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Team Deakins: Daily Summaries Delivered
by James Ellis Deakins, Roger Deakins
The Team Deakins podcast is an ongoing conversation between acclaimed cinematographer Roger Deakins and James Deakins, his collaborator, about cinematography, the film business and whatever other questions are submitted. We start with a specific question and end....who knows where! We are joined by guests periodically.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 2 days ago1h 17m
DREW KUNIN - Production Sound Mixer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 196 Drew Kunin - Production Sound Mixer In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with production sound mixer Drew Kunin (DISCLOSURE DAY; HER; CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON). Throughout the episode, Drew helps us understand how a production sound mixer might do his or her job in a number of different circumstances, drawing on experiences ranging from building a recording booth on wheels for HER to mixing CROUCHING TIGER phonetically using a pinyin script. Drew also describes the type of equipment he might use in certain situations, and he reflects on the changes in technology and in technique he's witnessed since he started his career. He later shares his approach to mixing tracks on set, and we discuss how his mixes can influence what happens in post. Drew also recounts his experience of being one of two Americans on the crew of CROUCHING TIGER in China, and he gives us a quick demonstration on the difference between Mandarin and Cantonese. We worked with Drew on THE GOLDFINCH and THE SECRET GARDEN, and we had a great time catching up with him. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
- 1 weeks ago1h 5m
JAFAR PANAHI - Director
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 195 Jafar Panahi - Director In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with director Jafar Panahi (IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT, NO BEARS, THE WHITE BALLOON). Growing up amidst poverty in Tehran, Jafar's love for cinema began in childhood and led him to enroll in the film program at university. Unsatisfied with his final student film, he destroyed it, but he reveals to us why and shares how his approach to directing every subsequent film changed for the better. Throughout the episode, we discuss how he actually makes his movies—both as a filmmaker and as a citizen contesting with censorship and an authoritarian government. We discuss the making of THE WHITE BALLOON and THE CIRCLE, and Jafar shares how he attempts to make the events in his films feel as if they really happened. We also learn how and why he brings in non-actors during the casting process, and he reveals how he and his crew try to avoid government raids. We also discuss the making of IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT, which features a return to a more traditional form of storytelling compared with Jafar's preceding films, and he reflects on his period of making films while being banned from filmmaking. Translation conducted by Sheida Dayani. This conversation was recorded on February 12, 2026. If you enjoyed this episode, we recommend listening to our conversation with director Mohammad Rasoulof (Season 2, Episode 121). - Recommended Viewing: THE WHITE BALLOON, THIS IS NOT A FILM, THE CIRCLE - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
- 2 weeks ago1h 5m
BUDDY SQUIRES - Cinematographer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 194 Buddy Squires - Cinematographer In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer Buddy Squires (THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, BEYOND THE BEACH: THE HELL AND THE HOPE, BASEBALL). Buddy has worked on countless documentaries, ranging from vérité to recreations, and we spend the episode discussing how he sees his work and what he tries to achieve while capturing images of events happening in real time. Buddy has also worked with director Ken Burns since they met in college, and he gives us insight into their lifelong collaboration and their approach to portraying history. Buddy also recalls the winding path he took to reach documentary filmmaking, and he reflects on the filmmakers, photographers, and films that inspired him the most at the time. Buddy later reflects on his experiences shooting the humanitarian work featured in BEYOND THE BEACH across the Middle East, and we ask him if he feels documentaries can make a difference. We also discuss how digital camera technology has made Buddy's job easier, and he shares his review of the drone footage from the 2026 Winter Olympics. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
- 3 weeks ago1h 4m
LYDIA DEAN PILCHER - Producer / Director
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 193 Lydia Dean Pilcher - Producer / Director In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with producer and director Lydia Dean Pilcher (A CALL TO SPY, QUEEN OF KATWE, THE DARJEELING LIMITED). From producing plays in her parents' garage to making feature films and documentaries seen around the world, Lydia has always been drawn to the power of stories. Throughout our conversation, we discuss the lifelong impact of growing up in the United States during the Vietnam War era, her varied work as a producer and director, and how she developed her skills working in the New York film scene. Lydia also reflects on her longtime collaboration with director Mira Nair, and we learn how Lydia helped produce many of Mira's films such as MISSISSIPPI MASALA and THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST. She later helps clear up the differences between the numerous producer credits, and she reflects on how the business of producing and financing films has changed how she does her job nowadays. Plus, Lydia reveals which mountain she slept on while attending the inaugural edition of the Sundance Film Festival and which previous guest of the podcast spent nine weeks of nights working in the prop department of Martin Scorsese's AFTER HOURS. If you enjoyed listening to Lydia, then you'll love listening to her husband (and production designer) Mark Friedberg (Season 2, Episode 160). - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
