Resource: 10 Essential Director Interviews from 5AM StoryTalk
What can you learn about cinematic storytelling from these intimate, in-depth conversations with masters of their craft? Spoiler: a lot
Since the launch of the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter 2.5 years ago and its podcast earlier this year, I’ve interviewed more than 125 artists. While most of these have been screenwriters, a large number have also been directors. Today, I thought I would curate a collection of twelve of these director chats that I think provide a well-rounded look at the creative inspiration and craft that goes into telling stories for the screen. How did names like Scott Frank (“The Queen’s Gambit”), Chris Weitz (About a Boy), Kelly Fremon Craig (Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret), and Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange) — amongst many others — become the filmmakers they are and what can you learn from their journey and story philosophies?
Spoiler: a lot.
If you have any questions about these chats, drop them in the comments sections. And as always, please remember that it takes a lot of time and effort to bring conversations like these to you and even to curate a seemingly short article like this one. If you’re taking anything from what I’m doing here at 5AM StoryTalk, please consider becoming a paid supporter here or at Apple. If a subscription isn’t for you, you can always “buy me a coffee” to help keep the lights on here.
Thanks - and enjoy!
SCOTT FRANK (The Lookout, “The Queen’s Gambit”, “Dept. Q”)
Q&A: Filmmaker Scott Frank Doesn't Know What Happens Next
Let’s start with the story about how I met filmmaker Scott Frank seventeen years ago. He doesn’t remember this story, but I do.
KELLY FREMON CRAIG (The Edge of Seventeen and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret)
Writer-Director Kelly Fremon Craig Is Searching For Something True
This week on the 5AM StoryTalk Podcast, I'm joined by my friend, filmmaker Kelly Fremon Craig. Back in 2016, she wrote and directed The Edge of Seventeen, which is a brilliant coming-of-age gem; in 2023, she returned with another coming-of-age story, this time a wonderful adaptation of Judy Blume’s classic novel,
SCOTT DERRICKSON (Sinister, Doctor Strange, The Black Phone)
Director Scott Derrickson Isn't Afraid Anymore
This week on the 5AM StoryTalk Podcast, I’m joined by Scott Derrickson – the director of such horror and action blockbusters as The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Sinister, Doctor Strange, The Black Phone, The Gorge, and the recently released (and terrifying)
CHRIS WEITZ (American Pie, About a Boy, A Better Life)
Q&A: Writer-Director Chris Weitz on What He's Learned from Growing Up (and Older) in Film
“Do you think that’s the silent film actor Conrad Veidt, star of The Man Who Laughs, standing next to your grandfather in the photo?”
BRIAN DUFFIELD (Spontaneous and No One Will Save You)
Q&A: Filmmaker Brian Duffield Needs More Weird in His Life
In Hollywood, screenwriters are often told they need a great story to sell themselves during general meetings. Diablo Cody was an ex-stripper, for example, which stuck in so many people’s minds, whole articles were written on the subject. Mine was that I had made up both my name and resume, claiming I was a successful journalist, and somehow managed to become a successful journalist in the process since nobody ever cared to check my credentials.
SOPHIE HYDE (52 Tuesdays, Animals, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande)
Director Sophie Hyde Wants To Make It Hard For Herself
This week on the 5AM StoryTalk Podcast, you’re in for a treat — I'm joined by Sophie Hyde, one of my favorite contemporary Australian filmmakers. In addition to the numerous documentaries, short films, and TV series she’s helped bring to screens as a director, co-creator, and/or producer, she’s also directed such feature films as
THE CAIRNES BROTHERS (100 Bloody Acres, Scare Campaign, Late Night With the Devil)
Q&A: The Cairnes Brothers Know What Makes a Great Horror Film
This week on the 5AM StoryTalk Podcast, I'm joined by Colin and Cameron Cairnes — otherwise known as the Cairnes Brothers — the Australian writer-directors of the fantastic horror films 100 Bloody Acres, Scare Campaign, and, most recently, Late Night with the Devil
NICHOLAS STOLLER (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Neighbors, “Platonic”)
Q&A: Filmmaker Nicholas Stoller Thrives on Conflict
Tina Fey, Judd Apatow, Adam McKay. These are just some of the filmmakers and/or TV creators whose work you immediately think of when you the subject of U.S. comedy titans of the 21st century comes up. You know, when that comes up in conversation in your life. If it ever does. Okay, it probably doesn’t. But
KAY CANNON (Blockers and Cinderella)
Q&A: Writer-Director Kay Cannon Can Do Anything (So Back Off, World!)
Kay Cannon set out to make people laugh onstage doing improv and sketch, but when Tina Fey asked her to join the writers’ room of “30 Rock” back in 2006, she did what any sane actor would do - she said, “Are you kidding me, Tina? Absofuckinglutely!” Okay, I don’t know if those were her exact words, I didn’t ask. But let’s go with it all the same. Nearly twenty years later, Kay has racked up an epic amount of TV experience (including
JOHN LEE HANCOCK (The Blind Side, Saving Mr. Banks, The Little Things)
Writer-Director John Lee Hancock Refuses to Be Pinned Down
John Lee Hancock is a filmmaker who’s impossible to explain, to define, to pin down - which, after having a lengthy conversation with him, I would say is just how he likes it. The reasons for this are largely threefold: he’s a writer who sometimes directs his own work, a director who sometimes directs other people’s work, and a filmmaker who’s largely averse to interrogating his own creative motivations. In other words, this was a challenging interview for me, but somehow, by the end, more gratifying for it.
NICHOLAS MEYER (Time After Time, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, “The Day After”)
Q&A with Nicholas Meyer: The Filmmaker and Author Discusses His Life and Legacy
I don’t remember when I became aware that Nicholas Meyer existed, but I was very conscious of his work long before I knew his actual name. My gateway drug into his decades-long oeuvre that spans film, television, and books both fiction and non-fiction was, as it has been for many,
LIZ W. GARCIA (The Lifeguard, One Hundred Percent More Humid, Space Cadet)
Q&A: Writer-Director Liz W. Garcia Found God on the Big Screen
The first time I met Liz W. Garcia was in Los Angeles for a kids’ playdate, but she quickly revealed she wasn’t long for the city. She was imminently transplanting her family to Brooklyn, which made her the first Hollywood type I’d ever met to decide L.A. wasn’t for them and get the hell out. Liz, as I would soon learn, didn’t do things quite like everyone else in the business - which has made her something of an inspiration to me over the years. When my wife and I began to discuss leaving L.A. ourselves, her name came up often. “Liz did it, why can’t we?” But more than just geographically brave, she had also ventured into writing and directing her own films in the independent space. She hadn’t used indies to break into the Hollywood film/TV business like most people I knew. She used the Hollywood film/TV business to break into indie filmmaking. In an industry that encourages and rewards constantly going bigger, Liz seemed determined to do the opposite - and she’s found great success doing it.