Joel Coen and Ethan Coen: Inside Llewyn Davis

November 25, 2013

Director Q&As in Los Angeles and New York

A budding folk singer tries to make it in New York in Joel Coen and Ethan Coen’s latest feature, Inside Llewyn Davis.

The film is a week-in-the-life story that follows singer/guitarist Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) as he attempts to find success in the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961, in spite of the numerous obstacles in his path, many of which are created by his own character flaws.

Following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles on November 17, Joel and Ethan Coen spoke about infusing their film with musical performances from artists like Justin Timberlake, Marcus Mumford and the Punch Brothers, and their collaboration with Grammy®-winning music producer T Bone Burnett. Director Sam Raimi (Oz the Great and Powerful) served as moderator. Ethan Coen also participated in a Q&A moderated by Director Barry Sonnenfeld (Men in Black 3) following the New York membership screening on November 24.

The Coen Brothers’ other works include the feature films Burn After Reading, A Serious Man, True Grit, and the DGA and Academy Award®-winning No Country for Old Men. Joel Coen has been a member of the DGA since 1996 and Ethan Coen joined the Guild in 1994.

Pictures & Video

photos by Howard Wise (Los Angeles) and Marcie Revens (New York) - print courtesy of CBS Films

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LA FULL TALK (34:05): Directors Joel and Ethan Coen discuss their new film, Inside Llewyn Davis, with Moderator Sam Raimi.

NY FULL TALK (29:45): Director Ethan Coen talks about Inside Llewyn Davis with Moderator Barry Sonnenfeld after a screening at the DGA in New York.

HIGHLIGHT: The Coen brothers describe how they recorded musical performances live on set and lead Actor Oscar Issac's impeccable timing.

HIGHLIGHT: The Coens discuss the ties Inside Llewyn Davis shares with another film of theirs that heavily incorporates music into the story, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

HIGHLIGHT: Director Ethan Coen talks about using real life 1960's New York folk singer Dave Van Ronk as a jumping off point for the story in Inside Llewyn Davis.

HIGHLIGHT: Ethan Coen discusses the fun they had casting pop star Justin Timberlake for a small part as an early 1960's folk singer in Inside Llewyn Davis.

HIGHLIGHT: Ethan Coen explains the limited use of handheld camera in Inside Llewyn Davis and the intention behind that creative decision.

HIGHLIGHT: Directors Joel and Ethan Coen discuss the challenge of finding an actor who could carry the film and perform the music in the story of Inside Llewyn Davis.

Oscar Isaac, Justin Timberlake and Adam Driver in a scene from Directors Joel and Ethan Coen’s Inside Llewyn Davis.
Photo by Alison Rosa ©2012 Long Strange Trip LLC

Directors Joel and Ethan Coen share a laugh with Director Sam Raimi (moderator) during the conversation about the making of Inside Llewyn Davis following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.

Director Joel Coen speaks about the making of Inside Llewyn Davis.

Director Ethan Coen speaks about the making of Inside Llewyn Davis.

Director Sam Raimi (moderator) asks Directors Joel and Ethan Coen a question about the making of Inside Llewyn Davis.

Director Ethan Coen speaks about the making of Inside Llewyn Davis following the DGA membership screening in New York.

Director Ethan Coen speaks about the making of Inside Llewyn Davis with Director Barry Sonnenfeld (moderator) following the DGA membership screening in New York.