SEASON 2 - EPISODE 143 - Phil Alden Robinson - Writer / Director

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with writer and director Phil Alden Robinson (THE GOOD FIGHT, THE SUM OF ALL FEARS, FIELD OF DREAMS) about many of his films. Phil was initially interested in politics and journalism, but he eventually made his way to Los Angeles and found his way into a writer’s room based on the strength of a spec script. Phil soon found two of his feature scripts in production, and he reflects on the impact of being treated as badly as possible and as well as possible simultaneously. Later, Phil breaks down how FIELD OF DREAMS came together as a project, and we learn how he overcame an overwhelming sense of stress through the support of his cast and key crew members, including cinematographer John Lindley (Season 1, Episode 34) and production designer Dennis Gassner (Season 1, Episode 131). In addition to his work in features, Phil also directed documentaries for Nightline in a number of war zones, and we discuss the value of living life and taking time off from making movies. We also discuss the ubiquitousness of VFX in cinema today, and Phil shares what he feels to be the real lesson to take away from a film like the original STAR WARS.

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Recommended Viewing: FIELD OF DREAMS, THE SUM OF ALL FEARS

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure & Profoto

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 142 - Michael Shannon - Actor

Actor Michael Shannon (THE BIKERIDERS, GEORGE & TAMMY, MAN OF STEEL) joins us in this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. We worked with Michael on REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, and we had a wonderful time catching up with him. Michael shares how he first stumbled into acting, which early-career play of his took him from a tiny theatre in Chicago to the West End and Off-Broadway, and why the experience of actors coming up today is so unlike his own. We also discuss his longtime collaborative relationship with director Jeff Nichols (Season 1, Episode 28), and we reflect on his penchant for projects concerning the end of the world. We also discuss his work in TAKE SHELTER, and we learn how Michael coped with sleeping in an abandoned building during the shoot. Throughout the conversation, Michael shares his opinions on rehearsing, remaining in character after a long day, and repetitive takes, and after learning Michael just directed his first film, we ask if his perspective as an actor has changed at all.

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Recommended Viewing: TAKE SHELTER

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This episode is sponsored by Profoto & Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 141 - DP & VFX Relationship - with Greig Fraser & Paul Lambert

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, cinematographer Greig Fraser (Season 1, Episodes 29, 57, 63, 69 & Season 2, Episodes 50, 51, 100) and VFX supervisor Paul Lambert (Season 1, Episode 107) return to talk about the modern relationship between the cinematography and visual effects departments. Throughout the episode, we frequently refer to Paul’s and Greig’s collaboration on both DUNE films, and they reveal how they realized several scenes and overcame the endless challenges of shooting the film with the support of one another. They share why they utilized painted backings to assist in set extension over blue screens or LED walls, and we later swap strategies for figuring out how to maintain the illusion of a flying helicopter. Greig also reveals what makes him proud about a particular all-CG shot in DUNE: PART II, and Paul breaks down what an audience really means when they see “bad CGI” in a film. Towards the end, we discuss the merging of animation and live-action filmmaking, and we look ahead to what the future may bring.

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Recommended Viewing: DUNE (2021), DUNE: PART II (2024)

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure & Profoto