On this special episode, recorded at the 2017 Produced By: New York conference, production designers Paul Austerberry (The Shape of Water, Len and Company, Twilight Saga: Eclipse) and Santo Loquasto (Wonder Wheel, Blue Jasmine, Bullets Over Broadway) talk about how they do what they do.
About Paul Austerberry
Paul is the production designer on Guillermo del Toro’s critically acclaimed feature film The Shape of Water starring Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins and Octavia Spencer. The film recently won the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
Paul studied Architecture at Carleton University in Ottawa. Following graduation, he worked for two years as an architect designing small commercial and residential projects before segueing into design for film. Paul has designed extensively for feature film and television most recently developing the designs for Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming Fantastic Voyage. Other recent credits include Shut In starring Naomi Watts, Len and Company starring Rhys Ifans, Pompeii starring Kit Harington and Kiefer Sutherland, the international feature Libertador starring Edgar Ramirez, Deadfall starring Eric Bana and Olivia Wilde, The Three Musketeers starring Logan Lerman, Orlando Bloom and Christoph Waltz, Twilight Saga: Eclipse starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, Amelia starring Hilary Swank and Deathrace, starring Jason Statham. His additional credits as production designer include such features as 30 Days of Night, starring Josh Hartnett, Take the Lead, starring Antonio Banderas, Assault on Precinct 13, starring Ethan Hawke and Lawrence Fishbourne, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, starring Milla Jovovich, Highwaymen, starring James Caviezel, The Tuxedo with Jackie Chan and Jennifer Love Hewitt, Exit Wounds, starring Steven Seagal, the Canadian feature Men With Brooms and Mercy with Ellen Barkin and Julian Sands. As art director, Austerberry’s credits include X-Men, Forever Mine, The Corrupter, Half Baked, The Real Blonde, Extreme Measures, Harriet the Spy and Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy.
He was a Canadian Screen Award winner for Achievement in Art Direction / Production design for his work designing Pompeii and for television, he was awarded a Canadian Gemini for his work designing the musical special Inspired by Bach.
As a child Paul travelled extensively with his parents, including three years of living in Uganda. Travel inspires him as film has taken him to numerous locations around the world. Paul is based in Toronto.
About Santo Loquasto
Santo Loquasto a designer for theatre, film, dance and opera. He has received four Tony Awards and has been nominated 21 times. He has collaborated with Woody Allen on 30 films, including costume design for Zelig and production design for Radio Days and Bullets Over Broadway, for which he received Academy Award® nominations. He was nominated for awards for “Excellence in Production Design” from the Art Directors Guild for Café Society and Blue Jasmine.
Loquasto’s recent designs on Broadway include Hello, Dolly!, Shuffle Along, A Delicate Balance, Bullets Over Broadway, Fences, Wit, and The Assembled Parties. He received the Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration in 2002, was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in 2004, received the Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for the Arts in 2006 and the Robert L.B. Tobin Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2007, and the Gaudium Award in 2013.
*The views, opinions, statements, advice (legal or otherwise) and/or other information expressed or otherwise shared by the podcast participants are attributable solely to the podcast participants and do not reflect the opinions, viewpoints or policies of, or any endorsement by, the Producers Guild of America.
Producers Guild Award-winning Producer J. Miles Dale talks about The Shape of Water, and shares his advice on what people need to do to get into the industry.
About J. Miles Dale
Miles Dale, is a prolific producer and director with a career spanning over 30 years.
Most recently he has served as executive producer and principal director on all four seasons of the popular FX Networks series The Strain, created by Guillermo del Toro. He began his partnership with del Toro to produce the supernatural thriller hit Mama, starring two-time Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain.
Dale’s credits include the critically acclaimed remake of Carrie, starring Oscar-winner Julianne Moore, the box-office smash The Vow, starring Oscar nominee Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, and Universal Pictures’ sci-fi horror The Thing.
He produced the cult classic Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, New Line’s hit comedy Harold & Kumar go to White Castle, the critically acclaimed Flash of Genius, starring Oscar nominee Greg Kinnear, and Focus Features’ Hollywoodland, which received a Golden Globe nomination for Ben Affleck’s performance.
