DGA members in New York and Los Angeles had the opportunity to attend member screenings followed by Q&A's with the films' directors.
Darren Aronofsky: Black Swan
Director Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler; Requiem for a Dream) discussed his behind-the-scenes look at the world of ballet in his new film Black Swan following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles on November 12. In the film, two young New York City ballerinas (Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis) compete to replace a prima ballerina (Winona Ryder) in their dance company’s upcoming production of "Swan Lake." Director Michael Mann (Public Enemies) served as moderator.
Derek Cianfrance: Blue Valentine
Director Derek Cianfrance (Dream the Impossible; Black and White: A Portrait of Sean Combs) spoke to the audiences about crossing over from directing documentaries to theatrical features with his new film Blue Valentine. In the film a young couple (Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams) use one night and romantic memories of their courtship to try and save their failing marriage. Cianfrance discussed the adjustments he made as a filmmaker with Director Mary Harron (The Moth Diaries) after the DGA screening in New York on November 14, and Director Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart) following the screening in Los Angeles on November 23.
Tom Hooper: The King's Speech
What if you had to give the most important address of your life, a speech designated to give confidence to an entire country, and you suffered from a major speech impediment? Director Tom Hooper (The Damned United; John Adams) explores this in The King's Speech, the true story of King George VI of Great Britain (Colin Firth), who was plagued by a terrible stutter and considered unfit to be king. He engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) who helps him find his voice and boldly lead the country during a time of war. Director Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton) moderated the discussion in New York on November 17, and DGA President Taylor Hackford (Ray) moderated the Los Angeles discussion on November 21.
Alejandro González Iñárritu: Biutiful
Director Alejandro González Iñárritu (Babel; 21 Grams) entertained the DGA audiences with behind-the-scenes tales about the making of his latest feature film Biutiful. The film stars Javier Bardem as Uxbal, a conflicted man who struggles to reconcile fatherhood, love, spirituality, crime, guilt and mortality amidst the dangerous underworld of modern Barcelona. Director Robert Benton (Feast of Love) served as moderator of the discussion in New York on November 10, and Director Werner Herzog (Cave of Forgotten Dreams) moderated the Los Angeles discussion on November 14.
Andrew Jarecki: All Good Things
Director Andrew Jarecki (Capturing the Friedmans) discussed his move from the world of documentary filmmaking to dramatic features with his new film All Good Things. The film is based on the notorious 1980s disappearance of Kathie Durst, whose husband Robert - the scion of a wealthy New York real estate dynasty - was suspected but never tried for her murder. Jarecki discussed the film with Director Alexander Payne (The Descendants), following the DGA Los Angeles screening on November 15, and Director Raymond De Felitta (City Island) after the New York screening on November 21.
Doug Liman: Fair Game
Director Doug Liman (Jumper; The Bourne Identity) gave a glimpse into his process in making his latest feature, Fair Game, after the New York screening on November 14. The politically charged drama retells the true story of CIA agent Valerie Plame, who was outed by White House officials allegedly out to discredit her husband after he wrote a 2003 New York Times op-ed piece saying that the Bush administration had manipulated intelligence about weapons of mass destruction to justify the invasion of Iraq. Director Scott McGehee (Uncertainty) served as moderator of the discussion.
David O. Russell: The Fighter
In the Los Angeles DGA Theater on November 14, director David O. Russell (I Heart Huckabees; Three Kings) spoke about the challenges of making his new film, The Fighter. The film tells the story of boxer "Irish" Mickey Ward (Mark Wahlberg) and his trainer brother Dick Eklund (Christian Bale) who battle the rough streets of Lowell, Massachusetts and Eklund’s drug problems en route to Ward’s eventual world championship in London. Director Catherine Hardwicke (Red Riding Hood) served as the moderator.
Julie Taymor: The Tempest
Director Julie Taymor (Across the Universe; Frida) returns to the world of Shakespeare in her latest screen adaptation, The Tempest. In Taymor’s version the classic magician Prospero becomes the sorceress Prospera (Helen Mirren) who spirals from vengeance to forgiveness as she reigns over her magical island, cares for her young daughter, Miranda (Felicity Jones), and unleashes her powers against her shipwrecked enemies. After the New York DGA membership screening on November 21, Taymor sat down with Director Mary Harron (American Psycho) to discuss the making of the film.
John Wells: The Company Men
Following the Los Angeles membership screening of The Company Men on November 21, Director John Wells (Shameless; ER) sat down with Director John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) to talk about the making of the film. The Company Men centers on a year in the life of three men (Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones and Chris Cooper) trying to survive a round of corporate downsizing at a major company and how that affects them, their families, and their communities.
