Amy Dawes

(“Talk of the Town”) was struck by the frankness of the six women who participated in the roundtable discussion she moderated. “It was like listening in on a privileged conversation.” Dawes was formerly a senior editor and reporter at Variety and is the author of Sunset Boulevard: Cruising the Heart of Los Angeles.

Jeffrey Ressner

(“Working Man”) remembers seeing The Graduate with his parents when he was 10-years-old and has been a keen follower of Mike Nichols’ career ever since. A correspondent for Time magazine, Ressner has also written for Rolling Stone, Spy Magazine and The New York Times.

Sylviane Gold

(“She’s So Heavy”) first interviewed Julie Taymor eight years ago, shortly before the director won two Tonys for The Lion King. “I wondered then whether her brilliance as a theater director would carry over into film, so it was great to catch up with her again knowing that it had.” Gold is a regular contributor to The New York Times, Dance Magazine and USA Today.

Steve Pond

(“Ready for Their Close-Up”) is a veteran journalist who has written for the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, Premiere and many other publications. “With inexperienced performers, screaming audiences and million-dollar prizes at stake, Variety directors have to be the calm in the eye of the storm.”

Jonathan Holland

(“All About Almodóvar”) is a British journalist based in Madrid. He writes for Variety, Conde Nast Traveller and the Times Literary Supplement. “Almodóvar is naturally verbal,” says Holland, “and his sheer enthusiasm for his craft makes him an interviewer’s dream.”

Rob Feld

(“Sword of Doom”) screened Yojimbo with Darren Aronofsky in the director’s Midtown loft in New York. “There’s nothing better than watching a movie with a true fan,” reports Feld. Feld is a regular contributor to the Quarterly and has written for Entertainment Weekly, Written By and Newmarket Press’ Shooting Script book series.

Henry Sheehan

(“Welcome to Brazil”) is president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and appears regularly on KPCC-FM’s Film Week. For his third conversation in 15 years with Terry Gilliam, Sheehan found the inventive filmmaker as effervescent as ever.  

Alex Ben Block

(“Format Wars”) was formerly the editor of the Hollywood Reporter and TelevisionWeek. “I was surprised by how many of the executives I interviewed thought having two formats was fine, comparing it to other fields where there are multiple choices such as cellular and computer software.”