The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Director James L. Brooks discusses his new film, Ella McCay, with fellow Director Albert Brooks in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses his process of casting and how he found Actor Emma Mackey for the lead role, shares how he works with his Cinematographers and Actors, and takes time to reflect on his storied career and history with Albert Brooks. The film tells the story of Ella, a young politician who suddenly becomes the governor of her state after the longtime incumbent accepts a cabinet position with the president. Trying to navigate this new rough and tumble realm of politics, she finds that her fractured family relationships may pose an even bigger challenge. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/ellamccay_qna_1225

Director Hikari discusses her new film, Rental Family, with fellow Director Nicole Holofcener in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses working with Actor Brendan Frasier to capture a character out of their element, working with her Cinematographer to capture the beauty of Japan, and how she wanted to use this film to address the real life loneliness epidemic. The film tells the story of Phillip, an actor struggling to find work and purpose in Tokyo. After discovering a company that hires actors to play a role in real people’s lives, he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds and rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the beauty of human connection. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/rentalfamily_qna_1125

Directors Daniel Junge and Sam Pollard discusses their new film, I Was Born This Way, with fellow Director Jade Jenise Dixon in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they discuss trying to paint an honest, human portrait of Carl Bean, how they manage the collaborative directorial process in their creative partnership, and working with figures such as Lady Gaga, Billy Porter and Maxine Waters to investigate what the titular song means to them. Screened as part of the DGA’s Documentary Series, the film tells the story of Carl Bean, who survived the oppression of racism and homophobia, and found his voice through a mainstream music career. But dissatisfied with his path to stardom, Bean chose a life of activism, founding LGBTQ+ and AIDS relief organizations to help underserved populations. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/docseries_iwasbornthisway-1125

Director Jon M. Chu discusses his new film, Wicked: For Good, with fellow Director Rob Marshall in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses the process of assembling the sequel having filmed both installments at the same time, how he chose to favor great Actor performances over interesting setups when they clashed, and how he strove to make the films relevant to the times. The sequel to 2024’s Wicked resumes the story of Elphaba, the misunderstood Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the popular Good Witch of the North. As their unlikely friendship is tested by the Wizard’s regime, the arrival of a stranger from Kansas sparks a series of events that will change everyone’s lives for good. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/wicked4good_qna_1125

Director Richard Linklater discusses his new film, Nouvelle Vague, with fellow Director Jason Reitman in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses the challenges of making a French film without being fluent in the language, how he recreated the shooting of the original Breathless by researching the documentation left behind by the original production, and the clever and subtle use of visual effects to recreate the film’s time period. The film tells the story of a young Jean-Luc Godard, who gives up writing for a French film magazine to make movies himself. With help from François Truffaut to write a treatment and assistance from Georges de Beauregard to fund the feature, Godard brings to life his vision for a film called Breathless. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/nouvellevague_qna_1125