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The entertainment industry influencers sit down with the New York Film Academy to discuss the world of filmmaking to share their experience and knowledge. Hear from legends of the industry like Al Pacino, Bryan Cranston, Aubrey Plaza, Seth Rogen and many more.

New York Film Academy


    • Apr 12, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 32m AVG DURATION
    • 75 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Backlot

    Paramount Pictures CEO Jim Gianopulos

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2021 24:10


    Listen as Paramount Pitcures CEO Jim Gianopulos talks about his professional path from being an aspiring lawyer for the Rolling Stones to head of Fox and then Paramount.

    Basurero Writer, Director, and Producer Eileen Cabiling

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2021 26:42


    Writer, Director, and Producer Eileen Cabiling discusses her creative process and her inspiration for the critically acclaimed short film Basurero.

    Cobra Kai, Taken, and The Transporter Screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2021 33:36


    Screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen discusses working with Luc Besson on The Professional (Leon), The Fifth Element, Kiss of The Dragon, the Taken series, and his inspiration for and work on The Karate Kid.

    Nollywood Filmmaker Femi Odugbemi

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2021 31:42


    On this episode of The Backlot, we sit down with Nollywood filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi as he discusses the rise of Nollywood and the direction he hopes the industry will take.

    Actress Nathalie Emmanuel Talks Game of Thrones

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 34:59


    Nathalie Emmanuel discusses her iconic role as Missandei on Game of Thrones as well as her more recent roles, including starring along side Kevin Hart in Quibi's Die Hart and Mindy Kaling's Four Weddings and a Funeral reboot.

    Academy Award Nominated Actress Juliette Lewis

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2021 38:37


    On this episode Academy Award nominated actress Juliette Lewis recounts her start in the industry, her experience filming "Cape Fear" with Martin Scorsese and "Kalifornia" with then boyfriend Brad Pitt.

    Vilmos Zsigmond

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2021 35:14


    Listen to cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, whose work on Close Encounters of the Third Kind garnered him an Academy Award, as he speaks on his career and his experience filming McCabe & Mrs. Miller, The Deer Hunter, and working with Steven Spielberg.

    Actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2021 18:54


    Since he was an acting student at NYFA, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo has worked in Hollywood hits such as "The Magnificent Seven", "Widows", and "Murder on the Orient Express". On this Episode of The Backlot, he takes time to come back to his alma mater and discuss how he got started, his career, and his experiences on set.

    Actor and Director Lou Diamond Phillips

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2021 35:03


    After breaking onto the scene with a Golden Globe-winning performance for his role in Stand and Deliver (1988), Lou Diamond Phillips remains a strong name in Hollywood. Listen to our interview with him as he discussing directing, acting opposite Denzel Washington, and more.

    Head of Animation Amy Smeed

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2020 33:36


    Get to know Amy Smeed, head of animation on Disney's Moana and Raya and the Last Dragon. Smeed discusses the process of creating the character of Moana and the importance of truly understanding and knowing your character as well as acting out scenes.

    Academy Award-Winning Cinematographer Janusz Kaminski

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2020 31:07


    In this episode, we sit down with Janusz Kaminski, an Oscar-winner from his work as the cinematographer on Schindler's List (1993) and Saving Private Ryan (1998). Listen along as he speaks about his start in the industry and working with the legendary Steven Spielberg.

    Director Kelly Fremon Craig

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 24:34


    Kelly Fremon Craig gathered an impressive reputation after working as the writer and director of The Edge of Seventeen (2016) and takes the time to discuss her experience on the film with us, including working closely with Oscar-winner James L Brooks.

    Actor Hayden Szeto

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2020 34:24


    On this episode, NYFA alum Hayden Szeto discusses how he got his start in the industry, the auditioning process, and what it was like filming "The Edge of Seventeen" (2016).

    Actor Beanie Feldstein

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2020 44:19


    After playing prominent roles in hit films "Lady Bird" and "Booksmart", Beanie Feldstein recently worked as the star on "How to Build a Girl." Talking to Eric Conner from NYFA, Feldstein takes times to discuss her experience on Broadway and her challenges as Johanna in "How to Build a Girl".

