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IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit

by Chris O'Falt

Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. From screenwriting to film language to cinematography, we'll be examining the innovative ways today's best filmmakers are getting their visions out into the world.

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Episodes

  1. 'You Can See Everything' & 'Primetime' Director Lance Oppenheim

    Lance Oppenheim is a favorite guest on the Filmmaker Toolkit; a director who loves dissecting his process. Lance has two films in theaters that demand this kind of breakdown more than any this year. First, we dig into the Elizabeth Holmes documentary he co-directed with Nathan Fielder, 'You Can…

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  2. 'Fjord' Director Cristian Mungiu

    Director Cristian Mungiu ("4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days") uses his films to challenge audience's morals and sense of justice. In his newest film, the Palme d'Or winning "Fjord," Mungiu follows an immigrant Romanian family targeted by Norwegian child protective services for their conservative…

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  3. 'The Social Reckoning' Director Aaron Sorkin

    The legendary screenwriter returns to the subject that won him an Oscar for "The Social Network," this time in the director's chair. Hear Sorkin explain how he tried to get David Fincher to direct, replacing Jesse Eisenberg with Jeremy Strong's intense transformation into the Facebook founder…

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  4. 'Misty Green' Director Chris Rock

    In his fourth film as writer and director, Chris Rock is coming out as a cinephile. In this conversation with IndieWire's Chris O'Falt, Rock shares his love for independent filmmakers like Alexander Payne and Noah Baumbach, and how he is trying to be taken seriously as a director of personal,...

  5. '48HRS' Director Walter Hill

    In a live edition of Filmmaker Toolkit, writer-director Walter Hill joins IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill at the American Cinematheque for a post-screening discussion of his action-comedy classic “48HRS.” Hill discusses casting Eddie Murphy, designing one of the great long takes of the 1980s, and what…

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  6. 'Heart of the Beast' Director David Ayer

    Through films like "Fury," "End of Watch" and "The Beekeeper" David Ayer has proven himself an auteur of visceral action and male emotion. His newest has him re-teaming with Brad Pitt to show off a side of the star (and himself) that we have not seen on screen before. Hear Ayer share how his time...

  7. 'The History of Concrete' Director John Wilson

    For his feature documentary debut, director John Wilson takes us into (and far, far beyond) the history of a substance that forms the foundation of the modern world. He sat down with IndieWire's Sarah Shachat to discuss the difference in audience interaction from TV to film, file management, the...

  8. 'Hope' Director Na Hong-jin

    After creating one of the biggest waves of any film to ever hit the Cannes Film Festival, Director Na Hong-jin is bringing his genre defying spectacle "Hope" to theaters. IndieWire's Chris O'Falt could not wait to dive into the incredible world building, audacious motion capture CGI, and some of...

  9. 'Silo' Director Michael Dinner

    Director Michael Dinner returns to the podcast to talk with IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill about his work on Apple TV’s “Silo.” Dinner discusses the influence of 1970s conspiracy thriller’s on the show’s visual language, collaborating with showrunner Graham Yost and star Rebecca Ferguson, and much…

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  10. 'The Dog Stars' Director Ridley Scott

    In a wide-ranging conversation, veteran director Ridley Scott returns to the podcast to talk with IndieWire features writer Jim Hemphill about his latest film, “The Dog Stars.” Scott also has stories about “Blade Runner” and “Black Hawk Down,” reveals his very English approach to love stories…

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  11. ‘Tony’ Director Matt Johnson

    Director Matt Johnson is already a hot name this year following the cult success of “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie,” and now his next film “Tony” is attracting early awards buzz. Johnson explained how he took many liberties adapting the early chapters of Anthony Bourdain’s memoir while...

  12. ‘Pluribus’ Creator Vince Gilligan

    After his hit shows ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul,’ creator and showrunner Vince Gilligan is back with the sci-fi thriller ‘Pluribus.’ We sat down with Gilligan at a reflective moment as he and his team were hard at work breaking Season 2. Hear him break down what worked and didn’t in the...

