The life and career of famed opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti is examined in Director Ron Howard’s new documentary, Pavarotti.

Featuring never-before-seen footage, concert performances and intimate interviews, Howard’s film is an in-depth look at the rise, career and lasting legacy of the musical icon affectionately dubbed “The People’s Tenor.”

Following the DGA Special Projects Documentary Series screening in Los Angeles on October 7, Howard sat down with DGA Special Projects Documentary Series Subcommittee Co-Chair Ondi Timoner (Mapplethorpe) to discuss the making of Pavarotti.

A DGA member since 1978, Howard made his directorial debut in 1977 with the comedy feature Grand Theft Auto. Some of his other feature film credits include Splash, Willow, Parenthood, Backdraft, Far and Away, The Paper, The Missing, The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons and In the Heart of the Sea. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for Apollo 13 (1995) and again for A Beautiful Mind (2001). He was also nominated for his features Cocoon (1985) and Frost/Nixon (2008). Prior to directing Pavarotti, he also helmed the documentary features The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years and Made in America, and the documentary television series, Breakthrough: The Age of Aging. Currently serving as the Second Vice-President of the Guild, Howard’s service also includes previously holding the Fourth Vice-President post, as well as participation on the Eastern Directors Council and the Theatrical Creative Rights Committee.

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