    Actor Alec Baldwin

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2020 25:39


    Former Oscar nominee Alec Baldwin has made his mark all over Hollywood, such as starring in the popular sitcom "30 Rock", his role in the action-filled "Mission Impossible" series, and his legendary monologue in "Glengarry Glen Ross." Listen as he recounts his acting career.

    Director and Producer Regina Hudlin

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2020 31:07


    Reginald Hudlin, director of "House Party" and producer of "Django Unchained," "Marshall," and Netflix's "The Black Godfather", discusses his experience working with the award-winning Quentin Tarantino on Django.

    Peter Rainer: The Life of a Film Critic

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2020 40:01


    Noted film critic and author Peter Rainer joins The Back Lot to discuss the profession of film critic after working for The New Yorker, The L.A. Times, and currently the Christian Science Monitor.

    Actor Jonah Hill

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2020 25:20


    From comedies such as 21 Jump Street and Super Bad to Oscar-nominated performances in Moneyball and Wolf of Wall Street, Jonah Hill has carved out an impressive career in Hollywood. Take a listen as he discusses how he became an actor and his experiences working with living legends such as Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Brad Pitt.

    King Cohen: Discovering Larry Cohen

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2020 42:47


    On this week's podcast, we sit down with Steve Mitchell and Matt Verboys, the directors of "King Cohen", to discuss the career of legendary Sci-fi and horror screenwriter Larry Cohen.

    Oscar-Winning Director Ron Howard

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2020 32:01


    Ron Howard joins us to discuss his acting and directing career in Hollywood, including his Oscar-winning work on A Beautiful Mind and other classics such as Apollo 13 and American Graffiti.

    Film Critic Peter Rainer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2020 39:35


    In this episode, Peter Rainer discusses his career, approach to film critique and how critics can uplift films that would otherwise go relatively unnoticed.

    Director Steven Spielberg

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2020 32:33


    There are few working today with as an illustrious career as Steven Spielberg, whose works have been nominated for 14 Oscars, including three wins. Listen as he discusses the filming of Jaws and how he came to choose films such as Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan.

    Producer Nicole Avant

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2020 27:23


    Nicole Avant's father, Clarence Avant, worked as a music executive who kickstarted countless musicians, including the late Bill Withers. Listen as we sit down with her to talk about her powerful new documentary on Netflix, The Black Godfather.

    Screenwriter Derek Kolstad

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2020 27:23


    For the fans of the snappy dialogue from the John Wick trilogy, Derek Kolstad is the man to thank. We got the chance to sit with him and discuss his career, from how he got into screenwriting to how he treats his characters.

    Peter Rainer on Films & Directors

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2020 14:48


    Peter Rainer has a long career has a film critic, but the inspiration to get into the film industry goes back even further. Listen here as he talks about the works and directors that inspired him, such as American classics like The Godfather and international innovators like Japanese director Akria Kurosawa.

    Peter Rainer Reviews The 2020 Academy Awards

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2020 28:49


    Film Critic Peter Rainer looks back at the 2020 Academy Awards, including Parasite's historic night, his takes on the acting categories, and more. Listen to his review here.

    Actress Rachel Bloom

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2020 30:45


    Rachel Bloom started as the creator of videos on the internet, eventually garnering attention that would lead to the creation of her hit Golden Globe-winning TV show, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend". She sits down with us today to discuss her work on the show she stars in.

    Actor Tony Hale

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2020 37:01


    Tony Hale has put together quite the comedic career in Hollywood, featuring heavily in two of the most successful comedy TV shows: Arrested Development and Veep. We talked with him to discuss his start in the industry and his career.

    Producer & Ace Entertainment CEO Matt Kaplan

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2020 19:47


    A conversation with founder and CEO of Ace Entertainment, Matt Kaplan, who produced Netflix's 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before.'

    Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2020 33:05


    Potentially nothing has changed film over the past decade-plus quite like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Kevin Feige is the man behind the mission that has led them to so much success. He sat down with NYFA to discuss how he did it.

    Actor Sir Ben Kingsley

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2020 51:02


    Sir Ben Kingsley has played some of the most powerful roles in film, from his Oscar-winning performance in "Gandhi" to his character in "Schindler's List." Listen here to when he joined us to discuss his career.