  13. 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma' Director Jane Shoenbrun

    For their third feature, Jane Shoenbrun brings us to the brink of ecstasy with their deeply felt and impeccably crafted exploration of the slasher genre. The director of "I Saw the TV Glow" and "We're All Going to the World's Fair" explains why their new film had to start with a geyser of fake...

  14. 'House of the Dragon' Co-Creator and Showrunner Ryan Condal

    HBO's epic dragon war just wrapped its third season, and series co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal sat down with IndieWire's Sarah Shachat to break down how they pull off multiple features' worth of world-building and action into a season of TV. Hear how they balanced character psychology with...

  15. 'I Want Your Sex' Director Gregg Araki

    Director Gregg Araki joins IndieWire features writer Jim Hemphill to talk about his latest film, “I Want Your Sex.” Araki discusses casting Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman, making sex fun again on screen, and making the most of the shortest schedule he ever had. Learn more about your ad choices....

  16. 'Cape Fear' Creator Nick Antosca

    Writer and producer Nick Antosca joins IndieWire features writer Jim Hemphill to discuss his Apple TV series "Cape Fear," an adaptation of Martin Scorsese's 1991 thriller and the 1962 Robert Mitchum classic that inspired it. Antosca talks about building on the previous versions to create a...

  17. 'The Vampire Lestat' Showrunner Rolin Jones

    For the third season of the gothic horror series, "Interview with the Vampire" got a new name and a new focus on undead rock & roll. The creator and showrunner of all three seasons joins IndieWire craft editor Sarah Shachat to sink their teeth into how they made "The Vampire Lestat" so operatic…

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  18. 'Star City' Creators Ben Nedivi & Matt Wolpert

    The co-creators of this sci-fi alternate history series join IndieWire's Sarah Shachat to dig into 'Star City's connections to 'For All Mankind,' adding spies to the mix, and the many unfortunate ways their story reflects the present day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

  19. 'Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass' Writers David Wain & Ken Marino

    Director David Wain and Star Ken Marino bring their decades of iconic comedy experience ("Wet Hot American Summer," "Role Models") to co-writing their newest hilarious summer romp "Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass." The pair sat down with IndieWire's Chris O'Falt for a chat about their 7...

  20. 'The Invite' Director Olivia Wilde

    Olivia Wilde, the director and star of "The Invite," joins IndieWire's Chris O'Falt for an in depth discussion of her thorny and hilarious relationship drama. Drawing on lessons from her cameo on "The Studio," Wilde and co-stars Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, and Edward Norton embarked on a…

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  21. 'Jackass: Best and Last' Director Jeff Tremaine

    Call it crass, but Jackass has proven to be one of the best made comedy series of its generation. Jeff Tremaine, the director of every single frame of Jackass, sat down with IndieWire's Chris O'Falt to reminisce on how the franchise started and how they stuck around to disgust and delight…

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  22. 'The Death of Robin Hood" Director Michael Sarnoski

    The director of the beloved "Pig" is back for his third feature, the surprisignly brutal and deeply tactile drama "The Death of Robin Hood." Sarnoski talks with IndieWire's Chris O'Falt about defining this version of the folk hero with star Hugh Jackman, the intent behind the film's brutal...

  23. 'Critical Role' Creators Sam Riegel and Travis Willingham

    IndieWire's Sarah Shachat sat down with the creators of one of the oldest and longest running Dungeons and Dragons shows of the current boom. They discuss the wild ride taking 'Critical Role' from a Twitch stream to a podcast and now two animated series based on their campaigns. Learn more about...

  24. "The Chair Company" Director Andrew DeYoung

    Andrew DeYoung returns to the Filmmaker Toolkit Podcast to discuss his new HBO series with Tim Robbins. DeYoung talks frankly about how budget limitations lead to the series' visual creativity, his process with Robbins, and how make an internet rabbit hole interesting on screen. Andrew DeYoung's...

  25. 'The Pitt' Season 2 Creator R. Scott Gemmill

    Get ready for a lesson on how to make good TV. Creator and showrunner R. Scott Gemmill sat down with IndieWire's Sarah Shachat to talk about the Season 2 finale, and how "The Pitt" takes full advantage of what TV can do. Read more coverage of the season finale -...

