The HFPA in Conversation

Danish writer/director Anders Thomas Jensen sat down with journalist Tina Jøhnk Christensen to discuss his career, including winning an Oscar for his short film Election Night in 1998, life in Denmark vs life in Hollywood, what inspires him, and more. 

Director/screenwriter Damian Harris & actor Jamie Harris sat down with journalist Patricia Danaher to discuss their documentary The Ghosts of Richard Harris, which examines the life of their father, the late great actor Richard Harris. They talk about growing up with him as a father, his love for songs and poetry, his lifelong dream to play rugby for Ireland, and more. 

Makeup artist Nick Barose sat down with Tina Jøhnk Chirstensen to discuss his career in the business. They discuss his knowledge of color palettes and skin tones, working with Lupita Nyong'o, catering to talents' various tastes, growing up in the Philippines, how experimenting with drag taught him about fashion, and more. 

Moroccan director, screenwriter, and producer Asmae El Moudir sat down with journalist Brent Simon to discuss her film The Mother of All Lies, which won both the L'Oeil d'or for Best Documentary and the Best Director award in the Un Certain Regard category. They discuss the film's themes, how the entire film unraveled from one lone photograph from her childhood, using miniatures to recreate memory, her cinematic inspirations, and more. 

Hungarian filmmaker Flóra Buda sat down with HFPA journalist Aniko Navai to discuss her animated short film "27", which just won the Palme d'Or for Best Short Film at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. They also discuss her inspirations, the difference between animation and live action, her desires to push into longer form stories, and more. 

HFPA journalists Brent Simon, KJ Matthews, and Yong Chavez sat down to discuss this year's Cannes Film Festival, which wrapped this past weekend. They talk about the films they enjoyed, the vibe of Cannes being "back", the unique culture surrounding the festival, and more. 

Film producer and author Sean Hepburn Ferrer sat down with HFPA journalist Barbara de Olivera Pinto to celebrate and discuss the legacy of his mother Audrey Hepburn, whose film Roman Holiday celebrates 70 years since its initial release. They also talk about his family life, his relationship with Gregory Peck, growing up as the son of a famous Hollywood star, and more.

Stunt woman and scuba diver Szilvia Gogh sat down with HFPA journalist Aniko Navai to discuss her life and career, and how it brought her to work on the sequel to James Cameron's Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water. They also discuss how she came to love the ocean, the freedom of being weightless underwater, her hope that Avatar's celebration of the sea can undo some of the aquaphobia inspired by Jaws, and more.

Italian filmmaker Andrea Pallaoro sat down with HFPA journalist Silvia Bizio to discuss his latest film Monica, which is about a trans woman who returns home to Ohio after years away to care for her dying mother. They also discuss his history with the Cannes Film Festival, his directing styles and techniques, his career to date, and more.

HFPA journalists Scott Orlin, Janet Nepales, and Mirian Spritzer sat down after this year's CinemaCon to talk about all the exciting things they saw coming soon from Hollywood's various studios. They talk about the full screenings of The Flash, The Boogeyman, & Joy Ride, previews for the new Mission Impossible, Oppenheimer, Barbie, & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, surprise guests, and more!

Israeli actress Nitza Shaul sat down with HFPA journalist David Caspi to discuss her acting debut in the legendary Israeli film The Policeman. They also talk about Israel's independence day (that's today!), the culture shock of moving to work in London in the 1980s, other recommendations of Israeli film and television, and more.

Documentarian & journalist Jackson Fager sat down with HFPA journalist Elisabeth Sereda to discuss his newest project, the Hulu miniseries "Algiers, America", which follows the coaches and players of a high school football team from the eponymous neighborhood in New Orleans, but on the western bank of the Mississippi River. They discuss the area's struggles with gun violence, the impact said violence has had on the community, the lives lost (some during the filming of the documentary), Fager's own harrowing experiences covering civil wars in Africa, and more.

Actress Didi Conn sat down with HFPA journalist Scott Orlin to discuss her iconic performance as Frenchy in the classic movie musical Grease, which is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year with the new Paramount+ prequel series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies. They discuss the auditioning process that won her the role, memories from on set, the legacy of her character and the Pink Ladies, her relationship with Olivia Newton John, her hopes for the new series, and more.

Intimacy & Movement Coordinator Ita O'Brien sat down with HFPA journalist Michele Manelis to discuss her work in developing best practices for the film and television industry in their producing and filming of intimate scenes. They discuss her development of these guidelines, training other intimacy coordinators to help make the service widely available, examples of her work on screen in television series like Normal People and I Will Destroy You, how her position is analagous to a stunt coordinator, working on the production long before the cameras start rolling, the process of working with the various departments, and more. 