Dale made his feature film directorial debut in 2002 with Universal’s The Skulls III, and has directed episodes for a variety of television series, including The Strain and the hit ABC Family/Freeform series Shadowhunters, which was recently nominated for Favorite Cable/Sci-Fi Fantasy TV Show at the People’s Choice Awards.
Dale’s television credits include the Gemini Award nominated RoboCop: The Series, Emmy nominated Friday The 13th: The Series and the critically acclaimed TV movie All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story.
*The views, opinions, statements, advice (legal or otherwise) and/or other information expressed or otherwise shared by the podcast participants are attributable solely to the podcast participants and do not reflect the opinions, viewpoints or policies of, or any endorsement by, the Producers Guild of America.
Documentary producers Keith McQuirter and Nick Stuart join by phone to discuss their film Milwaukee 53206, documentary as a tool for social justice, and how they have taken their projects directly to communities in what Nick describes as “documentaries from below.”
About Keith McQuirter
Keith McQuirter is an award-winning producer and director with credits in TV documentary, new media and commercials. His documentary MILWAUKEE 53206 won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature Documentary at the 2017 Urbanworld Film Festival and won the National Council on Crime and Delinquency’s 2017 Media for a Just Society Award. Keith also co-produced the five-part Peabody Award winning and Prime Time Emmy nominated docu-series Brick City for the Sundance Channel. Having worked a number of years as an executive producer in advertising, Keith produced commercials for some of the biggest brands in entertainment, apparel, beauty, food and consumer products.
Keith studied film and television production at New York University Tisch School of the Arts where he was awarded the Martin Scorsese Young Filmmaker Award. He also studied directing at the National Theater Institute. His production company Decoder Media is based in New York City.
About Nick Stuart
Nick came over from the UK in 2009 after 20 years in broadcasting as a reporter, presenter and then director/producer, specializing in current affairs and also religion and its impact on the front page issues dominating our world.
Created Transform Films Inc. to produce documentaries, both shot form and long form, to highlight social justice issues - concentrating on strong character-led programs with deep access to communities , whether they be a Zip code, a town or a State Penitentiary. Always aiming to humanize issues in an attempt to break through the politicalization of justice issues and get to the real impact and consequences in people’s lives.
The films drive the impact campaigns to work with “the change-makers”, organizations and individuals already working for justice and supporting those whose lives have been hit by the issues each film highlights. The campaigns are run by the 501 (c ) 3 organization, Odyssey Impact.
*The views, opinions, statements, advice (legal or otherwise) and/or other information expressed or otherwise shared by the podcast participants are attributable solely to the podcast participants and do not reflect the opinions, viewpoints or policies of, or any endorsement by, the Producers Guild of America.
Amy Pascal and Kristie Macosko Krieger discuss working with Steven Spielberg, their lives as producers, and how they got into the industry.
About Amy Pascal
Amy Pascal is the Founder and CEO of Pascal Pictures, a film and television production company based at SONY. In addition to this summer’s smash hit Spider-Man: Homecoming, on which Pascal served as a producer, the company was also a major force behind the recent Ghostbusters re-launch.
Pascal has an impressive upcoming slate of films, including: Aaron Sorkin’s feature directorial debut, Molly’s Game, a film adaptation of Molly Bloom’s underground poker memoir to debut in December 2017; an animated Spider-Man film to be released in 2018; The Girl in the Spider’s Web, which is the sequel to Stieg Larsson’s successful The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy; and the live-action adaptation of Barbie based on Mattel’s iconic fashion doll.
Pascal grew up in Los Angeles where she still currently resides with her husband and son.
About Kristie Macosko Krieger
Kristie Macosko Krieger is an Academy Award®, PGA Award and BAFTA nominated producer whose working relationship with director Steven Spielberg spans over 20 years. She is currently in post-production on the upcoming Spielberg directed film Ready Player One, based on the best-selling book by Ernest Cline. Most recently, Krieger served as executive producer of The BFG and produced the Academy Award® nominated film Bridge of Spies. Additional producing credits include Lincoln, War Horse, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Krieger began her career with the USC Shoah Foundation, where she served as head of worldwide publicity. She joined the staff of DreamWorks Studios in 1997. She currently serves as part of the senior leadership team at Amblin Partners where she is involved with all aspects of Spielberg’s productions and helps guide the strategic direction of the company.
