The DGA Interview:
Working Man
Hard to believe it’s been almost 40 years since Mike Nichols’ groundbreaking The Graduate. Since then, few directors have created a more literate and varied body of work.

By Jeffrey Ressner

Ready for Their Close-Up
Directors on live variety shows like American Idol have to think on their feet to capture the spontaneous action—and unexpected gaffes—of non-pro performers.

By Steve Pond

DGA Roundtable:
Talk of the Town
Women directors have been shamefully under-employed in the industry for years. We brought together a group of prominent female directors to discuss ways to address the issue.

Moderated by Amy Dawes

All About Almodóvar
With his latest film, Volver, Pedro Almodóvar—the most acclaimed Spanish director since Luis Buñuel—returns to his hometown to explore his cinematic roots.

By Jonathan Holland

The Wilder Touch
Billy Wilder created some of the most memorable—and cynical—characters on the screen. In a selection of rare shots, we visit the director at work on the set.

Screening Room:
Sword of Doom
As an aspiring director, Darren Aronofsky watched Kurosawa’s Yojimbo so much he wore out the tape. He watches it again and explains what he learned.

By Rob Feld

Anatomy of a Chase
Associate Thirty-five years after it was made, The French Connection still features the mother-of-all-chase-scenes. The director takes us back and explains how it all came together.

By William Friedkin

• The President's Letter
  
  
• Contributors
  
  
• Editor's Letter

Profiles
On the Job With…
Comedy women, ambitious AD, food filmer.

By Amy Dawes

Director’s Voice
She's So Heavy
Julie Taymor uses her characteristic visual flair to fashion a ’60s musical based on songs by the Beatles.

By Jessica Winter

10 Questions
It’s a Wonderful Town
New York’s mayor Michael Bloomberg extols the virtues of shooting in the Big Apple.

The Industry
Format Wars
HD-DVD and Blu-ray may be battling it out for years for a share of the high-definition DVD market.

By Alex Ben Block

Funny Business
I Don't Hate Kids... But
Rescue Me’s Peter Tolan muses on the problems of working with kids and animals. He prefers animals.

By Peter Tolan

Shot to Remember
Welcome to Brazil
Terry Gilliam had the time of his life directing his dream project. He explains how he applied his hand-hewn methods to create his hero’s great escape.

By Henry Sheehan

Critic’s Corner
Can Critics Change Their Mind?
A critic wonders if movies change—or we do.

By Carrie Rickey

DVD Classics
Kurosawa in Action
A new DVD of Seven Samurai demonstrates why the director was the master of subtle spectacle.

By Gary Giddins

Books
From the Silent Screen to Desperate Networks

By John Patterson

In My Opinion
Don’t Forget, Movies Are Fun
The director of The Wicker Man suggests we pay more attention to art and less to the box office.

By Neil LaBute

Out of the Past
Dance Lesson
Mel Brooks instructs Bloom and Bialystock in The Producers.