Costume designer Ruth E. Carter sat down with HFPA journalist Margaret Gardiner to discuss her work on the latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Black Panther series: Wakanda Forever, for which she won her second Academy Award for Costume Design, making her the first black woman to win multiple Academy Awards in any category. They also talk about her long career, having her finger on the pulse of a city like in Spike Lee's seminal classic Do the Right Thing, interpreting the past with limited visual information for films like Steven Spielberg's Amistad (which also earned her an Academy Award nomination), how she made the leap from acting to costume design, the significance of her middle initial, and more.

Directors Lise Akoka & Romane Gueret sat down with HFPA journalist Herve Tropea to discuss their most recent film The Worst Ones, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022 and opens theatrically in the United States starting March 24. They discuss their casting process, their focus on directing real people rather than professional actors, and more. 

Sisters and actresses Moran Atias & Shani Atias sat down with HFPA journalist David Caspi to commemorate this year's International Women's Day to talk about their ongoing joint project Me First, which is a post-#MeToo initiative that focuses on centering female-centric stories and fostering their financial and creative independence. They also talk about their work as actors, growing up in Israel, how the industry has changed since the beginnings of the #MeToo Movement, motherhood, and more. 

Production Designer Florencia Martin sat down to talk about her latest film Babylon, for which she also received her first Oscar nomination at the 95th Academy Awards. They talk about her career so far, her inspirations, getting her start on the TV series Mad Men, the way her work in production design fits into the larger picture of how a film is made, and more.

in 2018, writer/director/producer/actor Spike Lee sat down with HFPA journalist Alessandra Venezia to discuss his recent release BlacKkKlansman. They also discuss his career in film, how the filmmaking community has evolved since he started making movies, basing his stories on real life events, and more. 

To celebrate Black History Month, documentary filmmaker Brandon Kramer and story producer Chris Jenkins sat down to talk with HFPA journalist Kimberly Reyes about their new documentary The First Step, which follows progressive activist and political commentator Van Jones in his efforts to pass legislation that would reform the criminal justice system. They discuss the five years it took to produce the film, the sausage-makng of the Congressional process, the relationships they built within the Trump White House and having access to individuals like Jared Kushner and Kim Kardashian, how documentary filmmaking is more than just when the cameras are rolling, and more.

2023 Carol Burnett Award Recipient sat down with HFPA journalists Jenny Cooney in 2018 and Scott Orlin in 2020 to discuss his career to date as well as his record-breaking production deal with Netflix. These two conversations cover his early days as well as how his work over the past two decades reshaped television, how it works, the sorts of stories that were made, and more. 

HFPA journalists Jenny Cooney, Yong Chavez, and Miriam Spritzer sat down to discuss this year's Sundance Film Festival, the first in-person event since 2020. They talk about their experience attending, premieres like The Pod Generation and Cat Person, buzzy films like Theater Camp and Magazine Dreams, big winners like Shayda and Scrapper, and much, much more. 

To celebrate Eddie Murphy's new Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 80th Golden Globes, we're replaying our 2019 conversation where HFPA journalist Barbara de Olivei,ra Pinto sat down with him to discuss his latest film Dolemite Is My Name. They also discuss his early days in comedy, breaking out on SNL, coming back to movies after a few years away, and more.

Last week, actress Zendaya won a Golden Globe for Best Actress Televisin Drama for her performance as Rue in the hit HBO series Euphoria. To celebrate, we're replaying our conversation with her from 2021, when HFPA journalist Aniko Navai sat down to discuss her bright career so far, her dreams for the future, Spider-man, and more.

HFPA Members Jenny Cooney, Scott Orlin, and Elisabeth Sereda sat down the day after the 80th Golden Globes to discuss the 2023 installment of Hollywood's Party of the Year™. They talk about their favorite moments, the memorable speeches, how the night's big winners might provide momentum for the rest of Awards season, and more. 

With less than a week until the 80th Golden Globes, new HFPA member KJ Matthews got together with veteran HFPA journalist Silvia Bizio to discuss Silvia's 40 years with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. They talk about her humble beginnings after coming to Los Angeles, the early days of festivals like Sundance, Golden Globes memories, what it's like to attend Hollywood's Party of the Year™, and more. 

With just a few weeks until the 80th Golden Globe Awards, we're replaying our January 2021 conversation between actress, producer, director and 2013 Cecil B. DeMille Award recipient Jodie Foster and HFPA journalist Rocio Ayuso. They discuss her then-recent work in The Mauritanian, her award-winning performance as Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs, her Golden Globes memories, and more. 