Krieger, a graduate of UC Davis, resides in Los Angeles with her husband and son.
*The views, opinions, statements, advice (legal or otherwise) and/or other information expressed or otherwise shared by the podcast participants are attributable solely to the podcast participants and do not reflect the opinions, viewpoints or policies of, or any endorsement by, the Producers Guild of America.
Producers David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman join me by phone to discuss their film Wonder and their work as producers in film and television.
David Hoberman
David Hoberman (Producer) is the founder and co-owner of Mandeville Films and Television. He is one of the leading producers in the entertainment industry today. His Disney-based company, Mandeville Films, is among the most profitable and respected production labels in the entertainment industry.
Other notable films include the critically hailed Academy Award©-nominated feature THE FIGHTER, starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams, and directed by David O. Russell. Produced for $25 million, the film went on to gross almost $130 million worldwide and earned a host of awards, including an Academy Award© nomination for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor and Actress Awards for Bale and Leo.
Hoberman founded Mandeville Films in 1995 and signed a five-year first look pact with the Walt Disney Studios. In 1999, Hoberman signed a first-look deal for Mandeville at the Walt Disney Studios with Lieberman. Two years later, Lieberman became a co-partner in the company.
Hoberman created the award-winning “Monk,” a one-hour series for USA Network. Executive-produced by Mandeville and spearheaded by Hoberman, “Monk” aired for eight seasons.
Prior to forming Mandeville Films, Hoberman served as president of the Motion Picture Group of the Walt Disney Studios, where he was responsible for overseeing development and production for all feature films for Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures. During Hoberman’s tenure, Disney was often the top studio in domestic box-office grosses. In 1990, PRETTY WOMAN, supervised by Hoberman, was the top- grossing film of the year, and its soundtrack was the top-selling soundtrack of the year. Hoberman was also behind major blockbusters at the studio, including FATHER OF THE BRIDE, WHAT ABOUT BOB, DEAD POETS SOCIETY, ED WOOD, DANGEROUS MINDS, RUTHLESS PEOPLE, BEACHES, THREE MEN AND A BABY and HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS. While an executive at Disney, Hoberman championed the first-ever full-length stop-motion animation feature, Tim Burton’s THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
Hoberman started his career working in the mailroom at ABC and quickly ascended in the entertainment business, working for Norman Lear’s Tandem/T.A.T. in television and film. He worked as a talent agent at ICM before joining Disney in 1985.
Today, Hoberman is an associate professor at UCLA’s Graduate School in the Producers Program. He sat on the board of the Starlight Starbright Foundation for more than 10 years, is a member of the Board of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America and sat on the Board of the Los Angeles Free Clinic for six years.
Hoberman is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He is a member of the Board of Suffolk University in Boston and on the Board of Overseers at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles.
Todd Lieberman
Todd Lieberman (Producer) is a co-owner of Mandeville Films and Television. He is one of the leading producers in the entertainment industry today. His Disney-based company, Mandeville Films, is among the most profitable and respected production labels in the entertainment industry.
In 2001, Lieberman was named one of the “35 under 35” people to watch in the business by The Hollywood Reporter, which also ranked Lieberman and Hoberman among the 30 most powerful producers in Hollywood. He holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania. Lieberman is a member of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences and a judge for the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting. He is also a member of the Television Academy and a Producer’s Guild mentor, as well as an active member of the Los Angeles chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization.
About Mandeville Films
Since its founding in 1995, Mandeville Films has produced feature films that have grossed more than $2.5 billion in domestic box-office receipts and their slate includes a wide variety of genres, anchored by character-driven stories with universal, often uplifting themes.
Todd and David’s most recent movie is Disney’s live-action retelling of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, starring Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as The Beast. The critically- hailed film, directed by Bill Condon, has broken boxoffice records worldwide and has become the highest grossing PG-rated film in North America of all time. It also stars Emma Thompson, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Luke Evans, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Ian McKellan, Ewan McGregor, Audra MacDonald.