  26. 'Euphoria' Series Finale with Creator Sam Levinson

    "Euphoria" creator, writer, and director Sam Levinson joins IndieWire features writer Jim Hemphill to discuss the third and final season of his HBO hit. In a wide-ranging conversation, Levinson discusses how he integrates his collaborators' ideas, how his conception of the season changed during…

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  27. 'Hacks' Co-Creator, Director & Executive Producer Lucia Aniello

    Lucia Aniello sat down with IndieWire's Chris O'Falt to discuss the creative evolution of Hacks, balancing comedy with emotional storytelling, and wrapping up one of television’s most celebrated series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  28. "Marshals" Showrunner Spencer Hudnut

    Showrunner Spencer Hudnut joins IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill to talk about the CBS series “Marshals,” a “Yellowstone” spinoff that combines the epic Western sweep of that show with the pleasures of a broadcast procedural. Hudnut discuses walking the line between prestige TV and the procedural world,...

  29. Director Boots Riley on "I Love Boosters"

    The writer and director of “I Love Boosters” sits down with IndieWire’s Craft Editor Sarah Shachat to discuss how music shapes his writing process, bringing ambitious cinematic ideas to life on an indie budget, the rough beauty and tactile emotion of stop-motion animation, and more. Learn more...

  30. 'Lord of the Flies' Writer Jack Thorne & Director Marc Munden

    Writer Jack Thorne and director Marc Munden tell IndieWire about the journey to shoot “Lord of the Flies” in Malaysia, what they learned from the young actors playing boys stranded on an island, and what inspiration the Netflix miniseries took from “Lone Survivor.” Learn more about your ad…

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  31. 'The Comeback" Creators Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King

    Ten years ago, "The Comeback" was one of the first shows to satirize the rise of reality TV. Last Sunday the show aired its final episode, concluding a season that tackles the rise of the next trend promising to change entertainment forever: AI. Creator and star Lisa Kudrow and creator Michael...

  32. 'Nuestra Tierra' Director Lucrecia Martel

    We are fortunate to be joined by one of our favorite working filmmakers this week, the masterful Lucrecia Martel. In her first documentary, Martel tells the story of an indigenous Argentinian community facing colonialist forces in one of the most disturbing true crime stories you'll see this…

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  33. 'Euphoria' Showrunner Sam Levinson & Cinematographer Marcell Rev

    In a rare mid-season Toolkit check in, IndieWire's Chris O'Falt sits down with the creator of Euphoria and series cinematographer Marcell Rev to explore what makes Season 3 such a powerful departure for the show. From the custom film stock to the new approach to visual storytelling, don't miss…

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  34. 'Blue Heron' Director Sophy Romvari

    In her scripted debut, documentarian Sohpy Romvari explores with her memories of growing up with her brother's increasingly dangerous behavior. The way she wrestles with how her family responded, her own memories of that time, and how she processed it all through her masterful use of film form....

  35. "Mother Mary" Director David Lowery

    A favorite guest on the Filmmaker Toolkit, the director of "The Green Knight" and "A Ghost Story" is back with his newest original film. Lowery explains how "Mother Mary" began as a writing exercise and developed into a lurid pop fantasy, and discusses the thrills and challenges of working with...

  36. 'My Undesirable Friends' Director Julia Loktev

    American filmmaker Julia Loktev, born in the Soviet Union, returned to Moscow in 2021 to make a documentary on the persistence of independent journalism in Putin’s Russia, only to find herself documenting its death in real time as Russia invades Ukraine. Julia walked us through how she felt…

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  37. 'Pizza Movie' Directors Brian McElhaney & Nick Kocher (BriTANicK)

    Directors Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher, also known as the comedy duo BriTANicK, join IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill to talk about their new Hulu “Pizza Movie, which elevates lowbrow comedy to high art with its meticulous sense of visual design and structure. McElhaney and Kocher talk about…

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  38. 'Ready or Not 2: Here I Come' Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett

    Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, better known as Radio Silence, join IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill to talk about their new film “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.” A sequel to the 2019 thriller “Ready or Not,” “Ready or Not 2” takes the story in surprising new directions while delivering...

