We Need to Talk About Oscar

We sit down with cinematographer James Whitaker discuss 'Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die,' Gore Verbinski's sci-fi thriller. James opens up about the challenge of shooting science fiction on a relatively low budget, revealing how constraints pushed the team toward inventive visual solutions that serve the story's themes.
Our conversation delves into how James and Gore merged their respective references to create the film's distinctive look. He discusses the collaborative process of finding a shared visual language that honors both their influences while creating something unique. James also tackles the technical and creative challenge of shooting the film's crucial expositional monologue in an engaging, visually interesting manner, turning what could be static into something dynamic.
We examine how practical and digital effects work together in a film about humanity's fight against AI. James reflects on the irony and intention behind blending these approaches, discussing how the marriage of old-school techniques and modern technology mirrors the film's central conflict. His insights into resourceful filmmaking and thematic visual storytelling offer a compelling look at creating ambitious sci-fi within indie constraints.
(Photo credit: Graham Bartholomew, SMPSP)

Director Corin Hardy joins us to discuss ‘Whistle,’ now in theaters, exploring how he connected to the script and the differences between working with someone else’s screenplay versus directing his own material. Corin reveals how each approach shapes his creative process and the unique challenges and freedoms that come with interpreting another writer's vision.
Our conversation delves into assembling the group of young talented actors for the film, including Dafne Keen, Sophie Nélisse, and Percy Hynes White. Corin discusses the casting process and what he looked for in performers who could carry the film's emotional weight while navigating its horror elements, creating authentic chemistry among the ensemble.
We explore the death whistle as a symbol of bringing something new and fresh to the horror genre. Corin reflects on how this ancient Aztec artifact becomes both a narrative device and a metaphor for his approach to the film, honoring horror traditions while pushing the genre into unexpected territory.
(Photo credit: Michael Gibson)

Director Sook-Yin Lee joins us to discuss ‘Paying for It,’ her adaptation of Chester Brown’s graphic novel about their former relationship. The film represents a unique creative challenge: adapting a graphic novel that was already based on their shared life together.
Sook-Yin reflects on how she came to collaborate with Chester on the project and how the three layers (the lived experience, the graphic novel, and the film) compare and diverge from one another. She walks us through translating the source material into cinematic language and what that process revealed.
We also talk about the many roles Sook-Yin has held throughout her career and how her varied experiences shape her approach to filmmaking and storytelling.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
(Photo credit: Dylan Gamble)

Writer-director Georgia Bernstein joins us to discuss 'Night Nurse,' her feature directorial debut that premiered in the NEXT section at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Georgia traces the birth of the film's idea and how she ventured into the realm of psycho-sexual thrillers while maintaining its foundation in elderly care and caregiving, creating an unsettling blend of intimacy and menace.
Our conversation explores Georgia's long-spanning friendship and collaboration with actress Cemre Paksoy, revealing how their creative partnership shaped the film's central performance. We delve into the opening shot and its crucial role in setting the tone, discussing how those first moments establish the film's psychological terrain and prepare audiences for what's to come.
Georgia also reflects on her relationship with intention and the audience, sharing her approach to balancing control and release as a filmmaker. She discusses the deliberate choices that guide viewers through the film's unsettling narrative while leaving room for their own interpretations and emotional responses.

Director William D. Caballero joins us to discuss ‘They Dream,’ his deeply personal film premiering in the NEXT section at Sundance. Blending documentary with multiple forms of animation, the film explores his family’s story through an intimate collaboration with his mother.
William shares what drew him to build a film from such personal material and the dynamics of working creatively with his mom. The film employs a striking mix of animation techniques including 2D, 3D, miniatures, and rotoscoping, each serving a different purpose in the storytelling.
We discuss why he chose this hybrid approach, how the various visual forms interact with the documentary elements, and the process of transforming family memory into a multi-layered cinematic experience.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​