The Filmmakers Podcast

In the inaugural episode of our brand new series, The Academy Masterclasses, Dom Lenoir sits down with director, writer and producer Jennifer Peedom and actress Thinley Lhamo to discuss the monumental task of bringing the true story of Tenzing to the big screen.

Jen shares how her 23-year history with the Sherpa community in the Himalayas laid the groundwork for this epic feature. Together, they explore the complexities of adapting the historic Everest ascent, the logistical challenge of shooting at 3,500 metres in New Zealand and the vital importance of cultural authenticity on a massive set.

🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

Finding the Truth: How Jen approached the immense responsibility of telling a culturally specific story as a white Australian filmmaker by relying heavily on Sherpa cultural consultants like Dr. Lhakpa.

The Audition Process: Thinley breaks down her journey to landing the role of Dawa, starting with a camera test in Nepal.

Mountain Logistics: The brutal realities of filming at 3,500 metres altitude in New Zealand and creating a believable, immersive physical environment.

Sonic Landscapes: Building the intricate sound design of the film, from wind chimes and baby yaks to the roaring elements of the mountain.

Directing Performance: The collaborative push and pull between the director, actors and acting coach Miranda Harcourt to strip away theatricality and find true naturalism on set.

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PATREON

Big thank you to:

Serena Gardner

Mark Hammett

Lee Hutchings

Marli J Monroe

Karen Newman

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SUPPORT THE PODCAST

Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

CREDITS

The Filmmakers Podcast is written, edited and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson

Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative

Theme Music by John J. Harvey
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Filmmakers, welcome to the podcast! We've got a brilliant episode for you today. Dom Lenoir and Conor Boru are sitting down with the incredibly talented Kitao Sakurai. You probably know Kitao's work as the regular director of The Eric Andre Show and the hit film Bad Trip, but he's here to talk about his massive upcoming project: directing the live-action Street Fighter movie!

Kitao dives deep into what it's like adapting such an iconic game, managing a huge ensemble cast, and how his background in comedy and chaotic TV perfectly prepared him for bringing Street Fighter to life. It's a fascinating look at the pressures and the creative process behind a major studio film. Let's get into it!"

Show Notes

Title: Directing Street Fighter: Kitao Sakurai on Adapting a Video Game Legend

In this episode, Dom Lenoir and Conor Boru are joined by director Kitao Sakurai. They discuss his transition from the wonderfully chaotic world of The Eric Andre Show to taking the helm of Legendary and Capcom's highly anticipated live-action Street Fighter movie, set for release in October 2026.

🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

From Comedy to Action: How Kitao's background directing The Eric Andre Show and Bad Trip translates to the world of big-budget action.

Approaching an Icon: The pressure and excitement of adapting Street Fighter, one of the most successful video game franchises of all time.

World-Building: Translating the vibrant, larger-than-life aesthetic of the games into a live-action feature film.

The Cast: Working with a massive ensemble, including Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, and Jason Momoa.

Pitching and Collaboration: Kitao’s process for pitching his vision to the studios and collaborating with a massive team to bring the project to life.

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🎧 Listen to the audio version on Apple Podcasts & Spotify.
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Kitao Sakurai, Street Fighter movie, Street Fighter 2026, Eric Andre Show, Bad Trip, video game movies, directing action, Dom Lenoir, Conor Boru, The Filmmakers Podcast, Noah Centineo, Jason Momoa, film directing, behind the scenes

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Welcome back to the podcast! This week, host Dom sits down with returning guest and powerhouse filmmaker David Ayer (Fury, End of Watch, Training Day, The Beekeeper) to break down his gripping new survival thriller, Heart of the Beast.

Reuniting with his Fury leading man Brad Pitt, Heart of the Beast follows a former Navy SEAL and his retired combat dog fighting for survival after a violent plane crash deep in the Alaskan wilderness. David pulls back the curtain on the grueling physical realities of the shoot and how he keeps high-concept studio movies grounded in raw human truth.

🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

The Fury Reunion: How David and Brad Pitt evolved their creative shorthand from the muddy trenches of World War II to the freezing isolation of the wilderness.

Shooting in the Elements: The logistical and physical challenges of taking a crew into remote, unforgiving terrain while keeping the camera package nimble.

Directing Visceral Survival: How to strip dialogue back to the bone and drive ninety minutes of tension through physical action, environment and sound design.

Working with Animals on Set: The realities of blocking and pacing high-stakes dramatic and action beats around a retired combat dog.

Navigating the Studio System: David shares candid advice on protecting your directorial voice, delivering commercial thrills and surviving the Hollywood machine.

🎧 CATCH UP ON RECENT EPISODES:

Extra Geography: Molly Manners (One Day) & Sarah Brocklehurst (The Outrun) on Sundance, Teenage Obsession & Feature Debuts.

Directing the Silence: George MacKay on Sense and Sensibility, Ripped Trousers & Trusting the Director.

Adapting Austen: Georgia Oakley & Fiona Shaw on 35mm Film, Subverting Costumes & Sense and Sensibility.

Bad Apples: Jonatan Etzler on 17 Shorts, Character Arcs & Directing Saoirse Ronan.

📲 SUPPORT THE PODCAST & CALL TO ACTION:

🎥 Watch on YouTube: Head over to the TFP YouTube Channel to watch the full video interview with Dom and David Ayer, and don't forget to subscribe!

