Soul on Fire with Sean McNamara and Dean Alioto (Ep. 584)
Director Sean McNamara discusses his new film, Soul on Fire, with fellow Director Dean Alioto in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses finding a balance in humor throughout the story as a reflection of the real John’s personality, how he works with his Actors and puts emphasis his rehearsal process, and incorporating the real John O’Leary with some creative filmmaking tactics.
The film tells the true story of John O’Leary, who survived a tragic accident as a young boy that left him severely burned all over his body. Recovering from his injury, he goes on to become a motivational speaker and inspire millions of people to make the world a better place.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2025/december2025/soulonfire_qna_1125
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31:54
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31:54
Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost with Ben Stiller and Ethan Hawke (Ep. 583)
Director Ben Stiller discusses his new film, Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost, with fellow Director Ethan Hawke in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses how the project began as a reaction after his father passed, how the title originated from some of his mother’s personal philosophies, and how interviewing his family members and going through archives revealed much about his parents he did not know.
Screened as part of the DGA’s Documentary Series, the film tells the story of comedic duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, exploring their impact both on popular culture and at home. In the process, Ben turns the camera on himself to examine the generational lessons we all can learn from those we love.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2025/december2025/docseries_stillerandmeara-1125
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38:01
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38:01
Jay Kelly with Noah Baumbach and Todd Field (Ep. 582)
Director Noah Baumbach discusses his new film, Jay Kelly, with fellow Director Todd Field in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses finding inspiration in Fellini, Bergman and other self-reflective cinema, the technical process behind filming the flashback sequences, and how he tailored the lead roles to Actors George Clooney and Adam Sandler.
The film tells the story of movie star Jay Kelly and his devoted manager as they take a whirlwind trip through Europe. Along the way, their journey becomes unexpectedly profound as they are forced to confront their choices, relationships, and the legacies they'll leave behind.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2025/december2025/jaykelly_qna_1125
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35:49
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35:49
Hedda with Nia DaCosta and Daniel Scheinert (Ep. 581)
Director Nia DaCosta discusses her new film, Hedda, with fellow Director Daniel Scheinert in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses her philosophies on adaptations and how that played into making this film, the importance of party, drug and gun cultures to the making of this story, and how she visually tied the themes of the film into Hedda’s appearance.
This reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s play Hedda Gabler follows the newlywed daughter of a general as she navigates a house she does not want, a marriage she feels trapped in, and an ex-lover who reappears in her life. Over the course of one charged night, long-repressed desires and hidden tensions erupt—pulling her and everyone around her into a spiral of manipulation, passion, and betrayal.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2025/december2025/hedda-1025
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37:17
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37:17
Peter Hujar’s Day with Ira Sachs and Bette Gordon (Ep. 580)
Director Ira Sachs discusses his new film, Peter Hujar’s Day, with fellow DirectorBette Gordon in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses discovering the story beats from the original 35-page writing, being inventive with blocking for a feature about a sit-down interview, and shooting in a style reminiscent of films of that era.
Based on the book by Linda Rosenkrantz, the film tells the story of a single day in 1974 when Rosenkrantz and groundbreaking queer photographer Peter Hujar engaged in a freewheeling, intimate conversation. Sharing vivid stories of his interactions with literary and cultural icons like William Burroughs, Susan Sontag and Allen Ginsberg, Hujar reflects on the rhythms of everyday life in 1970s New York.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/events/2025/december2025/peterhujarsday_qna_1125
Brought to you by the Directors Guild of America, ”The Director’s Cut” will bring you the behind-the-scenes stories of today’s most talked about films. Each episode features a different director interviewed by one of their peers, leading to revealing conversations about the grueling, but rewarding process of bringing their films to life.
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