Since 1989 (Sex, Lies, and Videotape), filmmaker Steven Soderbergh has been a pioneering voice in American cinema. Part free-wheeling iconoclast, part exacting technician.

Today, we return to our conversation with the legendary artist. First, Soderbergh describes his process making No Sudden Move amid the pandemic (8:38), his ability to push past creative blocks (14:34), the importance of 1998’s Out of Sight (31:00), the seismic impact of his late mentor, Mike Nichols (27:28), and how a formative moviegoing memory (28:48) informed his ideas on the role of storytelling (32:43). Before we go– Steven speaks candidly on the future of movies (39:20) and his role in them (41:13).

This episode originally aired June 27th, 2021. To hear our latest talk with Sean Fennessey, listen here. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at sf@talkeasypod.com.

Since 1989 (Sex, Lies, and Videotape), filmmaker Steven Soderbergh has been a pioneering voice in American cinema. Part free-wheeling iconoclast, part exacting technician.
Today, we return to our conversation with the legendary artist. First, Soderbergh describes his process making No Sudden Move amid the pandemic (8:38), his ability to push past creative blocks (14:34), the importance of 1998’s Out of Sight (31:00), the seismic impact of his late mentor, Mike Nichols (27:28), and how a formative moviegoing memory (28:48) informed his ideas on the role of storytelling (32:43). Before we go– Steven speaks candidly on the future of movies (39:20) and his role in them (41:13).
This episode originally aired June 27th, 2021. To hear our latest talk with Sean Fennessey, listen <a href="https://talkeasypod.com/fennessey/">here</a>. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at <a href="mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com">sf@talkeasypod.com</a>.

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso is a weekly series of intimate conversations with artists, activists, and politicians. Where people sound like people. Hosted by Sam Fragoso. New episodes every Sunday.

Where people sound like people, since 2016.

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

Director Steven Soderbergh: Scene by Scene

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d12066ea-3dfa-4699-93ce-b1db004e4b82/transcript

This week, our guest is trailblazing filmmaker Lee Daniels.

At the top, we discuss his fifteen-year journey to the new Netflix film The Deliverance (5:00), Daniels’ relationship to spirituality (9:16), and his memories of directing theatre at eight-years-old (14:55). Then, we dive into the therapeutic quality of filmmaking (17:14), his work as a casting director at Warner Brothers in the 80s (19:48), and what it meant for Daniels to manage young performers like Morgan Freeman and Loretta Devine (23:38).

On the back-half, he unpacks the tumultuous process of making his award-winning film Precious (32:00), the projects that followed in The Paperboy and The Butler (39:30), the rise of Empire and his paradigm-shifting work in Hollywood (41:10), the peace that guided him to make his new film (46:10), and what motivates him to keep working (50:31).

Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at sf@talkeasypod.com.

This week, our guest is trailblazing filmmaker Lee Daniels.
At the top, we discuss his fifteen-year journey to the new Netflix film The Deliverance (5:00), Daniels’ relationship to spirituality (9:16), and his memories of directing theatre at eight-years-old (14:55). Then, we dive into the therapeutic quality of filmmaking (17:14), his work as a casting director at Warner Brothers in the 80s (19:48), and what it meant for Daniels to manage young performers like Morgan Freeman and Loretta Devine (23:38).
On the back-half, he unpacks the tumultuous process of making his award-winning film Precious (32:00), the projects that followed in The Paperboy and The Butler (39:30), the rise of Empire and his paradigm-shifting work in Hollywood (41:10), the peace that guided him to make his new film (46:10), and what motivates him to keep working (50:31).
Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at <a href="mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com">sf@talkeasypod.com</a>.

Filmmaker Lee Daniels (‘The Deliverance’) Finds His Light

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/26ea39ed-159a-4bbd-bd11-b1de00533496/transcript

We’re so back at the movies… with head of content at The Ringer and co-host of The Big Picture, Sean Fennessey!

At the top, Sam and Sean discuss Sean Wang’s Dìdi(8:52), the father-daughter story at the heart of M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap(15:52), and why the documentaries Brats(19:39)and Faye(22:35) make the perfect weekend watch.

Then, they talk about the real-life story behind A24’s Sing Sing (27:45), what Borderlandsreveals about post-strike Hollywood (29:57), the anticipation building around Sean Baker’s triumphant upcoming feature Anora (32:13), Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night(33:17), Joshua Oppenheimer’s apocalyptic musical film The End(35:49), and James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown(37:17).

On the back-half, we dive into Sean’s childhood in Long Island (43:37), his early writing at Ithaca College (44:15), working at Complex Magazine in the mid-aughts (53:00), his pivot to Grantland (1:02:10), launching The Ringer (1:15:50), his on-mic personality on The Big Picture (1:11:50), the future of his podcast(s) (1:18:31), and why he remains optimistic about the film industry (1:27:09).

