Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/824991
J U N E 2 0 1 7 I 2 5 Werner Herzog discusses Salt and Fire In Director Werner Herzog's new thriller, Salt and Fire, a scientific delegation tasked by the U.N. with investigating an ecological disaster in South America is kidnapped by the CEO of the corporation deemed responsible for the problem. After one of them is deliberately stranded with two blind boys in the middle of gigantic salt flats, she and her abductor must work together after a nearby super-volcano begins to show signs of an imminent eruption. Following the May 6 DGA membership screening in Los Angeles, Herzog joined Director Kevin Smith to discuss the making of Salt and Fire and the challenges of shooting the feature on location in Bolivia. Herzog's nearly 70 credits include the feature films Aguirre: The Wrath of God, Fitzcarraldo, Queen of the Desert; and episodes of the documentary series On Death Row. A DGA member since 2006, Herzog won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for his 2005 feature Grizzly Man. Photo: Kevin Smith (moderator) and Werner Herzog. photo by Howard Wise Elliott Lester discusses Aftermath A devastating plane crash inextricably binds two strangers together in Director Elliott Lester's new dramatic thriller, Aftermath. Inspired by actual events, Lester's tale of guilt and revenge reveals the story of what happens after an air traffic controller commits an error that leads to the death of a construction foreman's wife and pregnant daughter. Trying to make sense of his loss, the foreman blames the controller for the tragedy and demands answers in person. Following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles on May 7, Lester sat down with Director Gregory Plotkin to discuss the making of Aftermath. Lester's other credits include the features Sleepwalker, Blitz and Love Is the Drug; the Emmy Award-nominated movie for television Nightingale; and episodes of the television series Will, Containment and Chop Shop. He has been a DGA member since 2005. Photo: Elliott Lester and Gregory Plotkin (moderator). photo by Shane Karns Terry George discusses The Promise Director Terry George's historical drama, The Promise, tells the story of the romance between brilliant medical student Michael and beautiful dance instructor Ana, who are drawn together by their shared Armenian heritage. Complicating matters is Ana's boyfriend Chris, an American photojournalist dedicated to exposing political truth. The romantic rivalry must take a back seat to matters of survival as the Ottoman Empire crumbles into war-torn chaos and they must join forces to get their people to safety during the Armenian genocide. Following the April 23 DGA membership screening in New York, George sat down with Director Tony Gilroy to discuss the making of The Promise. George's credits include the features Reservation Road and Hotel Rwanda; the pilots for the series The District; and episodes of In Treatment. He won the Academy Award for "Best Short Film, Live Action" for The Shore (shared with Oorlagh George). George has been a DGA member since 1997. Photo: Tony Gilroy (moderator) and Terry George. photo by Marcie Revens More detailed descriptions, additional photos and podcasts are posted online at www.dga.org. DGA Events Roundup James Gray discusses The Lost City of Z Director James Gray's new action/drama feature, The Lost City of Z, takes us back to the dawn of the 20th Century and the incredible true story of British explorer Col. Percival Fawcett who discovers evidence of a previously unknown advanced civilization deep in the Amazonian jungle. Ridiculed by the scientific establishment, he and his followers return time and again to the jungle in an attempt to prove his case. Following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles on April 22, Gray sat down with Director Matt Reeves to discuss the challenges of making The Lost City of Z. Gray's credits include the feature film Little Odessa; an episode of the television series The Red Road; and the short Cowboys and Angels. He earned Palme d'Or nominations at the Cannes Film Festival for his features The Immigrant (2013), Two Lovers (2008), We Own the Night (2007) and The Yards (2000). Gray has been a DGA member since 2001. Photo: Matt Reeves (moderator) and James Gray. photo by Shane Karns