🎧 Subscribe & Review: If you got value from today’s episode, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps us reach more filmmakers and send the elevator back down.

👕 Merch & Courses: Grab your on-set podcast gear, check out our filmmaking courses and explore hundreds of archived episodes at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com.

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Get tickets for SESSIONS Festival Screening at LIFF this Friday 9th Oct at Genesis Cinema in London here: https://genesiscinema.co.uk/event/114469

Filmmakers, welcome back to the podcast! Today we have an absolute treat for you, especially if you love fiercely authentic, character-driven British cinema.

We are sitting down with BAFTA-winning director Molly Manners and powerhouse producer Sarah Brocklehurst to talk about their brilliant new coming-of-age film, Extra Geography, which is out in UK cinemas right now via Vertigo Releasing.

Now, you will definitely know Molly’s work from directing the massive Netflix global hit One Day, as well as the BAFTA-winning series In My Skin. Extra Geography marks her feature film directorial debut, and what a debut it is. Alongside her, we are thrilled to welcome back to the pod the founder of Brock Media, Sarah Brocklehurst—the producer behind phenomenal indies like Animals, Black Pond and the multi-BIFA-nominated The Outrun.

Extra Geography premiered to sold-out crowds at Sundance earlier this year and has been sitting comfortably at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Written by Miriam Battye and adapted from a short story by Rose Tremain, the film follows two teenage best friends at an English girls' boarding school who launch a summer project to fall in love with the very next person they see.

In today's chat, Molly and Sarah break down the transition from high-end television to indie features, the art of expanding a short story into a ninety-minute script and how they discovered incredible newcomers Marni Duggan and Galaxie Clear to anchor the film.

Also, remember that you can watch the full video version of this interview over on our TFP YouTube Channel—so make sure you head over there and hit subscribe! Let’s dive straight in. Enjoy the episode!"

Title: Directing Extra Geography: Molly Manners & Sarah Brocklehurst on Sundance, Teenage Obsession & Feature Debuts

On this week's episode, we are joined by BAFTA-winning director Molly Manners (One Day, In My Skin) and acclaimed producer Sarah Brocklehurst (The Outrun, Animals) to break down their critically acclaimed new coming-of-age drama, Extra Geography.

Fresh off a sold-out run at the Sundance Film Festival and a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, Molly and Sarah take us behind the scenes of bringing Miriam Battye’s sharp, funny and deeply relatable screenplay to the big screen.

🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

The TV to Feature Leap: Molly discusses stepping onto the set of her debut feature film after directing massive television hits like Netflix's One Day.

Adapting Short Fiction: How Sarah and screenwriter Miriam Battye took Rose Tremain’s original short story and expanded the world into a full feature arc without losing its intimacy.

Finding the Leads: The casting process behind discovering newcomers Marni Duggan and Galaxie Clear, and how to build raw, unbreakable teenage chemistry alongside Alice Englert.

Producing Authentic British Indies: Sarah shares insights into packaging, financing and championing distinct female-led stories in today’s independent market.

Capturing the Boarding School Bubble: How the production design, cinematography and pacing worked together to capture the claustrophobic, intoxicating intensity of teenage friendships.

Extra Geography is out in UK cinemas now via Vertigo Releasing.

🎧 CATCH UP ON RECENT EPISODES:

Directing the Silence: George MacKay on Sense and Sensibility, Ripped Trousers & Trusting the Director.

Adapting Austen: Georgia Oakley & Fiona Shaw on 35mm Film, Subverting Costumes & Sense and Sensibility.

Bad Apples: Jonatan Etzler on 17 Shorts, Character Arcs & Directing Saoirse Ronan.

The Business of Film Special: The Hidden UK Indie Boom, Sales Agents & Surviving the Box Office Market.

ALL AT thefilmmakerspodcast.com

📲 SUPPORT THE PODCAST & CALL TO ACTION:

🎥 Watch on YouTube: Head over to the TFP YouTube Channel to watch the full video interview with Molly and Sarah, and don't forget to subscribe!

🎧 Subscribe & Review: If you got value from today’s episode, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps us reach more filmmakers and send the elevator back down.

👕 Merch & Courses: Grab your on-set podcast gear, check out our Post Production Demystified course and explore our full archive at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com.

📝 Episode Description (Show Notes)
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On this special bonus mini-episode, we sit down with the incredible George MacKay (1917, Femme, Captain Fantastic) to talk about his latest role as Edward Ferrars in Georgia Oakley’s stunning adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.

George gives us a rapid-fire masterclass in acting, collaboration, and how to survive the intense, high-pressure environment of a major period drama set.

🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

The Trouser Incident: George hilariously recounts the moment his period costume ripped during a pivotal romantic scene, and how the resulting laughter actually helped cement his chemistry with Daisy Edgar-Jones.

Building Chemistry: The specific, character-driven techniques he uses to build rapport with his co-stars before the cameras even roll.

The Power of Silence: George discusses how the best directors understand that holding space and not giving notes can be the most effective way to help an actor find the emotional truth of a scene.

Trusting the Vision: Why a director’s clear, unwavering vision—even in the unsaid details—is crucial for making the cast feel safe enough to take big creative risks.

Sense and Sensibility is in cinemas now. Watch the full video interview on the TFP YouTube Channel.

🔔 Subscribe to the TFP YouTube Channel for full video interviews every week!
🎧 Listen to the audio version on Apple Podcasts & Spotify.
👕 Get your official TFP on-set gear: TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

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