- May 6, 20261h 5m
CHRIS CARROLL - Assistant Director
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 192 Chris Carroll - Assistant Director In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with assistant director Chris Carroll (THE MASTERMIND, YELLOWSTONE, NIGHT MOVES). Throughout the episode, Chris shares how he juggles the many duties of the role, and we learn how an early-career run-in with assistant director Michael Lerman (Season 1, Episode 85) set him on the path to becoming one himself. Chris also frequently collaborates with director Kelly Reichardt and cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt (Season 2, Episode 179), and he reflects on making films such as MEEK'S CUTOFF and NIGHT MOVES on limited budgets in remote locations. We later discuss the challenges of building out the schedule for production, and Chris shares how he tries to balance the needs of every department with the realities of the shoot. We also learn how Chris monitors and manages the crew's mood, and we discuss where he physically is on the day. We also learn how Chris works with extras, and he reveals how different his job can be on a television series like YELLOWSTONE. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
- Apr 29, 20261h 4m
DIANA BURTON - Prop Master
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 191 Diana Burton - Prop Master In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with prop master Diana Burton (WEST SIDE STORY, OKJA, THE SOPRANOS). We worked with Diana on PASSION FISH—directed by John Sayles (Season 2, Episode 55)—and it was great catching up with her. We learn what the prop department is and isn't responsible for in this episode, and Diana shares how she works with the other departments to help make the best film possible. Diana shares some early career stories from her PA days in New York City, from delivering tuna sandwiches to Madonna to watching a cougar roam the streets in the Upper West Side, and we discuss her thoughts on breaking into the prop department today. Diana also reveals how she approached designing the weapons for the machines in TERMINATOR GENISYS, and we learn why she always enlists an armourer to handle firearms on a shoot. Diana also shares her opinion on continuity, and we discuss how she feels when someone suggests to do something in post rather than in-camera. Plus, Diana reveals how she and two food stylists made all that food for JULIE & JULIA. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
- Apr 22, 20261h 3m
NICK KAZAN - Writer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 188 - Nick Kazan - Writer In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with writer Nick Kazan (BICENTENNIAL MAN, MATILDA, DREAM LOVER). Nick has been writing professionally for decades, and we spend much of our conversation with him discussing what he finds to work and not work in a screenplay. Nick also shares his relationship to a script after it's entered production, and we discuss how changes made during production can enhance a scene. We also learn how he's balanced writing spec scripts with assignments, what his opinion of the three act structure is, what he needs to know before he begins writing, and when he recognizes his writing is working. Nick also shares how a Harold Pinter play inspired him to begin writing in the first place, and we learn how he's been chasing the experience of writing for the very first time ever since. Plus, Nick reveals why he didn't leverage his the reputation of his father (director Elia Kazan) to build his own career, and we ask Nick: "What makes a good writer?" - Recommended Viewing: SHAMPOO - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
- Apr 15, 20261h 33m
TITUS WELLIVER - Actor
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 189 - Titus Welliver - Actor In this extended episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with actor Titus Welliver (BOSCH, DEADWOOD, THE TOWN). If you listened to our conversations with cinematographer Michael McDonough (Season 2, Episode 159) or cinematographer and director Ernest Dickerson (Season 2, Episode 58), then you know we love BOSCH. We were thrilled to speak to Titus not only about his work on the show but also about his life, the unconventional road he took to becoming an actor, and his perspective on acting as a career. Titus also reflects on working with and learning from the late cinematographer Haskell Wexler, and we discuss the relationship between actors, the camera, and the entire camera department. We later learn how Titus enforced good behaviour on the sets of BOSCH, and he reveals how the writers of the show would deal with anyone not preparing properly. Titus later reveals some of the acting inspirations behind his performance of Harry Bosch, and he recounts an evening spent smoking pot and receiving wisdom from actors James Coburn and Robert Mitchum after moving to Los Angeles. - Recommended Viewing: BOSCH - This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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About Team Deakins
The Team Deakins podcast is an ongoing conversation between acclaimed cinematographer Roger Deakins and James Deakins, his collaborator, about cinematography, the film business and whatever other questions are submitted. We start with a specific question and end....who knows where! We are joined by guests periodically.
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