    Die Hard with Nick Sivakumaran

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2019 62:23


    On this episode of The Backlot, we sit down with NYFA senior directing instructor Nick Sivakumaran to discuss a Christmas (or is it?) classic: Die Hard.

    Ugly Lies The Bone

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2019 33:10


    On this episode of The Backlot, we speak with the lead actor, Isabelle Germain, and director, Coco de Bruycker, of the NYFA Student Directed Play, Ugly Lies The Bone.

    Mario Van Peebles

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2019 18:40


    In this episode of The backlot, we sit down with Mario Van Peebles (New Jack City, Ali) as he talks about the challenges of directing, acting and the balancing act between the two.

    Bill Hader

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2019 38:08


    In this episode, we sit down with NYFA Filmmaking alum Bill Hader as he speaks about his hit show Barry as well as his experience on Saturday Night Live.

    John Altshuler

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2019 38:07


    In this episode, we speak with writer-producer John Altschuler, the mind behind two of TV's most legendary shows King of the Hill and Silicon Valley.

    Peter Rainer's 2018 Hollywood In Memoriam

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2019 30:26


    Film critic and NYFA master faculty member Peter Rainer takes a look back at the film greats we lost in 2018: from Doris Day to Stanley Donen to John Singleton. Listen now!

    Steven Caple Jr. and Dolph Lundgren discuss Creed 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2019 44:27


    We sit down with director Steven Caple Jr. and Ivan Drago himself, Dolph Lundgren as they discuss Creed 2 and the Rocky franchise.

    Allan Heinberg

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2019 46:00


    In this episode, we bring you writer and producer Allan Heinberg whose credits include Wonder Woman, Grey's Anatomy, Gilmore Girls, The O.C., and Sex and the City just to name a few.

    Ayelet Zurer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2019 34:46


    In this episode, we sit down with Ayelet Zurer, an accomplished Israeli actress who has had several iconic roles in Hollywood US, like that of Vanessa Marianna in "Daredevil."

    Cedric the Entertainer

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2019 40:12


    Join us, as we sit down with Cedric the Entertainer, one of the hardest working people in show business, and discuss his career and credits including "Barbershop."

    Nancy Meyers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2019 29:07


    In this episode, we sit down with writer and producer, Nancy Meyers, to discuss her career and what sets her apart in Hollywood: putting female characters front and center.

    Gordon Smith

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2019 44:42


    In this episode of The Backlot, we sit down with Gordon Smith, the Emmy Award-winning writer for Better Caul Saul as he recounts his approach to screenwriting.

    Jan De Bont

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2019 38:38


    This week we sit down with Jan De Bont, the Producer and Academy Award nominated Director behind Speed, Twister, Minority Report, and The Haunting.

    Women in Animation: Careen Ingle, Anne Walker Farrell, and Kelly Harper

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2019 38:10


    We sat down with Careen Ingle, director of Unikitty, Anne Walker Farrell, director of Bojack Horseman, and Kelly Harper who works as a development executive at Comedy Central.

    Ted Sarandos

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2019 32:03


    On this episode of The Backlot, we speak with Netflix Chief Content Officer, Ted Sarandos. He's the man who green-lit some of your favorite shows, like Stranger Things, and The Crown and so many more..

    Chad Stahelski

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2019 32:05


    In this episode of The Backlot, we talk with Chad Stahelski, stuntman turned director who's worked on action blockbusters Captain America: Civil War, John Wick, and The Matrix Reloaded.

    Sean Young

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2019 36:16


    Join us as we sit down with actor Sean Young as she recounts her experience filming one of the greatest science fiction movies of all time, Blade Runner.

    Ernie Hudson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2019 24:29


    Join us as we talk to actor Ernie Hudson and discuss his role as one of the OG Ghostbusters as well as his other roles in The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, and Congo.

    Adam Driver

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2019 28:30


    In this episode of The Backlot, we sit down with Adam Driver as he discusses his career path to acting as well as his experience in the military. Known for his roles in Start Wars, Paterson, and Girls, Driver explained his acting technique and his approach to learning lines as well as characters. Join Us!

    Jay Roach

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2018 41:43


    Join us as we sit down with director, producer, and writer Jay Roach as he recounts his experience filming Trumbo, Meet the Parents, Austin Powers, and Borat.

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