Today's 80th Golden Globes countdown takes us back to 2005 and a conversation between that year's winner for Best Actor Motion Picture - Drama Jamie Foxx and HFPA journalist Kristien Gjibels, which was recorded back in 2020. They discuss his win for Ray, his work with Michael B. Jordan, his impression of Kermit the Frog, and more.

This week's countdown to the 80th Golden Globes continues with Golden Globe winning actress Sharon Stone and a replay of when she sat down with HFPA journalist Silvia Bizio to discuss her life and career. They talk about her recent performance in the Stephen Soderbergh miniseries Mosaic, her performance in the Paul Verhoven film Basic Instinct, working with Martin Scorsese in the film Casino, and more. 

To celebrate the halfway point of our 80 days countdown to the 80th Golden Globes, we're replaying our 2018 conversation with actor, director, and producer Anthony Hopkins, when he sat down with HFPA journalist Jenny Cooney to discuss his then-latest project playing King Lear. They also talk about his long career in the acting field, what it was like coming to Lear as an older man, proper behavior on set, and more. 

Our 80th Golden Globe Awards countdown continues with a replay of our recent conversation with Golden Globe winning actress and singer Kathleen Turner, who sat down with HFPA journalist Michele Manelis earlier this year to discuss her long career. They discuss her first nomination 40 years ago for Best New Star with her performance in Body Heat, her back to back Golden Globe wins as Best Actress, Comedy or Musical in 1985 for Romancing the Stone and 1986 for Prizzi's Honor, her other Golden Globe memories, and more.

Actor Gianni Russo sat down with HFPA journalist Silvia Bizio to discuss the 50th Anniversary of the seminal classic film The Godfather, which won five Golden Globe Awards off of seven nominations back in 1973. They also discuss Russo's incredible life, from his first meeting with Marlon Brando to spending a weekend with Marilyn Monroe to encountering Pablo Escobar, and more.

To celebrate the 80 days leading up to the 80th Golden Globes, we are replaying our  conversation with television and comedy icon Carol Burnett when she sat down in 2019 with HFPA journalist Meher Tatna. The two discuss her long career from humble beginnings to breakout success with The Carol Burnett Show, her five Golden Globes wins, the newly named Carol Burnett Awrad for Lifetime Achievement in Television, which she had just received at its inaugural presentation earlier that year, and more.

Continuing our countdown to the 80th Golden Globe Awards, today we're re-releasing our episode from 2018 where actress Michelle Yeoh sat down with HFPA journalist Scott Orlin to talk about her then-new movie Crazy Rich Asians, which was not only a box office smash hit, but also significant for being the first major Hollywood studio film in 25 years to feature a majority cast of Chinese descent while also being set in the modern era. They also discuss her upbringing, learning martial arts for film, working with Jackie Chan, being a Bond girl in Tomorrow Never Dies, a Captain on a Star Trek TV series, and much much more.

As we countdown the days until the 80th Golden Globe Awards, we're bringing out our 2021 conversation between singer/songwriter/director Sia and HFPA journalist Barbara de Olivera to discuss Sia's hit film "Music", which was nominated that year for the Golden Globe for Best Film Comedy/Musical. They also talk about the challenges of telling stories about neuro-atypical characters, the trauma in Sia's life, adopting two sons, what inspired her to turn away from fame, enabling the dreams of others, and more.

Animator and director Dice Tsutsumi sat down with HFPA journalist Rocio Ayuso to discuss his new series on Netflix, a four-episode limited series called Oni: Thunder God's Tale, which explores the various gods and monsters of Japanese mythology. They also discuss his time at Pixar, starting his own animation studio, his unqiue relationship with legendary director Hayao Miyazaki, and more. 

Actress Jacqueline Bisset sat down with HFPA journalist Elisabeth Sereda to discuss her latest project Loren & Rose and what drew her to such a unique character. They also discuss her decades in the acting business, memories of times on set in classic Hollywood, her attendance and wins at the Golden Globes over the years, and more.

Cinematographer Polly Morgan sat down with HFPA journalist Margaret Gardiner to discuss her latest project The Woman King, which stars Viola Davis as the leader of a group of all-female warriors. They discuss what inspired her to study photography, the high profile projects she's done over the last few years like A Quiet Place Part II and Where The Crawdads Sing, advice for budding cinematographers, and more. 

Australian actress Essie Davis sat down with HFPA journalist Katherine Tulich to discuss her new film The Justice of Bunny King and mastering a New Zealand accent for the role of the title character. They also discuss her relationship with her husband/filmmaker Justin Kurzel, reuniting with The Babbadook director Jennifer Kent for Guillermo del Toro's new anthology series Cabinet of Curiosities, finding the lighter side of characters, and more.

