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BENNY SAFDIE (Uncut Gems): Directing Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in THE SMASHING MACHINE plus filmmaking tips.
Manage episode 509420710 series 2851544
Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems, The Curse) joins this weeks The Filmmakers Podcast to discuss the challenging process of directing his solo feature debut, the gritty sports biopic The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson as MMA legend Mark Kerr. Fellow filmmakers Giles Alderson and Dom Lenoir sit with Benny and dive into the Safdie style, his approach to directing actors and making raw, kinetic cinema. As one half of the acclaimed Safdie Brothers duo, Benny co-directed, co-wrote, and edited films that make your heart pound out of your chest. We’re talking about the incredible, neon-drenched chase thriller "Good Time," and the anxiety-inducing, chaotic masterpiece "Uncut Gems," starring Adam Sandler. These films established a gritty, naturalistic style, full of propulsive energy, often focusing on outsiders desperately struggling in the urban landscape of New York. But he’s not just a master behind the camera! As an actor, he has completely transformed and disappeared into roles, giving incredible performances like the troubled Nick Nikas in "Good Time," the compassionate Joel Wachs in Paul Thomas Anderson’s "Licorice Pizza," and the brilliant physicist Edward Teller in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster, "Oppenheimer." He’s even popped up in TV like "Obi-Wan Kenobi" and co-created, wrote, directed, and starred in the critically praised Showtime series, "The Curse." And now, he’s stepped out as a solo director, writer, and editor with the highly anticipated film, "The Smashing Machine." This intense biographical sports drama, which premiered to acclaim at the Venice Film Festival, stars a completely transformed Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as pioneering MMA fighter Mark Kerr, alongside the brilliant Emily Blunt and other great actors. It's a grittier, unflinching look at a champion struggling with addiction and the pressures of the sport. He's a true filmmaking polymath who brings a raw, authentic urgency to everything he touches. It's the brilliant Benny Safdie!
OTHER LINKS
FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.
A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the vegan
lifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take a
moment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review
& every comment helps us share the film’s important message with
more people. Your support makes a difference!
Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/
Want to learn how to finish your film?
Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/
Big thank you to:
Serena Gardner
Mark Hammett
Lee Hutchings
Marli J Monroe
Karen Newman
Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com
CREDITS
The Filmmakers Podcast is written and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson
Edited by @tobiasvees
Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative
Theme Music by John J. Harvey
For more interviews on filmmaking like this go to www.thefilmmakerspodcast.com #Director #creative #BennySafdie, #JoshSafdie, #SafdieBrothers, #directing #interview #thefilmmakerspodcast #filmmakerspodcast, #screenwriting, #editing, #directingstyle, #A24. #thesmashingmachine , #UncutGems, #GoodTime, #TheCurse, #Oppenheimer, #Licorice Pizza. #DwayneJohnson, #MarkKerr, #MMAmovie, sports biopic, acting vs directing, The Smashing Machine #behindthescenes
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
476 episodes
Manage episode 509420710 series 2851544
Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems, The Curse) joins this weeks The Filmmakers Podcast to discuss the challenging process of directing his solo feature debut, the gritty sports biopic The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson as MMA legend Mark Kerr. Fellow filmmakers Giles Alderson and Dom Lenoir sit with Benny and dive into the Safdie style, his approach to directing actors and making raw, kinetic cinema. As one half of the acclaimed Safdie Brothers duo, Benny co-directed, co-wrote, and edited films that make your heart pound out of your chest. We’re talking about the incredible, neon-drenched chase thriller "Good Time," and the anxiety-inducing, chaotic masterpiece "Uncut Gems," starring Adam Sandler. These films established a gritty, naturalistic style, full of propulsive energy, often focusing on outsiders desperately struggling in the urban landscape of New York. But he’s not just a master behind the camera! As an actor, he has completely transformed and disappeared into roles, giving incredible performances like the troubled Nick Nikas in "Good Time," the compassionate Joel Wachs in Paul Thomas Anderson’s "Licorice Pizza," and the brilliant physicist Edward Teller in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster, "Oppenheimer." He’s even popped up in TV like "Obi-Wan Kenobi" and co-created, wrote, directed, and starred in the critically praised Showtime series, "The Curse." And now, he’s stepped out as a solo director, writer, and editor with the highly anticipated film, "The Smashing Machine." This intense biographical sports drama, which premiered to acclaim at the Venice Film Festival, stars a completely transformed Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as pioneering MMA fighter Mark Kerr, alongside the brilliant Emily Blunt and other great actors. It's a grittier, unflinching look at a champion struggling with addiction and the pressures of the sport. He's a true filmmaking polymath who brings a raw, authentic urgency to everything he touches. It's the brilliant Benny Safdie!
OTHER LINKS
FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.
A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the vegan
lifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take a
moment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review
& every comment helps us share the film’s important message with
more people. Your support makes a difference!
Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/
Want to learn how to finish your film?
Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/
Big thank you to:
Serena Gardner
Mark Hammett
Lee Hutchings
Marli J Monroe
Karen Newman
Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com
CREDITS
The Filmmakers Podcast is written and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson
Edited by @tobiasvees
Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative
Theme Music by John J. Harvey
For more interviews on filmmaking like this go to www.thefilmmakerspodcast.com #Director #creative #BennySafdie, #JoshSafdie, #SafdieBrothers, #directing #interview #thefilmmakerspodcast #filmmakerspodcast, #screenwriting, #editing, #directingstyle, #A24. #thesmashingmachine , #UncutGems, #GoodTime, #TheCurse, #Oppenheimer, #Licorice Pizza. #DwayneJohnson, #MarkKerr, #MMAmovie, sports biopic, acting vs directing, The Smashing Machine #behindthescenes
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
476 episodes
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