Yeo Siew Hua wants you to see through ‘Stranger Eyes’
Yeo Siew Hua joins us to discuss 'Stranger Eyes,' the thriller that made history as the first Singaporean film ever to compete for the Golden Lion at Venice International Film Festival. A year after this landmark achievement, he reflects on creating a deeply culturally rooted story that resonates internationally, exploring how surveillance paranoia transcends geographical boundaries while remaining authentically Singaporean.Our conversation delves into Siew Hua's distinctive approach to day and night cinematography, revealing how different shooting conditions shaped the film's psychological tension. From his previous Golden Leopard win at Locarno for 'A Land Imagined' to this Venice milestone, Yeo discusses the evolving landscape of Southeast Asian cinema and how local stories can achieve global recognition without compromising their cultural specificity.
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18:52
Improv Magic: How Sam Davis and Co redefined short film storytelling on 'The Singers'
Academy Award nominated filmmaker Sam Davis joins us to discuss 'The Singers,' his genre-bending adaptation of Turgenev's 19th-century tale that transforms a lowly pub into a stage for unexpected human connection. Working exclusively with first-time actors discovered on TikTok and YouTube, he reveals how embracing spontaneity led to moments of pure cinematic magic—including a bathroom performance that became one of the film's most powerful scenes.Our conversation explores Sam's commitment to authenticity over convention, from shooting on film to allowing real vulnerability to emerge naturally from his cast of non-actors. He discusses subverting masculine stereotypes while capturing the raw emotional isolation that defines his characters' lives within the bar's confines.Davis' approach blends classical filmmaking elegance with documentary unpredictability, creating something entirely unique in contemporary cinema. As our chat concludes, he hints at future projects that continue pushing the boundaries between narrative and documentary storytelling.
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We Need to Talk About Emmy #24: Christophe Nuyens on navigating the galaxy in 'Andor'
Cinematographer Christophe Nuyens joins us to discuss his work on 'Andor' Season 2, where he partnered with director Ariel Kleiman to expand the show's established visual language. Treating each episode block as a standalone film, Christophe reveals his character-driven approach to framing—finding angles that immerse audiences in the emotional weight of rebellion rather than relying on spectacle alone.Our conversation touches on his international filmmaking experience and how working across Belgium, France, and the UK taught him to adapt his visual storytelling to different cultural approaches.
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We Need to Talk About Emmy #23: Ante Cheng takes us across the seasons and generations of 'Pachinko'
How do you visually transport audiences across three decades while maintaining narrative cohesion? Ante Cheng, whose breathtaking cinematography on 'Pachinko' Season 2 earned him an Emmy nomination, joins us to unravel this complex creative puzzle. Fresh off his recognition for the season's opening chapter, Ante discusses the ambitious leap from an already celebrated first season and the artistic freedom that showrunner Soo Hugh and new directors afforded him.Beyond the technical mastery, Ante opens up about navigating the beautiful complexity of multilingual filmmaking, where crew collaboration becomes a cultural dance that ultimately enriches the storytelling. As we wrap up, Ante shares his enthusiasm for potentially exploring Season 3's untold stories.
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We Need to Talk About Emmy #22: Kalina Ivanov’s designs bring color to the world of ‘The Penguin’
Production designer Kalina Ivanov takes us inside the visual world of HBO's 'The Penguin,' revealing how she adapted Matt Reeves' Gotham for television. From the surprising discovery that Penguin's iconic Maserati is actually purple to the intentional color storytelling that contrasts Oz's pastel childhood memories with his dark present reality.We discuss her collaboration with cinematographer Darren Tiernan in creating Gotham as a living character, the technical challenges of transitioning from film to series format, and how production design deepens character development. She also shares the delicate balance of honoring Batman lore while bringing fresh perspective to the Penguin's world.
We Need to Talk About Oscar offers in-depth interviews with filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals. Although inspired by 'Oscar-worthy' titles, our conversations extend to buzzy indie projects and TV shows, exploring both the technical aspects of filmmaking and the personal stories behind them.
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