Next up on We Need to Talk About Oscar, with A Quiet Place: Day One hitting VOD, we are thrilled to welcome Michael Sarnoski, the director behind the movie. You might also know his debut feature from three years ago, Pig starring Nicholas Cage. In this captivating episode, Áron had the opportunity to talk with Michael about his journey from indie filmmaking to the world of a studio blockbuster. Michael shares his views about the challenges and exciting opportunities that come with joining a major franchise and working with larger budgets. Furthermore, of course Frodo the cat sparks an amusing discussion about the joys and trials of having animals on set, at the end of which our host even pitches a fun idea for Michael’s next project.

We really hope you watched Hulu’s Under the Bridge (if not, honestly, what are you doing?!), cause this time we have the absolute pleasure of welcoming actress Vritika Gupta (0:37), who plays Reena Virk, and director Kevin Phillips (19:23), who directed episodes 2 and 8, to the show.
In their conversation, Áron and our two fantastic guests cover topics like career decisions, the challenges of playing and directing teenagers and their flaws, or the responsibility and weight of telling Reena’s story.

It's been about a week since the series (or season?) finale of Julio Torres' Fantasmas aired. Whether or not there will be a follow-up to these six episodes, we have another spooky treat for you: our chat with the show's production designer, Tommaso Ortino!
In this episode Tommaso and Áron go down the rabbit hole of building sets on a stage, blending the projections with the physical (previously discussed in our interview with cinematographer Sam Levy), and he even gives a small update on Todd Solondz's Love Child.

The release of a new project is always special, and if the release of two of your projects is within two weeks, it is, well, one, really special, and two, your name might be Pat Scola!
As a part of this interview, Pat tells Áron about the past, present, and future of his collaboration with director Michael Sarnoski, shooting on another scale for A Quiet Place: Day One, constructing a true indie in the form of the prison drama Sing Sing, his experience on the set of Alex Russell’s directorial debut, Lurker (currently in production), and preparing for The Death of Robin Hood, starring Jodie Comer and Hugh Jackman.

In this episode, Áron sits down with Sam Levy, the cinematographer behind the surrealist comedy series, Fantasmas. Created, directed, and written by the multi-talented Julio Torres, who also stars in it.
Fantasmas takes viewers on an extraordinary journey as Torres searches for a golden oyster earring, meeting a number of eccentric characters along the way.
As a part of the conversation, Sam delves into his collaboration with Julio Torres, offering an insider’s perspective on the creative process behind this visually stunning series. He also reveals some sources of inspiration and how they shot the entire series on stage rather than on location, the critical role of color in the series, and more.

Next up on the show, Áron’s joined by Kristi Zea, a production designer whose work we’re sure you’ve come across over the years!
Kristi’s previous projects include Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas or The Departed, Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs or Philadelphia, and Sam Mendes’ Revolutionary Road. Her latest is Christy Hall’s feature directorial debut, Daddio.
The themes covered in this episode include the difficulties and advantages of shooting on a stage, a production designer's collaboration with the director and the cinematographer, plus the thought-provoking relationship between directing style and career decisions.

This time on the show, Áron speaks with Florian Hoffmeister, the cinematographer of “True Detective: The Night Country”, the fourth season of the beloved HBO anthology series.
Florian shared his experiences on the technical and logistical challenges of shooting in the extreme conditions of Iceland. From the complexities of filming both indoors on stages, and outdoors in the low-light conditions, to the special lighting techniques required, as well as the safety measures necessary for working in the cold environment.
He also highlighted his deep involvement in crafting the series' mood and look, achieved through extensive experimentation before shooting started.

In our next episode, Áron interviews four key contributors behind the film “Jazzy”: Andrew Hajek (DoP & co-writer), Morrisa Maltz (Director & co-writer), Lainey Bearkiller Shangreaux (Actress & co-writer), and Vanara Taing (Co-editor & co-writer).
“Jazzy” explores the transition from childhood to young adulthood. When her best friend moves away, Jazzy navigates a profound sense of loss and her first taste of independence.
In this conversation, the team discusses the birth and inspiration behind the movie, the film's emotional core, its portrayal of beauty and optimism during tough times, and the unique challenges or rewards of working with child actors. The discussion also touches on current trends in cinema and the creative process of finding the sweet spot for the runtime.
Join us for a spoiler-free deep dive into the making of Jazzy, Morrisa Maltz's sophomore feature, premiering at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.