SEASON 2 - EPISODE 175 - Embeth Davidtz - Actor / Director

In this episode, of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with actor and director Embeth Davidtz (DON'T LETS GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT, MAD MEN, SCHINDLER'S LIST). Embeth's directorial debut, DON'T LETS GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT (an adaptation of the book of the same name written by Alexandra Fuller), is one of our favourite films from this past year, and we spend most of our conversation learning how Embeth pulled it off. The film is centered around the experiences of a young white child living in Zimbabwe at the end of the Rhodesian Bush War, and Embeth shares how her own childhood memories of South Africa's Apartheid influenced her telling of the story. Among many topics, we discuss: the film's effective use of voiceover, Embeth's approach to directing the lead child actress, managing a monkey break-in on location, the deceptive allure of the Steadicam, how the movie was financed, and whether or not she considered changing the title. We also reflect on the challenges of navigating a career in the entertainment industry, and we learn what Embeth has planned next.

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Recommended viewing: DON'T LETS GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 174 - César Charlone - Cinematographer

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer César Charlone (PARTIDO, BLINDNESS, CITY OF GOD). Born in Uruguay, César found filmmaking after interrupting his veterinarian studies to hitchhike across Brazil. Throughout our conversation, we discuss César's general approach to cinematography, the degree of work he does in post, the amount of prep he performs before every film, and his long-time professional partnership with director Fernando Meirelles. César also reveals how he first met Fernando and describes how they worked together to create the look of CITY OF GOD and shoot the complex film with young non-actors. We later discuss how much César adjusts the image after capturing it on set, and we reflect on using any technology available to make the best film possible. In addition to his work as a cinematographer, César also co-directed THE POPE'S TOILET, and we discuss how he got involved with the project and the reality that inspired the film's story. César has also directed a film about Uruguay's José Artigas and worked on a documentary following Brazil's current Minister of Finance Fernando Haddad, and we discuss his commitment to documenting the realities of living in South America.

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 173 - Kate Winslet - Actor / Director

Actor and director Kate Winslet (GOODBYE JUNE, MARE OF EASTTOWN, HEAVENLY CREATURES) joins us in this extended episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. During our conversation, we discuss Kate's humble beginnings, inheriting an accent, good and bad direction, playing characters based on real people, and her experiences shooting her directorial debut, GOODBYE JUNE. In addition to her long career as an actress and newly begun one as a director, Kate has also recently stepped into the role of producing. We learn why Kate took on the extra challenge, how she balances her duties behind and in front of the camera, and what she looks for in a project to potentially join—in any capacity. While discussing GOODBYE JUNE, we learn how Kate found the script, why she ended up directing the movie, and how she applied a lifetime's worth of experience to create a space for the cast to just be their characters and perform. We worked with Kate on REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, and we had a wonderful time catching up with her.

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Recommended Viewing: GOODBYE JUNE, MARE OF EASTTOWN, HEAVENLY CREATURES

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure