DGA Monthly

2 2 I D G A M O N T H L Y Membership Screenings Q&As listed in alphabetical order by Director. See more detailed descriptions, additional photos & podcasts online at www.dga.org. DGA Screenings Q&As A family is terrorized by strange, demonic occurrences in Director Lee Daniels' exorcism thriller, The Deliverance. Inspired by the true story of the Ammons haunting case, the film unveils the chilling tale of a struggling single mother fighting her personal demons, who soon finds herself locked in a battle for her life and the souls of her children when they become demonically possessed. Daniels discussed the making of the film during a Q&A moderated by Director Adam Shankman and spoke about why he wanted to make this film. "I realized we were in dark times, really dark times, and it's not about spooky, spooky, it's really about finding your higher power. For me it was about like tomorrow we could be gone and it was really about scaring you to a higher power." He also shared some of his philosophy on directing actors. "The way that I work is I am an open portal. So, I am demanding this honesty from the actors. Every breath has to be right." Lee Daniels discusses The Deliverance photo by Quintin Lundy The xenomorphs are back and deadlier than ever in Director Fede Alvarez's sci-fi horror, Alien: Romulus. In the fifth film of the franchise, Alvarez takes the story back to its suspenseful roots as a group of young space colonists come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe while scavenging a derelict space station. Alvarez discussed the making of the film during a Q&A moderated by Director Leigh Whannell and spoke about how his directing process has changed over the years. "I'm a bit selfish when it comes to the process, and I've become more and more selfish with the films. What I mean by this is I started the first film thinking about what does people need from me as a Director and devoting too much energy to that. With more movies and more experience, I started realizing I need to do what works for me. I need to be in a good, creative space and not feeling like I'm spending all my time servicing other departments. I think if I do that, I benefit everybody. Everybody wins. If I really do it that way, I put the energy on the things I think are more important for the movie." Fede Alvarez discusses Alien: Romulus photo by Shane Karns Family dynamics are explored as a trio of siblings attempt to find their way back to each other in Director Azazel Jacobs's drama, His Three Daughters. The film follows three estranged sisters as they converge in a New York apartment to care for their ailing father and try to mend their own broken relationship with one another. Jacobs discussed the making of the film with Directors Darius Marder in New York and David Zellner in Los Angeles. During the Los Angeles conversation, Jacobs spoke about what made the cast want to be a part of the film. "I knew that [the actresses] loved film. And so just the idea of shooting on film and shooting in this way — shooting in order, taking advantage of the limitations that we had — would be truly appealing to them. It was a selling point that we were gonna be shooting in 17 days, so we'd be moving very, very quickly — no moving equipment, not losing an hour and a half every day to move something. It was really just like 'we're gonna shoot scenes and shoot them through each day and to shoot in order' was really this magnificent gift that you can only do if the film is small enough." Azazel Jacobs discusses His Three Daughters photo by Xxx Xxxxx photo by Marcie Revens photo by Elisa Haber Photos: Director Azazel Jacobs with moderators Darius Marder in New York on September 1 and David Zellner in Los Angeles on September 15. Photo: Directors Lee Daniels (right) and Adam Shankman (moderator) discuss the making of The Deliverance following the DGA screening in Los Angeles on August 25. Photo: Directors Fede Alvarez (right) and Leigh Whannell (moderator) discuss the making of Alien: Romulus following the DGA screening in Los Angeles on August 25.

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