Team Deakins

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 214 Maryann Brandon - Editor
In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with editor Maryann Brandon (THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, THE FORCE AWAKENS, ALIAS). Maryann was recruited by NYU to enter its film program, and after graduating alongside classmates such as Spike Lee, Ang Lee, and Ernest Dickerson (Season 2, Episode 58), she found work on Bob Rafelson's BLACK WIDOW. Throughout the episode, we discuss Maryann's approach to editing, how she manages the workload on large Hollywood franchise films such as STAR WARS and STAR TREK, and her longtime working relationship with director J.J. Abrams. We learn how they first met and how she balanced editing the series ALIAS while occasionally directing the 2nd unit, and she reveals why she decided to commit to editing full time. Maryann edited the first HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON film, which we also consulted on, and we compare how different working in animation is to live action. Maryann later reflects on the reception to PASSENGERS, and we discuss her opinion on focus groups and test screenings. Plus, Maryann shares her advice for younger editors.
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This episode is sponsored by Aputure & BenQ

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 213 Adam Bricker - Cinematographer
In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer Adam Bricker (HACKS, CHEF'S TABLE, AMERICAN VANDAL). After being hosted by Adam at several Q&A's around Los Angeles, we turn the tables on him, and we ask him about his own career, learning about his journey from Chicago to Los Angeles and the many hours he put in cold-calling filmmakers on Craigslist to pitch himself as a cinematographer. We also discuss the value of having an agent as a DP, and Adam reflects on the privilege of having been able to work in Los Angeles during an extended city-wide downturn in production shoot days. Adam was also the sole cinematographer across five seasons and nearly 50 episodes on HACKS, a comedy series on HBO MAX, and he reveals how he and the other filmmakers approached shooting the show, from location scouting and prepping to grabbing the footage on the day. Adam also reflects on nailing the final shot of the series, and he shares how he endeavored to imbue a single-camera sensibility into the multi-cam show. Plus, we discuss Adam's relationship with light meters.
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Recommended Viewing: HACKS
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This episode is sponsored by BenQ & Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 212 MOTHER MARY - with David Lowery
In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, director David Lowery (Season 2, Episode 60) returns to discuss his latest film, MOTHER MARY, now available to stream at home. Throughout the episode, we discuss the making of the movie, and topics include: the origin of the two lead characters, shooting the dialogue-heavy script, the evolution of the concert footage, and filming the bulk of the movie in 2023 and the remainder in 2024. We learn how the "ghost" was visualized and captured practically, where the supernatural elements of the movie came from, how actress Anne Hathaway prepared for her character's elaborate dance choreography, and why the film was shot in Germany even though it's set in England. David also shares how the process of developing MOTHER MARY differed and mirrored the development of his other films. In addition to learning how David filmed the movie, we also discuss how much work was done in post, and David reveals the level of invisible VFX work in the final cut. Plus, David shares some information about his next project.
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Recommended Viewing: MOTHER MARY
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This episode is sponsored by Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 211 Eddie Marsan - Actor
In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with actor Eddie Marsan (NO ORDINARY HEIST, BACK TO BLACK, RAY DONOVAN). During our conversation, we discuss Eddie's youth in East London, being discovered by casting in a club at 18, his disciplined approach to his craft, working with a range of directors including Mike Leigh (Season 1, Episode 76), Edgar Wright (Season 2, Episode 169), and Steven Spielberg, playing a countless number of supporting roles, and the shortcomings of filmmakers who fail to give working and lower class characters volition, autonomy, and humanity. Eddie also reflects on acting as "evil" characters, and we discuss the qualities of several of them from throughout his career. Towards the end of the episode, we ask Eddie how younger generations of actors are different compared to the ones who came before, and he encourages young actors to not wait for the system to change and create space for the roles they want to play. Plus, Eddie reveals the type of character he'd love to play but has yet to.
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This episode is sponsored by Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 210 Ron Howard - Director
In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with director Ron Howard (AVEDON, APOLLO 13, A BEAUTIFUL MIND). Ron has worked professionally in film and television since the age of 4, and he reflects on his life and career throughout the episode, from chewing fake glass with Yul Brenner as a child actor to directing a wide variety of features and documentaries for almost 50 years. A graduate of the Roger Corman movie factory, Ron reveals what he learned about leadership and collaboration while directing GRAND THEFT AUTO, his directorial debut, under Roger's guidance, and we discuss whether any modern equivalent exists for filmmakers today as a proving ground. Ron also shares how he pushed himself early on to always be creating, and we discuss the creation of several of his films and what he aims for in every movie he makes. We later ask what draws him to a potential project, and we discuss his foray into directing documentaries and how it differs from shooting fiction. We worked with Ron on A BEAUTIFUL MIND, and we had a wonderful time catching up with him.
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This episode is sponsored by Aputure ⁠