Upcoming movies include STRONGER, the inspirational story of Boston marathon survivor Jeff Bauman, directed by David Gordon Green, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Tatiana Maslany, Miranda Richardson and Clancy Brown, to be released September 22, 2017 by Roadside Attractions. STRONGER makes its world premiere at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival. Following that is WONDER, based on R.J. Palacio’s best-selling YA novel, directed by Stephen Chbosky, starring Julia Roberts, Jason Tremblay and Daveed Diggs, to be released November 17, 2017 by Lionsgate. Both films were developed in house at Mandeville. Mandeville is currently in production on EXTINCTION, a sci-fi thriller starring Michael Pena and Lizzy Caplan, directed by Ben Young, to be released by Universal Pictures. Mandeville is also in pre-production THE AERONAUTS for Amazon Studios, written by Jack Thorne, based on the true story of balloon pilot Amelia Wren and scientist James Glaisher and their extraordinary and harrowing journey to discover the secrets of the skies.
Mandeville also produced THE MUPPETS, starring Jason Segel, Amy Adams and Walter, the newest Muppet. Directed by James Bobin, written by Segel and Nick Stoller, THE MUPPETS was one of the best-reviewed films of 2011 and earned the Academy Award© for Best Song. Mandeville also produced the next MUPPET installment, MUPPETS MOST WANTED. Lieberman also produced WARM BODIES, the genre-bending “zombie romance” based on Isaac Marion’s novel, starring Nicholas Hoult, John Malkovich and Teresa Palmer, written and directed by Jonathan Levine, for Summit/Lionsgate. Mandeville executive produced INSURGENT and ALLEGIANT, part of the DIVERGENT movie series.
Mandeville has a first look deal with Disney, which has been the company’s home for over 20 years.
Under the Disney banner, Mandeville produced a string of hits, including the romantic comedy THE PROPOSAL, starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. THE PROPOSAL became the highest grossing romantic comedy of 2009, earning over $317 million worldwide. It was the People’s Choice award winner for Best Comedy of the year and Mandeville crossed the billion dollar mark in terms of box office revenue with THE PROPOSAL.
*The views, opinions, statements, advice (legal or otherwise) and/or other information expressed or otherwise shared by the podcast participants are attributable solely to the podcast participants and do not reflect the opinions, viewpoints or policies of, or any endorsement by, the Producers Guild of America.
Hutch Parker joins me to discuss his latest film Logan, and sheds some light on what filmmakers should be thinking about as they consider working with major studios.
About Hutch Parker
Hutch Parker is a film and television producer whose recent projects include the critically-acclaimed features, Logan starring Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart in the box office hit, and Patriots Day starring Mark Walberg in the true-life story about the heroes of the Boston Marathon bombing. He is currently on location producing X-Men: Dark Phoenix, the latest installment in the long-running franchise. Other producing credits include X-Men: Apocalypse, Fantastic Four, as well as the blockbuster X-Men: Days of Future Past, and The Wolverine.
Hutch currently has an overall producing deal at 20th Century Fox, where he previously spent 1995-2008 -- the bulk of his career -- as a film executive. He served as President and subsequently Vice Chairman of the Film Group, overseeing all of 20th Century Fox film operations including the animation division. During Hutch’s tenure at Fox, the studio enjoyed six record breaking years with films such as Avatar, the X Men franchise, Master and Commander, Die Hard: Live Free or Die Hard, Taken, Minority Report, Borat, Kingdom of Heaven, The Day After Tomorrow, Ice Age, Cheaper by the Dozen, I Robot, Night at the Museum, and There’s Something About Mary.
In 2008 Hutch was appointed co-chairman of New Regency Entertainment (co-owned by 20th Century Fox) heading film and television operations. New Regency was responsible for projects such as Mister and Mrs. Smith, Marley and Me, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Love and Other Drugs, Knight and Day, among others.
Prior to Fox, Hutch held the positions of Senior Vice President of Production at HBO and Senior Vice President of Orion Pictures. Hutch was born in New York and graduated from Princeton University.
*The views, opinions, statements, advice (legal or otherwise) and/or other information expressed or otherwise shared by the podcast participants are attributable solely to the podcast participants and do not reflect the opinions, viewpoints or policies of, or any endorsement by, the Producers Guild of America.