Director Martin McDonagh discusses Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

November 3, 2017

A DGA Q&A in Los Angeles

A woman challenges the local authorities to finally solve her daughter’s murder in Director Martin McDonagh’s darkly comic crime drama, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

McDonagh’s film tells the story of Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand), a woman frustrated by the fact that months after her daughter’s violent murder, no progress has been made in the case. Infuriated by the efforts of the local police, she employs the unusual motivational technique of painting three billboards leading into her town with messages aimed at Ebbing’s revered chief of police (Woody Harrelson) and setting off a battle of wills with the police force and the rest of the community.

Following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles on November 2, McDonagh sat down with Director Niki Caro (The Zookeeper's Wife) to discuss the making of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

In addition to Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, McDonagh’s credits include the feature films Seven Psychopaths and In Bruges. In 2006, he won the Academy Award for Best Short Film, Live Action for his film Six Shooter. McDonagh has been a DGA member since 2011.

You can listen to McDonagh's Q&A by clicking the podcast episode embedded below. You can find more DGA podcast episodes here.

Pictures

Event photos by Elisa Haber - Print courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures.

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Director Martin McDonagh speaks about the making of his new comic crime drama, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.

Woody Harrelson and Frances McDormand in Director Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Director Martin McDonagh (right) speaks about the making of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri with Director Niki Caro (moderator) following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.

Frances McDormand and Peter Dinklage in Director Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Director Niki Caro (moderator) asks Director Martin McDonagh a question about the making of his new comic crime drama, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Lucas Hedges and Frances McDormand in Director Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

The Los Angeles DGA theater audience hears Directors Niki Caro (moderator) and Martin McDonagh discuss the making of McDonagh’s new comic crime drama, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell in Director Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Directors Niki Caro (moderator) and Martin McDonagh pose for a photo following the Los Angeles DGA membership screening of McDonagh’s new comic crime drama, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Frances McDormand in Director Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Director Martin McDonagh chats with members of the audience following the Los Angeles DGA membership screening of his new comic crime drama, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

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8/13/2025 - 8/19/2025