Team Deakins

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 178 - Fatih Akin - Writer / Director
In this extended episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with writer and director Fatih Akin (AMRUM, IN THE FADE, HEAD-ON). Born in Hamburg, Fatih wrote his first script at 18 during religion lessons, and after selling the screenplay a year later, he's been writing, directing, and producing films ever since. In addition to discussing his process as a filmmaker, we also learn what it's like to make movies within the German system. During our conversation about THE EDGE OF HEAVEN, Fatih reveals the extensive restructuring of the film's story in the edit, and while discussing IN THE FADE, Fatih reflects on the events that led to casting Diane Kruger in the film's lead role. Fatih's latest film, AMRUM, is based on the childhood memories of late director Hark Bohm, and we learn how Hark not only inspired Fatih to make movies in his hometown but also convinced him he was the right person to tell a story about the end of the Third Reich, set on a remote German island. Plus, Fatih reveals the influence of Bruce Lee's films and martial arts philosophy on his work.
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Recommended Viewing: AMRUM, IN THE FADE, THE EDGE OF HEAVEN
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This episode is sponsored by Picture Shop & Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 177 - James Slattery - Colourist
In this extended episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with colourist James Slattery (THE LOST BUS, EMPIRE OF LIGHT, 1917). How does someone become a colourist? What do they really do? What is a CDL? DI? QC? DIT? P3? HDR? James, with whom we've worked with several times, graciously explains what all these acronyms (and more) mean, how a colourist generally goes about their work nowadays on any given project, and what he's able to do to help filmmakers solve problems and help realize their visions in the final stages of post-production. James has experience timing dailies and also applying the finishing grade, and he helps us explain the different responsibilities and expectations of each process. James later helps us provide an overview of the different types of deliverables for a film, and he shares some common mistakes young colorists today should avoid. Though the role of a colourist is technically and creatively demanding, James, throughout our conversation, stresses the importance of being able to work with others as a member of the team.
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This episode is sponsored by Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 176 - Chris Lowe - Production Designer
In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with production designer Chris Lowe (BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE, THE LAST JEDI, IN BRUGES). We worked with Chris on SKYFALL, and we had a great time catching up with him. In addition to production design, Chris has had a long career as an art director, and he helps us understand how the two positions work together on any given project and what each one's responsibilities are. Throughout the episode, Chris also shares his strategies for communicating with directors and producers, creatively adapting to shifting budgets, and delegating duties to members of the art department. We also reflect on why and how the Shanghai skyscraper scene in SKYFALL pivoted from a location to a set, and Chris shares an episode of creative problem solving from THE LAST JEDI involving the Millennium Flacon, Yoda, and a tree. Plus, Chris reveals how he built Bangkok in Prague during the COVID-19 pandemic for THE GRAY MAN.
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This episode is sponsored by Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 175 - Embeth Davidtz - Actor / Director
In this episode, of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with actor and director Embeth Davidtz (DON'T LETS GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT, MAD MEN, SCHINDLER'S LIST). Embeth's directorial debut, DON'T LETS GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT (an adaptation of the book of the same name written by Alexandra Fuller), is one of our favourite films from this past year, and we spend most of our conversation learning how Embeth pulled it off. The film is centered around the experiences of a young white child living in Zimbabwe at the end of the Rhodesian Bush War, and Embeth shares how her own childhood memories of South Africa's Apartheid influenced her telling of the story. Among many topics, we discuss: the film's effective use of voiceover, Embeth's approach to directing the lead child actress, managing a monkey break-in on location, the deceptive allure of the Steadicam, how the movie was financed, and whether or not she considered changing the title. We also reflect on the challenges of navigating a career in the entertainment industry, and we learn what Embeth has planned next.
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Recommended viewing: DON'T LETS GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT
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This episode is sponsored by Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 174 - César Charlone - Cinematographer
In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer César Charlone (PARTIDO, BLINDNESS, CITY OF GOD). Born in Uruguay, César found filmmaking after interrupting his veterinarian studies to hitchhike across Brazil. Throughout our conversation, we discuss César's general approach to cinematography, the degree of work he does in post, the amount of prep he performs before every film, and his long-time professional partnership with director Fernando Meirelles. César also reveals how he first met Fernando and describes how they worked together to create the look of CITY OF GOD and shoot the complex film with young non-actors. We later discuss how much César adjusts the image after capturing it on set, and we reflect on using any technology available to make the best film possible. In addition to his work as a cinematographer, César also co-directed THE POPE'S TOILET, and we discuss how he got involved with the project and the reality that inspired the film's story. César has also directed a film about Uruguay's José Artigas and worked on a documentary following Brazil's current Minister of Finance Fernando Haddad, and we discuss his commitment to documenting the realities of living in South America.
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This episode is sponsored by Aputure