This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at sf@talkeasypod.com.

We’re so back at the movies… with head of content at The Ringer and co-host of <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6mTel3azvnK8isLs4VujvF">The Big Picture</a>, Sean Fennessey!
At the top, Sam and Sean discuss Sean Wang’s <a href="https://www.focusfeatures.com/didi">Dìdi</a> (8:52), the father-daughter story at the heart of M. Night Shyamalan’s <a href="https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/trap">Trap</a> (15:52), and why the documentaries <a href="https://www.hulu.com/watch/3c92789a-4a02-418b-b896-28f9799be387">Brats</a> (19:39) and <a href="https://www.hbo.com/movies/faye">Faye</a> (22:35) make the perfect weekend watch.
Then, they talk about the real-life story behind A24’s <a href="https://a24films.com/films/sing-sing">Sing Sing</a> (27:45), what <a href="https://borderlands.movie/">Borderlands</a> reveals about post-strike Hollywood (29:57), the anticipation building around Sean Baker’s triumphant upcoming feature <a href="https://neonrated.com/films/anora">Anora</a> (32:13), Jason Reitman’s <a href="https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/saturdaynight">Saturday Night</a> (33:17), Joshua Oppenheimer’s apocalyptic musical film <a href="https://www.tiff.net/events/the-end">The End</a> (35:49), and James Mangold’s <a href="https://www.searchlightpictures.com/a-complete-unknown">A Complete Unknown</a> (37:17).
On the back-half, we dive into Sean’s childhood in Long Island (43:37), his early writing at Ithaca College (44:15), working at Complex Magazine in the mid-aughts (53:00), his pivot to Grantland (1:02:10), launching The Ringer (1:15:50), his on-mic personality on The Big Picture (1:11:50), the future of his podcast(s) (1:18:31), and why he remains optimistic about the film industry (1:27:09).
This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at <a href="mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com">sf@talkeasypod.com</a>.

We Are So Back (at the Movies) with Sean Fennessey (‘The Big Picture’)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/08465872-fcbe-4e6d-8bd1-b1d70072dea9/transcript

What’s the difference between an interview and a first date? For the past decade, Amelia Dimoldenberg has been walking that fine line on her hit YouTube series, Chicken Shop Date. The premise is in the title: filmed at various chicken establishments across London, the show features a series of funny (sometimes awkward) ‘dates’ with everyone from Paul Mescal to Billie Eilish.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of her beloved series, Amelia and Sam have a cup of tea to discuss her recent sit-down with Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds (5:00), her upbringing in London (7:20), and how Mary-Kate and Ashley inspired the young creative ambitions (11:10) that lead to Chicken Shop Date (17:17). We also highlight a few pivotal episodes of the show with rapper Ghetts (24:50), actor Daniel Kaluuya (32:10), and documentarian Louis Theroux (32:52).

On the back-half, we unpack Dimoldenberg’s comedy influences—from Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation to Zach Galifianakis’ Between Two Ferns (36:34), how she continues to expand her reach as an independent creator (43:00), why the ‘anti-interview’ genre has come into vogue (49:12), and what she hopes for in the decade to come (1:02:12).

For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, drop us a line at sf@talkeasypod.com.

What’s the difference between an interview and a first date? For the past decade, Amelia Dimoldenberg has been walking that fine line on her hit YouTube series, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AmeliaDimoldenberg">Chicken Shop Date</a>. The premise is in the title: filmed at various chicken establishments across London, the show features a series of funny (sometimes awkward) ‘dates’ with everyone from Paul Mescal to Billie Eilish.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of her beloved series, Amelia and Sam have a cup of tea to discuss her recent sit-down with Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds (5:00), her upbringing in London (7:20), and how Mary-Kate and Ashley inspired the young creative ambitions (11:10) that lead to Chicken Shop Date (17:17). We also highlight a few pivotal episodes of the show with rapper Ghetts (24:50), actor Daniel Kaluuya (32:10), and documentarian Louis Theroux (32:52).
On the back-half, we unpack Dimoldenberg’s comedy influences—from Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation to Zach Galifianakis’ Between Two Ferns (36:34), how she continues to expand her reach as an independent creator (43:00), why the ‘anti-interview’ genre has come into vogue (49:12), and what she hopes for in the decade to come (1:02:12).
For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, drop us a line at <a href="mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com">sf@talkeasypod.com</a>.

A Tea with Amelia Dimoldenberg of Chicken Shop Date

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0c28e5ec-e588-448e-84b0-b1d0006e33af/transcript

Director Steven Soderbergh: Scene by Scene

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