Team Deakins is pleased to share our conversation with producer Steve Nicolaides (BOYZ N THE HOOD, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, A FEW GOOD MEN). We discuss the shell game that is building and balancing the budget for a film before and during production, and Steve shares his thoughts on the role of the producer in post-production. At the end of our conversation, Steve leaves us with some wisdom for budding producers and production managers. We hope you enjoy the episode! 

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This episode is sponsored by TrueCut Motion

Team Deakins is pleased to share our conversation with the talented cinematographer Kate McCullough (THE QUIET GIRL, NORMAL PEOPLE, MONSTER). We talk with Kate about how she applies the skills she developed while shooting documentaries onto her narrative projects. We also dive into what she was looking for in locations and her strategies in framing and composition on THE QUIET GIRL. We had such a nice time speaking with Kate, and we hope you enjoy listening to what she has to say just as much!

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This episode is sponsored by TrueCut Motion

Location manager Kokayi Ampah (THE COLOR PURPLE, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, MILLION DOLLAR BABY) reunites with Team Deakins and shares his wisdom gleaned from his long career. Kokayi answers our many questions and details both the creative and logistical day-to-day work that goes into location management. He also shares how he views the role as a function in the greater filmmaking process. Towards the end of our conversation, Kokayi even asks us a couple of questions! There’s a lot to learn from Kokayi, and we hope you enjoy listening to him as much as we did!

Team Deakins chats with the creative cinematographer Chayse Irvin (BLONDE,  BLACKKKLANSMEN, HANNAH) about filmmaking and his career. We discuss the benefits of preparing for a scene and then finding it on the day, and Chayse describes how he brings an audience into his work through his compositions. Chayse speaks on his ongoing collaboration with artist and director Khalil Joseph and the unique and artistically productive environment he creates. Roger and James also dive into Chayse’s work on Andrew Dominik’s BLONDE and the similarly unique challenges he faced when shooting the film. We hope you enjoy the episode!

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Recommended Episode Viewing: BLONDE, HANNAH

Today, we’re happy to share our lively and humorous conversation with director Benjamin Caron (SHARPER, ANDOR, THE CROWN). We discuss Ben’s early TV movie TOMMY COOPER: NOT LIKE THAT, LIKE THIS and the challenges he overcame to make it, as well as a reflection on Tommy Cooper himself. We also dive into Ben’s experience filming SHARPER and finding the right ending for the film. We hope you enjoy the episode! 

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Recommended Episode Viewing: TOMMY COOPER: NOT LIKE THAT, LIKE THIS

Cinematographer Billy Williams, BSC (WOMEN IN LOVE, ON GOLDEN POND, GANDHI) has seen it all, and he’s sharing a generous amount of that with us on today’s episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. Billy reveals what it was like to work with the spirited and thoughtful Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda on ON GOLDEN POND as well as his thoughts on Ben Kingsley’s transformative performance in GANDHI. The advances in digital cameras and the effect on lighting design are discussed, and Billy recounts the difficulties of grading footage of a baby that, over the course of 12 takes of crying, turned purple. We hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

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Recommended Episode Viewing: WOMEN IN LOVE, ON GOLDEN POND, GANDHI

Team Deakins shares our conversation with director Zayne Akyol (ROJEK; GULISTAN, LAND OF ROSES). Having shot two feature-length documentaries in dangerous environments, Zayne reflects with Roger & James on the therapeutic limits of filmmaking and the unique life experiences presented to documentary filmmakers. She speaks on her collaboration with her cinematographers and knowing when and what to shoot, even while soldiers shoot at their drone on its maiden flight over a land on fire. We hope you enjoy the episode!

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Recommended Episode Viewing: ROJEK; GULISTAN, LAND OF ROSES

Whether you’re listening for the first time or reliving the livestream, you’ll hear something new from this conversation between Team Deakins and members of the BVK (The German Society of Cinematographers). The origin of the Team Deakins Podcast is revealed, the balance between the creative and logistical demands of a shoot are discussed, and the pursuit of simplicity in one’s work is considered by both James, Roger, and members of the BVK. Roger further talks about the design of 1917’s shots, the definition of dark in THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD, and sleeping on the floor of an office while in film school. There’s a lot to learn from this episode, and we hope you enjoy listening!

Team Deakins had a great time speaking with the talented gaffer Jim Plannette (YOUNG FRANKENSTIN, E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL, BRAVEHEART).  We talk with him about working on films ranging in size from BRAVEHEART to MAGNOLIA, and he shares numerous stories from his career across a wide variety of films. He also speaks on his productive relationship with director Steven Soderbergh. Jim offers a lot of insight into the work that goes into lighting and how technology has changed the way a scene can be lit. Jim was such a generous guest, and we think you’re going to enjoy the episode!

Team Deakins had a great time speaking with David Dastmalchian (DUNE, ANTMAN, PRISONERS)  and you won’t want to miss this episode! We get to learn his prospective as an actor on many subjects. We learn that he considers himself a “technical actor” being aware of being part of a many faceted collaboration, how he finds his characters and the importance of wardrobe, hair and make up in that process. We also touch on how vital it is to live a “normal life” to have experiences to draw from and put on screen. And he remembers a story from the set of Bladerunner 2049! It’s a wonderful episode that tells us a lot about acting but, thanks to his generous sharing, we learn about an interesting life journey as well! Don’t miss it!

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Recommended Episode Viewing: ANIMALS, ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW