Indiewire's Filmmaker Toolkit

Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs, two of the three co-creators of "Hacks" and two of its writers and directors, talk to IndieWire about giving Ava and Deborah an antagonistic relationship like never before in Season 4. The pair discuss how their team has continued to evolve the filmmaking language of the show and set new challenges for themselves — namely, a Late Night show for Deborah — while still bringing a half-hour Max comedy in on time. Watch full episodes of the Filmmaker Toolkit on YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_oEavFHbDlFCGlOmGO71Tvzb1qEHofCg&si=9pUCNArDCxcyrX2b Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Filmmaker Toolkit sat down with the director of one of the most exciting, entertaining, and truthful pieces of cinematic non-fiction we've seen in a long while. The three part HBO docu-drama follows the succession battle that occurs when the 86 year old leader of an enormous Renascence Faire decides to step down as king. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Emmy winning creator of 'Succession' is back on the Filmmaker Toolkit to discuss his feature directorial debut. Jesse was an erudite guest, exploring his writing process and how he approached some of the same themes of wealth and power as his previous work in new ways. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we welcome a true bucket list guest to the podcast, the incomparable Wes Anderson. Wes's new film draws inspiration from art history, bombastic historical figures, and his father in law. He talks us through these influences, and how watching old movies with his daughter has affected his film diet, and in turn his filmmaking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The steady hand behind the last four Mission: Impossible films is back on the Filmmaker Toolkit, but this Mission brings a different tone than before. Partly due to the attempt to tie the entire nearly three decade old series into the story, but also to allow enough budget and time to execute the two most impressive and dangerous sequences we've yet seen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The incredibly thoughtful Craig Mazin returns to the podcast to break down the narrativelyl complex second season of the hit HBO series. With favorite characters leaving, morally murky new ones to introduce, and constantly shifting perspectives Craig had his hands full guiding the audience through this part of the video game adaptation. Listen to learn what went into every big decision this season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actor Seth Rogen leads the new Apple TV+ show 'The Studio,' co-writing, co-directing, and creating the series with his long time collaborator Evan Goldberg. The team breaks down the impeccable craft and meticulous satire of this hit comedy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of our regular guests is back on the Filmmaker Toolkit, and is pushing the bounds of cinema yet again. For his newest film, Trey partnered with The Weekend to make a film surrounding his final album under that stage name. But this is not your typical, sanitized musician produced film. Trey had complete control to probe the dark parts of The Weekend's life and career, and the film builds a dark mythology around his last album and his greatest hits. Listen to Trey unpack a film unlike any you've seen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The creator, showrunner, and lead writer of 'Ando'r joining IndieWire's Chris O'Falt to break down the entire final season of his amazing series. 'Andor' remains some of the best world building we have ever seen on screen, and Tony explained how his decades of researching rebellions inspired his team to take Star Wars to a new level of political and cultural relevance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the key minds behind the hit series 'Adolescence' sat down with Sarah Shachat of IndieWire to break down the show's complex emotions and technical genius. Graham dives deep into the casting process for each character, and walks us through the elaborate dance they did with the camera crew for each 'oner' filmed episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The Righteous Gemstones” creator Danny McBride joins IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill to talk about the final season of his hit HBO comedy about a dysfunctional family of televangelists. McBride discusses balancing comedy and emotion, casting Bradley Cooper in the offbeat season premier, and much more in this wide-ranging conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Directing 'April' put director Dea Kulumbegashvili and her team into hot water with the Gerogian Government. Dea joined IndieWire's Chris O'Falt to talk through the ways she tackled controversial topics like abortion in her film, and how catching parts of 'First Blood' on TV during rare electricity surges hooked her on cinema. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cassian Andor himself sat down with IndieWire's Sarah Schachat to break down what goes into making the most detailed Star Wars project yet. Diego opens up about his role keeping the vision on track as an actor/producer, and how the structure of Andor's production allows for so much detail. Watch this entire conversation on IndieWire's Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPSFHS75XyM&ab_channel=IndieWire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Cronenberg' is one of our greatest living filmmakers, and not just because he made so many classic films in the 70s and 80s. His recent work is frighteningly modern, grappling with phones and AI and how they intersect with the body. Listen to hear Cronenberg break down how this film was inspired by losing his wife, and what the film taught him about grief. You can watch this conversation on IndieWire's Youtube page: https://youtu.be/oWRY3tCX17Y Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the success of Black Panther and Creed, some in the industry wondered why Ryan Coogler's next film, his first completely original story, was a vampire movie. But once you hear how Coogler infused the film with the blues, Mississippi folklore, and his own family history, you will understand why 'Sinners' is far more than just a vampire story. You can watch this conversation on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_oEavFHbDlFCGlOmGO71Tvzb1qEHofCg&si=9pUCNArDCxcyrX2b Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Director Christopher Landon joins IndieWire features writer Jim Hemphill to talk about his latest film, “Drop.” A thriller set almost entirely in one location, relying heavily on cell phones, “Drop” created a number of logistical and aesthetic challenges for Landon, all of which he breaks down in this conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill is joined by veteran television director Bethany Rooney, who talks about a career that began on “St. Elsewhere” in the 1980s and continues to the present day on shows like “Tracker” and “Criminal Minds.” Rooney takes the listener through the nuts and bolts of every facet of TV directing, explaining the similarities between TV and features and the very real differences. Watch full director interviews on our Toolkit YouTube playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_oEavFHbDlFCGlOmGO71Tvzb1qEHofCg&si=w5vAKxoVhhhSZLwT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're debuting a new series on the Toolkit feed; a look into some of the challenges and opportunities facing independent filmmakers in 2025. First up, we sit down with veteran producer Alex Saks, to dig into why even our most successful independent filmmakers are struggling to make a living right now. If directors like Sean Baker and Brady Corbet can work with the best indie studios, get great reviews, win awards, and STILL can't make rent, what does that mean for indie filmmaking as a whole? Watch the entire interview here: https://youtu.be/KTMP36_o-sk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This impressive indie film documents the groundbreaking work of physician and co-founder of Ronald McDonald House Charities, Dr. Audrey Evans. Director Ami Canaan Mann joins IndieWire's Sarah Shachat to discuss illuminating this incredible woman's life, and share how she made such a handsome looking feature on a truly indie budget (it involves an abandoned hospital!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The Actor” director Duke Johnson stops by Toolkit to talk with IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill about making his live-action feature debut after making a name for himself in the world of stop-motion animation. Topics include the challenges of adaptation, why he cast actors in multiple roles, and how he made the most of a budget and schedule that fell far short of his ambitions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices