SEASON 2 - EPISODE 171 - LEDs - with Jeffrey Lee, Ph.D.

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we return to the world of LEDs. After speaking with Tim S. Kang (Season 2, Episode 165), we realized we had even more questions! To answer them, we invited Jeffrey Lee, Ph.D. who works at Fiilex Lighting as its Chief Product Officer to speak with us. We learn how Jeff's background in biology and physics and interest in the physical properties of light led him to work at Fiilex, and he shares what the company is doing to address the bottlenecks inhibiting further innovation in LED fixture design. Our questions run the gamut (again) on LED lighting technology, and Jeff teaches us how colour is really emitted from the fixtures. We also discuss how filmmakers and engineers deal with the spikes in a given fixture's colour spectrum, and we brainstorm future possibilities of the lights' designs. Plus, we learn the best tool to use to light worms, and we accidentally develop a new task for Jeff's intern.

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 170 - Cristian Mungiu - Director

In this extended episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with director Cristian Mungiu (R.M.N., GRADUATION, BEYOND THE HILLS). Cristian's films—which we deeply admire—largely focus on social issues in his native country of Romania, and though they are told in his own unique voice, his films explore problems many in the world face today. We learn how the fall of communism and Ceaușescu's regime in Cristian's youth enabled him to become a filmmaker, and he reflects on the lingering effects of the country's cinematic culture before and after the Romanian Revolution. We spend much of our conversation discovering how Cristian approaches filmmaking and cinematic storytelling, and he shares how he works on any given day in production. Cristian also reveals how his films are received by Romanian audiences, and we discuss our commitment as filmmakers to presenting the truth as we see it. Plus, Cristian lets us know what to expect in his upcoming feature, FJORD.

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Recommended Viewing: R.M.N., GRADUATION, BEYOND THE HILLS

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 169 - Edgar Wright - Director

Director Edgar Wright (THE RUNNING MAN, SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD, SHAUN OF THE DEAD) joins us in this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. Edgar is responsible for one of our favourite films, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, and we didn't miss the opportunity to ask as many questions about it as we could. He shares the film's connection to director Mike Leigh's (Season 1, Episode 76) work, and we learn how the film was developed during Edgar's free time while directing television at the BBC. We also learn how he got his first directing gig at the broadcaster at age 21, and he reveals the veteran crew members' reactions to discovering he wasn't a nepo baby. We later discuss his general approach to coverage, his strategy to pick up inserts, and how he protected his creative identity when he began shooting films for Hollywood. Plus, Edgar reveals why he decided to direct THE RUNNING MAN, and we learn how it differs from the previous adaptation.

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Recommended Viewing: SHAUN OF THE DEAD

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 168 - Ted Schilowitz - Futurist

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with futurist Ted Schilowitz. Ted has spent his life working in entertainment, from producing commercials in Florida to exploring virtual reality at Fox and Paramount, and we thought his perspective on the relationship between technology and entertainment could help us better understand where we might be headed. Over the course of our conversation, we discover that to think of the future, we need to remember the past, and Ted connects recent developments in technology to a number of breakthroughs he was witness to himself. We learn about Grass Valley—the video equivalent of Silicon Valley—and of the origins of the RED camera system, and Ted reveals Apple's early attempts to bring digital video to their computer systems. We also discuss modern consumer trends and our changing relationships with screens, and we learn about Kodak's missed opportunity in the prehistoric days of digital cameras. Ted later shares his observations on AI, and he makes a prediction of what we'll see over the next five years of cinema.

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This episode is sponsored by Sandstorm & Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 167 - James Laxton - Cinematographer

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer James Laxton (THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, ANYTHING, MOONLIGHT). If you've seen a film directed by Barry Jenkins (Season 2, Episode 156), then you've seen James' work. Throughout much of the episode, we discuss his longstanding collaborative relationship with Barry, but we also learn how James tries to fit into the visions of the other directors he's worked with. The three of us share a love for preparation, and we learn how James' prep process has evolved and also stayed the same in both his work with Barry and with other filmmakers. James later reveals his perspective on executing the sweeping camera move in the diner in the final act of MOONLIGHT, and we discuss his work using colour in ANYTHING. We also compare our experiences working in animation, and James reflects on being a terrible assistant camera in his salad years.

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Recommended Viewing: ANYTHING, MOONLIGHT, MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure & Sandstorm

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 166 - Reflections: On Cinematography - written by Roger Deakins

In this special "Turning the Tables" episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, cinematographer Roberto Schaefer (Season 1, Episode 162) returns to lead us in a conversation about Roger's new memoir, Reflections: On Cinematography. In the book, Roger tells the story of his life from his childhood in rural, seaside England to the present day, and he reveals the reasoning behind many of the creative and practical decisions of numerous projects, from his early documentary work and music videos to films such as 1984, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, and 1917. In our conversation with Roberto, he asks why Roger decided to write it in the first place, and Roger shares what his ultimate intent was when putting it together. Reflections also features unseen photographs, sketches, and diagrams from Roger's personal archive, and he reflects on the process of picking and choosing which memories and films to write about. This episode will offer a small sample of what to expect in the full book, so if you like what you hear, you can place a pre-order after listening.

