Tony McNamara and Alena Smith on creating satirical comedies – 'The Great' and 'Dickinson'

In this episode, we’re joined by the creators behind two of the most audaciously funny series of the last year. Tony McNamara is the creator of the Emmy-nominated The Great, a genre-bending, anti-historical ride through 18th-century Russia – following the wildly comedic rise of Catherine the Nothing to Catherine the Great.Tony is joined by Peabody Award-winning Alena Smith, creator of Dickinson – a coming of age story featuring Hailee Steinfeld that takes place during Emily Dickinson's era with a modern sensibility and tone.In this talk recorded at VIFF 2020, Tony and Alena chat with host Noelle Carbone (Executive Producer, Coroner) about crafting comedic language through the ages and why period pieces are no longer just about petticoats and pretentiousness. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.We've taken our VIFF Talks online with a series of virtual events lined up over the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for upcoming events at goviff.orgVIFF is also running an online cinema on VIFF Connect, showcasing a program of compelling films for you to stream from the comfort of your home.  View what's streaming.You can show your love of cinema by making a tax-deductible gift to VIFF. goviff.org/donateThis podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.