  39. 'The Bride!' Director Maggie Gyllenhaal

    Maggie Gyllenhaal is back on the Filmmaker Toolkit and bigger than ever for her second feature, a reimagining of The Bride of Frankenstein with a blend of genres, 1930s-style musical numbers, and a focused feminine rage. Maggie talked about the world building of her epic, from the harnessing of...

  40. 'Industry' Creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay

    The hit HBO drama "Industry" just dropped its season 4 finale last night, and we have creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay on the Filmmaker's Toolkit to break it all down. They discuss turning the series into a conspiracy thriller this season, incredible moments like Erics walk off and Yasmin's...

  41. 'Sinners' Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw

    For her masterful work on "Sinners," Autumn became only the fourth woman in history to be nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar. She opened up with IndieWire VP Chris O'Falt about the prospect of becoming the first woman to win that award, and how being a woman in the field affected her early...

  42. 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' Showrunner Ira Parker

    The world of 'Game of Thrones' has never felt quite like this before. Showrunner Ira Parker spoke with us about making a half hour comedy that eschews the dragons and royal politics for a smaller character piece with a kinder tone. Ira explained how he evolved the typical 'Game of Thrones' style…

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  43. Baz Luhrmann Found Lost Elvis Footage and Turned It Into a Dreamscape

    Baz Luhrmann sits down with IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill to discuss EPIC: Elvis Presley In Concert. While making his 2022 biopic, Luhrmann uncovered boxes of unseen Elvis footage that inspired a new kind of documentary he describes as a cinematic “dreamscape.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

  44. 'Zootopia 2' Directors Byron Howard & Jared Bush

    A rare treat today on the Filmmaker Toolkit: a deep dive into feature animation directing! Directors Byron and Jared explain how the film was essentially in pre-production, production, and post-production simultaneously across it's 5 year development. They also dug into the ways casting and...

  45. The VFX of 'Avatar Fire & Ash' with Richard Baneham and Eric Saindon

    Visual effects supervisor Baneham and Wētā FX senior effects supervisor Eric Saindon talk to IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit podcast about working on James Cameron's 197-minute epic — that has only seven seconds with no visual effects. Hear which sequences were most challenging to pull off, and…

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  46. 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You' Director Mary Bronstien

    Mary Bronstien's second feature is making waves for Rose Byrne's lead performance, but the filmmaking is equally as impressive and brave. Bronstien had a blast unpacking the expressive camera and sound design, revealed what it's like to direct Conan O'Brien, and digs into her take on therapy in...

  47. 'Sirāt' Director Oliver Laxe

    Sirât is a truly unique experience, a journey not only into desert rave culture but into the desert of our minds and our souls. From the Oscar nominated sound design, to the haunting visuals and non-professional cast, Director Oliver Laxe joined the Filmmaker's Toolkit to open up about the making...

  48. 'Train Dreams' Director Clint Bentley

    IndieWire's Chris O'Falt sat down with the director of the Sundance darling turned Best Picture nominee for an in depth discussion of the film's subtle beauties. From Joel Edgerton's near wordless performance, to the 360 degree all natural light sets and the use of editing to evoke memory, you'll...

  49. 'The Housemaid' Director Paul Feig

    Director Paul Feig discusses his latest film, "The Housemaid," and tells IndieWire about the importance of Hitchcock's tone, musical themes, Taylor Swift, test screenings, why movies are breathing things that go beyond the script, and the joy of repeat viewings in theaters. Learn more about your…

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  50. 'Ponies' Creator Susanna Fogel

    Ponies is a delightful series about two women who become CIA spies during the Cold War. In our very generous conversation, creator Susanna Fogel explores the development of her characters and the show's unique take on designing Moscow, as well as some of the honest trade-offs required to get a...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. From screenwriting to film language to cinematography, we'll be examining the innovative ways today's best filmmakers are getting their visions out into the world.

HOSTED BY

Chris O'Falt

Produced by IndieWire

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit have?

IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit currently has 480 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit about?

Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. From screenwriting to film language to cinematography, we'll be examining the innovative ways today's best filmmakers are getting their visions out into the world.

How often does IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit release new episodes?

IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit publishes regularly with 480 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

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You can listen to IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit?

IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit is created and hosted by Chris O'Falt.
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