Reflections: On Cinematography will be available on November 11, 2025 in the United States and Canada, and it will later be available in the UK on February 12, 2026. Pre-order information can be found at this link.

Books ordered through the ASC store will be shipped globally while supplies last.

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This episode is sponsored by Sandstorm & Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 165 - LEDs - with Tim S. Kang

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we learn about LED lighting. LEDs are now commonplace in productions, and we thought an episode about the technology and its applications could be helpful for anyone with as many questions as us. Our guest is Tim S. Kang, a cinematographer and the principal engineer for imaging applications at Aputure, and we start by learning how Tim came to work on this side of the business. He also helps us understand a number of topics, including: the history of lighting in cinema, the definition of spectrum, the evolution of LEDs, and the possibilities of lighting in post. We also discuss the efforts to institute a standard among LED fixtures, and we reflect on the historical problem cinematographers have always faced: inconsistencies with light sources.

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure & Sandstorm

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 164 - 28 YEARS LATER - with Anthony Dod Mantle

In this special episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle (Season 1, Episode 68) returns to discuss his work on 28 YEARS LATER. The film was shot extensively using modified iPhones, and Anthony shares his early conversations with director Danny Boyle about the film's intended rural setting that informed their decision to commit to using the devices. Anthony later explains how he jailbroke the iPhone's camera system with the help of tech advisors and employees at Apple, and we discuss how the limitations of the phone forced Anthony to adjust the amount of light he used while filming. We also learn how the bar cam system actually works, and Anthony details the type of VFX work done throughout the film. We later investigate why the sequel was shot with an Alexa, and Anthony describes the elaborate build of the Bone Temple location featured prominently in both films.

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Recommended Viewing: 28 YEARS LATER

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This episode is sponsored by Sandstorm & Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 163 - Iris Prize LGTBQ+ Film Festival - with Lewis Bayley

In this special episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with Lewis Bayley, Industry Coordinator for the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Lewis invited us to speak with him about filmmaking earlier this year, and what you'll hear is that recorded conversation. We had the pleasure of discussing many topics with Lewis, such as the overall importance of film festivals and our longtime efforts giving back to younger generations of filmmakers. Additionally, we share a few work stories from our long careers, Roger gives a preview of what to expect in his upcoming memoir, Reflections, and James reveals the game she played with director Martin Scorsese while we were shooting KUNDUN in the Moroccan desert. The Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival is hosted annually in Cardiff, Wales with talks, panels, and screenings of shorts and features highlighting the myriad of experiences within the global LGBTQ+ community, and we were happy to be a small part of their 19th edition.

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure & Sandstorm

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 162 - Dante Spinotti - Cinematographer

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer Dante Spinotti (ANT-MAN AND THE WASP, HEAT, THE LEGEND OF THE HOLY DRINKER). During our conversation, Dante reflects on his Italian upbringing and on the formative year he spent shooting photographs in Nairobi, Kenya. Dante has also frequently shot films with director Michael Mann, and he shares a number of stories from their years of working together. While best-known for his work in Hollywood, Dante still found time to shoot films in his native country, and we specifically discuss his experiences working with director Ermanno Olmi on THE LEGEND OF THE HOLY DRINKER. Dante has also survived the Marvel movie machine, and he reflects on the changes in technology and filmmakers' approach to filmmaking that he's witnessed over the course of his career. We also discuss his experiences transitioning to using digital cameras, and we reflect on the value of discipline and preparation—no matter your shooting format.

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This episode is sponsored by Sandstorm & Aputure

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 161 - Atom Egoyan - Director

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with director Atom Egoyan (SEVEN VEILS, THE SWEET HEREAFTER, EXOTICA) in an extended conversation. Atom was born in Cairo and raised in Canada, and his young love for theatre grew to encompass filmmaking after a hard rejection in college. Throughout our winding conversation, we discuss the creation of many of his films, and Atom asks us a few questions too! Atom's films vary in their visual styles, and he frequently collaborates with cinematographer Paul Sarossy (Season 1, Episode 111), and he reveals how they first met and how they like to work together. Atom also shares why he restructured THE SWEET HEREAFTER in post, and we discuss the power of withholding information from the audience. We also learn why Atom chose to avoid a conventional historical drama when constructing ARARAT, a film about the Armenian Genocide, and we reflect on cinema's ability to communicate the horrors of history.

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Recommended Viewing: ARARAT, THE SWEET HEREAFTER

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure & Sandstorm