What Scares Hollywood’s Top Producers the Most About the State of Movies
In this live CinemaCon episode, legendary producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Emma Thomas discuss the new Filmmakers Council aimed at protecting theatrical exhibition, the fallout from compressed release windows, and the looming Warner‑Paramount merger. They stress that strong, well‑budgeted movies and clear window agreements are essential for theater health, and they debate whether industry‑wide marketing campaigns could boost audience attendance. Both highlight the importance of collaboration with studios, streaming platforms, and emerging players like Apple to ensure films get the theatrical treatment they deserve.
Jason Blum Built a Hit-Making Movie Machine. Does It Still Work?
In this episode, Peter Kafka talks with Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions about the evolution of his low‑budget horror model in an era where theater attendance is declining. Blum explains his original formula—tiny budgets, profit‑sharing with talent, and a high‑volume...
Riz Ahmed on Bringing 'Hamlet' Into the Modern World
In this episode of The Business, Riz Ahmed discusses his upcoming modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which reimagines the Danish royal family as a wealthy South Asian clan in contemporary Britain. He reflects on how his own outsider experience and...
Jon Favreau on the Future of Star Wars, AI, and New Filmmaking Technology
In this episode, host Matt Bellany chats with director Jon Favreau at CinemaCon about the transition of "The Mandalorian" from a streaming hit to a theatrical Star Wars film, the blend of practical sets and cutting‑edge tech like the Volume and...
Drew Goddard Shoots for the Stars with ‘Project Hail Mary’
Screenwriter Drew Goddard discusses his career trajectory—from early TV work on Buffy, Alias, and Lost to high‑stakes film projects like Cloverfield, World War Z, and his latest adaptation of Andy Weir’s *Project Hail Mary*. He explains how fast‑paced TV training helped...
The ‘Lorne’ Director on Two Years of Exclusive ‘SNL’ Access
In this episode of The Town, Oscar‑winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville discusses his new film Lorne, which offers unprecedented two‑year access to Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels and the inner workings of the show. Neville reveals how the documentary...
The A-List Filmmakers Evangelizing Movie Theaters
The episode previews CinemaCon and focuses on Cinema United’s new Filmmaker Council, led by Jerry Bruckheimer and Emma Thomas, with members like Ryan Coogler, Brad Bird, Jason Reitman, and Celine Song. CEO Michael O'Leary explains the council’s role in championing...
'My Undesirable Friends' Director Julia Loktev
In this episode of the Filmmaker Toolkit Podcast, host Chris Ofaltov talks with director Julia Loktev about her five‑hour documentary series *My Undesirable Friends* (Part 1: Last Air in Moscow). The film follows independent journalists in Moscow as they are labeled...
285: Did the "Project Hail Mary" Film Stick the Landing? | Ft. Dr. Danny Jaques
In this episode of Casual Space, host Beth Mund and guest Dr. Danny Jaques dissect the film adaptation of Andy Weir’s *Project Hail Mary*, comparing it to the novel. They explore how the protagonist Ryland Grace’s internal doubts and scientific...
Oscar Winners Victory Lap: Autumn Durald Arkapaw & Joachim Trier
In this episode of The Business, Kim Masters and Matt Bellany discuss the post‑Oscars landscape, highlighting recent winners Joachim Trier and Autumn Durald‑Arkapaw. Trier explains how his reputation now lets him cast stars like Al Fanning without a script, while Durald‑Arkapaw,...
Are Movies Actually Getting Longer? We Found Out.
In this episode of The Town, hosts Matt Bellany and Craig explore whether movies are actually getting longer, referencing research by Stephen Follows that shows the overall average runtime has stayed around 102 minutes, but wide-release films (those grossing over...
Proud 'Mary' Eats 'Forbidden Fruits'
In this episode of the Box Office Podcast, host Scott Mendelson and his panel of younger film analysts dissect recent box‑office results, from the sci‑fi hit Project Hail Mary to the modest‑budget indie Forbidden Fruits. The conversation weaves through deep...
'Pizza Movie' Directors Brian McElhaney & Nick Kocher (BriTANicK)
In this episode of IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit, Jim Hemphill chats with comedy duo Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher about their feature directorial debut, Hulu's Pizza Movie. The filmmakers trace the concept’s 20‑year evolution from a college‑room sketch to a full‑blown, Lord‑of‑the‑Rings‑style...
Why Hollywood Needs Books More Than Ever
In this episode of The Town, UTA media‑rights partner Jason Richman explains why Hollywood is turning to books like never before, noting that studios now see popular titles as the safest path to theatrical audiences amid a post‑superhero landscape. He...
JOHN HILLCOAT - Director
In this episode of the Team Deacons Podcast, director John Hillcoat shares his unconventional path from a childhood steeped in 1960s media turbulence to a career spanning animation, music videos, and feature films like *The Proposition* and *The Road*. He...