talk About Emmy #27: Cooper Raiff is a kid...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/10/19

This time around, we talk with Cooper Raiff, the creator, director and star of the limited series ‘Hal & Harper,’ about navigating the indie scene on the TV side.Cooper breaks down one of the show’s central conceits: he and Lili Reinhart playing their characters as kids in certain scenes. We explore what it took to get into that childhood headspace and how those scenes shape the series.We also dig into what it’s like juggling multiple roles on a project, from directing and acting to editing,

en

21:26

‘Anino’ director M.G. Evangelista on genre and identity

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/10/14

Filmmaker M.G. Evangelista joins us to discuss their horror short 'Anino,’ premiering at this year's NewFest. Our conversation explores the integral role of language in shaping their film's narrative and the ongoing search for identity that drives their work. M.G. opens up about their venture into genre filmmaking with this monster story, revealing how horror became a vehicle for exploring deeper personal themes.We also delve into the extensive development journey of their debut feature 'Burning

en

26:03

We Need to Talk About Emmy #26: Mattias Nyberg on the...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/10/10

Cinematographer Mattias Nyberg joins us to discuss his work on episodes 1-3 of 'The Girlfriend,' directed by Robin Wright. Mattias reveals what drew him to the project - the opportunity to collaborate with Wright, whose directorial vision he'd long admired - and how they developed a visual language that serves the story's emotional core.Our conversation explores Mattias's tailored approach to capturing the dual perspectives of Laura and Cherry, deliberately avoiding neutral shots to position viewers

en

43:56

Mercedes Bryce Morgan & Nick Matthews navigate the...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/10/07

Director Mercedes Bryce Morgan and cinematographer Nick Matthews join us to discuss 'Bone Lake,' a film that shifts the typical thriller focus from "whodunit" to exploring why chaos unfolds in the first place.Our conversation explores how Mercedes and Nick crafted a visual experience that subverts audience expectations, blending genres and pushing boundaries. Mercedes discusses the creative evolution that brought this twisted world to life, while Nick reveals his approach to creating imagery that

en

21:55

Alexander Dynan on visualizing sound and time in 'The...

We Need to Talk About Oscar ·

2025/10/03

Cinematographer Alexander Dynan joins us to discuss his work on 'The History of Sound,' tracing his collaboration with director Oliver Hermanus from their previous project 'Mary & George.' Alexander reveals how lessons from episodic filmmaking informed his feature approach, while acknowledging the distinct storytelling demands of each medium.Our conversation explores the film's ambitious temporal scope, spanning decades. From visual strategies for communicating the passage of time - from color

en

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 -

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

136 results

Similar Podcasts

BEHIND THE VELVET ROPE

David Yontef

Nerd Culture - A Gamekings Podcast

Blammo Media

UPodcast

UPodcast

The Writers Hangout

Sandy Adomaitis

The Sarah Fraser Show

Sarah Fraser