Variety Studio: Directors on Directors

Variety Studio: Directors on Directors

PBS SoCal and Variety take you inside the biggest movies and T.V. shows of the past year through candid conversations with today's hottest actors. Hosted by Variety Film Awards Editor Clayton Davis and Variety Chief Correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister, each episode brings together pairs of directors engaging in intimate one-on-one discussions about their craft and work.

Seasons

Judd Apatow Talks to Jason Bateman About Being the ‘Anti-David Fincher’

1. Judd Apatow Talks to Jason Bateman About Being the ‘Anti-David Fincher’

Air Date: 2021-03-03

Judd Apatow partners with long-time comedic actor Jason Bateman in Variety's "Directors on Directors" conversation series. The duo broke down their entire process from the page to the edit bay, providing a look behind Apatow's "The King of Staten Island" and Netflix's "Ozark" which Bateman both directs and stars in.

Regina King & Melina Matsoukas Pave the Way for Black female Filmmakers

2. Regina King & Melina Matsoukas Pave the Way for Black female Filmmakers

Air Date: 2021-03-04

In conversation for Variety’s “Directors on Directors” series, Regina King and “Queen and Slim” director Melina Matsoukas share how their make-it-work attitudes have paid dividends as they crafted their feature directorial debuts. King and Matsoukas belong to a special order of visual storytellers: Black women taking charge behind the scenes and working to make a way for those to come after them.

Ben Affleck Interviews David Fincher On His Work Ethic, Legacy And ‘Mank’

3. Ben Affleck Interviews David Fincher On His Work Ethic, Legacy And ‘Mank’

Air Date: 2021-03-05

For once, Ben Affleck gets to ask the questions. That’s how the actor-director framed his duty of leading a conversation with longtime friend and “Gone Girl” boss David Fincher, the esteemed director whose Netflix film “Mank” has emerged as a top awards contender for 2021.

Emerald Fennell & Olivia Wilde Have an Ant-Assholes Policy

4. Emerald Fennell & Olivia Wilde Have an Ant-Assholes Policy

Air Date: 2021-03-06

Known for choosing stories that subvert the feminine, "Booksmart" director Olivia Wilde and "Promising Young Woman" director Emerald Fennell launch into a deep discussion about filmmaking on Variety‘s “Directors on Directors.” Wilde and Fennell discuss the deeply rooted love stories of female friendships, learning to trust their instincts and banning assholes from their sets.

Oliver Stone & Spike Lee

5. Oliver Stone & Spike Lee

Air Date: 2021-03-07

Spike Lee’s “Da 5 Bloods” captured a critical point of view lost from film. After decades of producing blockbuster war stories and award-winning battle scene epics, the story of the Black Vietnam veteran has been largely neglected by Hollywood. Before “Da 5 Bloods” was a Spike Lee joint, however, it was titled “The Last Tour” and Oliver Stone was attached to direct.

James Cameron & Denis Villeneuve on ‘Avatar’, ‘Dune’, and Pioneering CGI

1. James Cameron & Denis Villeneuve on ‘Avatar’, ‘Dune’, and Pioneering CGI

Air Date: 2021-12-15

Guillermo Del Toro & Jane Campion on Netflix and Directing Genre

2. Guillermo Del Toro & Jane Campion on Netflix and Directing Genre

Air Date: 2021-12-15

Ridley Scott and Bradley Cooper on Lady Gaga, Adam Driver and ‘Bladerunner’

3. Ridley Scott and Bradley Cooper on Lady Gaga, Adam Driver and ‘Bladerunner’

Air Date: 2021-12-16

Spike Lee & Reinaldo Marcus Green on ‘King Richard’ and Will Smith

4. Spike Lee & Reinaldo Marcus Green on ‘King Richard’ and Will Smith

Air Date: 2021-12-17

Adam McKay & Joe Wright talk improv in ‘Don’t Look Up’ and Cyrano’s Nose

5. Adam McKay & Joe Wright talk improv in ‘Don’t Look Up’ and Cyrano’s Nose

Air Date: 2021-12-20

Taylor Swift & Martin McDonagh

1. Taylor Swift & Martin McDonagh

Air Date: 2022-12-12

James Cameron & Robert Rodriguez

2. James Cameron & Robert Rodriguez

Air Date: 2022-12-14

Ryan Coogler & Gine Prince-Bythewood

3. Ryan Coogler & Gine Prince-Bythewood

Air Date: 2022-12-15

Sarah Polley & Francis Ford Coppola

4. Sarah Polley & Francis Ford Coppola

Air Date: 2022-12-16

Tyler Perry & Chinonye Chukwu

5. Tyler Perry & Chinonye Chukwu

Air Date: 2022-12-19

Rian Johnson & Joseph Kosinski

6. Rian Johnson & Joseph Kosinski

Air Date: 2022-12-20

Ben Affleck & Michael B Jordan

1. Ben Affleck & Michael B Jordan

Air Date: 2023-12-13

Bradley Cooper & Spike Lee

2. Bradley Cooper & Spike Lee

Air Date: 2023-12-14

Greta Gerwig & James Cameron

3. Greta Gerwig & James Cameron

Air Date: 2023-12-15

Ari Aster & Yorgos Lanthimos

4. Ari Aster & Yorgos Lanthimos

Air Date: 2023-12-18

Ava DuVerany & Michael Mann

5. Ava DuVerany & Michael Mann

Air Date: 2023-12-19

Denis Villeneuve & Luca Guadagnino

1. Denis Villeneuve & Luca Guadagnino

Air Date: 2024-12-16

Denis Villeneuve ("Dune: Part Two") and Luca Guadagnino ("Challengers" & "Queer") sit down to discuss the crossover of working with Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet, the portrayal of intimacy on-screen, and just how much these two icons have influenced one another.

Jon M. Chu & Shawn Levy

2. Jon M. Chu & Shawn Levy

Air Date: 2024-12-17

Jon M. Chu ("Wicked") and Shawn Levy ("Deadpool & Wolverine") sit down to discuss a shared love for musicals, the challenges of working on films based on beloved franchises, and how their paths unknowingly crossed in the 90's.

Matt Reeves & Zoë Kravitz

3. Matt Reeves & Zoë Kravitz

Air Date: 2024-12-18

Zoë Kravitz ("Blink Twice") and Matt Reeves reunite after working together on "The Batman." They discuss how Zoë's directorial debut came about from the "rage" she was feeling towards men in power and how directing movies feels like making magic.

Sean Baker & Brady Corbet

4. Sean Baker & Brady Corbet

Air Date: 2024-12-19

In the ultimate film nerd conversation, Sean Baker ("Anora") and Brady Corbet ("The Brutalist") discuss how hard it is for young directors to break into the industry these days, why run-time shouldn't be a concern of distributors, how Sean casts for his films by walking up to people in public, their respective experiences meeting Lars von Trier, and Brady shooting on Vistavision.

Pedro Almodóvar & Halina Reijn

5. Pedro Almodóvar & Halina Reijn

Air Date: 2024-12-20

Pedro Almodóvar ("The Room Next Door") and Halina Reijn ("Babygirl") talk about working with legendary actors Antonio Banderas, Nicole Kidman, Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore.

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Rating

0.0/10

Release Date

2021-03-03

Episodes

26 (5 seasons)

Status

Returning Series

Cast