TDS Time Machine | Filmmakers
Spotlight on modern directors and the art of storytelling: in-depth director interviews
This episode gathers candid conversations with leading filmmakers — Martin Scorsese, Jordan Peele, Greta Gerwig, Taika Waititi, George Lucas, and Brady Corbet — to explore how film history, personal experience, and daring creative choices shape contemporary cinema. From historical restorations to debut features, each guest explains a different facet of making movies that matter.
Martin Scorsese on Méliès, 3D filmmaking, and family-friendly cinema
Scorsese discusses Hugo as a love letter to Georges Méliès, the rediscovery of early cinema at Montparnasse station, and the technical choices behind shooting in 3D for emotional clarity. He connects restoration and biopic filmmaking to modern visual storytelling and the lineage from Méliès to today's directors.
Jordan Peele on social thrillers, race, and crafting Get Out
Peele frames Get Out as a "social thriller" that blends satire and horror to expose subtle systemic racism. He discusses audience reactions, genre labels, and how provocative scenes — like the party sequence — surface real-world racial dynamics and the "sunken place" metaphor.
Greta Gerwig on Lady Bird, mother-daughter storytelling, and indie success
Gerwig explains writing and directing from a woman’s perspective, how authentic mother-daughter conflict drives character, and transitioning from indie auteur to mainstream opportunities. She praises collaboration and highlights how specificity resonates broadly.
Taika Waititi on satire, child perspectives, and Jojo Rabbit’s tonal risks
Waititi reveals the difficulty of pitching a satire about a child in Nazi Germany and why using a child’s point of view creates emotional proximity to indoctrination themes. He discusses tonal shifts, comedy-meets-tragedy balance, and working with young actors.
George Lucas, nostalgia, and storytelling across generations
Lucas reflects on Star Wars’ cultural reach, multigenerational fandom, and balancing creative legacy with evolving audience expectations. He also touches on television work and producing historical features like Red Tails.
Brady Corbet on The Brutalist, architecture on film, and directing actors
Corbet discusses blending historical architectural themes with intimate human drama, directing intense actor physicality, and practical constraints of a tight shooting schedule that demanded precise performance and visual choices.
Key topics covered:- Film restoration and Georges Méliès’ influence on modern cinema
- Genre-bending techniques: social thrillers, satirical war dramas, and family 3D films
- Directing debut strategies, collaboration, and balancing indie and blockbuster ambitions
- How historical context, nostalgia, and architecture inform cinematic storytelling
This episode is essential listening for cinephiles, aspiring directors, and anyone curious about how filmmakers translate history, politics, and personal memory into compelling screen narratives.