HFPA journalists Jenny Cooney, Gabriel Lerman, and Barbara Gasser got together after attending the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to discuss what they saw, what they loved, and the big hits that are starting to get their first Awards Season buzz. They discuss The Fabelmans and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, both of which won the festival's big awards, upcoming exciting movies like Women Talking and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, insightful Q&As around My Policeman and The Woman King, and more.

HFPA journalists Elisabeth Sereda and Janet Nepales sat down to reflect on their experiences at the 2022 Venice Film Festival, which came to an end this past weekend. They touch on everything from the surprise win for the documentary "All the Beauty and the Bloodshed", some of the red carpet fashion trends from the likes of Timothée Chalamet and Cate Blanchett, the controversy surrounding Olivia Wilde's new film "Don't Worry Darling", and more.

Writer-director John Patton Ford sat down with HFPA journalist Michele Manelis to discuss his directorial debut Emily the Criminal, about a woman who, when faced with mountng student debt and limited prospects, finds herself joining in a massive credit card fraud operation. They also discuss his history with the Sundance Film Festival, where he screened a short film at the beginnings of his career, what it was like to return, how he connects his time as a musician and love of music to the art of filmmaking, picking up writing to help his directing career, and more.  

Back in December 2020 Chris Evans sat down with HFPA journalist Henry Arnaud to discuss his limited series "Defending Jacob." In 2022 he's already provided the voice for Buzz Lightyear in the Pixar film Lightyear, starred opposite Ryan Goslin in the Netflix action thriller The Gray Man, and will go on to star in Ghosted opposite Ana De Armas and Pain Hustlers with Emily Blunt. Our conversation with him goes back to the early days of his career, his move to L.A. and the struggles of making it as an actor, how his big break as Johnny Storm in Fantastic Four made him hesitant to take up the shield as Steve Rogers in Captain America, and more.

Documentary filmmaker Ida Joglar sat down with HFPA Journalist Anke Hofmann to discuss her latest film Kili Big, which follows 20 plus-sized women from all over the world who try to climb to the top of the tallest peak in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. They also discuss the challenges of filming such an involved physical journey, the road that led her to her first feature, what drew her to documentaries, and more. 

Founders of the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival Stephanie Tavares-Rance and Floyd Rance sat down with HFPA journalist KJ Matthews on the eve of this year's 10-day event to talk about celebrating 20 years of this festival. They talk about its humble beginnings, from a handful of people in a theater that could hold hundreds, how it grew into the prestigious and star-studded event it is today, what it's like to be big enough to have guests ranging from Spike Lee, Tyler Perry, and Yara Shahidi to the Reverand Al Sharpton and Barack & Michelle Obama, and more.

Actor Casper Van Dien sat down with HFPA journalist Rocio Ayuso to discuss his career, which is now entering its fourth decade. They talk about his early iconic roles in Starship Troopers and then Tarzan and the Lost City, how both roles compare with his latest turn as Samuel Hyst in the series Salvage Marines, the pride he has for his daughter, who recently appeared in the lastest season of Stranger Things, and more. 

HFPA journalists Anke Hofman and Rocio Ayuso sat down to discuss this year's San Diego Comic-Con, the things they saw while there that most excited them, and their experiences as a whole. They also discuss their history with the convention, what it was like being back after a two-year absence, the biggest surprises, and more.

Musician Don McLean sat down with HFPA journalist Michele Manelis to discuss his latest project: "The Day the Music Dies: The Story of Don McLean's American Pie", a documentary about his most famous song "American Pie", the influences surrounding it, and the effect it's had on popular culture since it's release over fifty years ago. They also discuss his early life as an artist, how the business degree he got in college has helped him out over his career, what makes "American Pie" so special, and more.  

Marvel Studios President and producer Kevin Feige sat down with HFPA journalist Anke Hoffman back in February of 2019 to discuss the state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A lot has happened since then (eight films, seven television series, and still gong strong!), but with the recent release of Thor: Love and Thunder it's a great time to revisit our conversation with him and reminisce about the road getting here and all the many, many developments since. 

Belgian filmmakers Felix Van Groeningen & Charlotte Vandermeersch sat down with HFPA journalist Greet Ramaekers to discuss their first directorial collaboration, The Eight Mountains, which premiered in competition at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and tied for the year's Grand Jury prize. The two discuss their marriage and how it affects their personal and professional lives, their decision to leave Cannes early and have to immediately fly back, the process of working in tandem on set as writer/directors, and more. 

Belgian writer-director Lukas Dhont sat down with HFPA journalist Greet Raemekers to discuss his latest film Close, which premiered in competition at the 2022 Cannes film festival and tied for the Grand Prix. They also discuss his first feature film Girl, how to portray different types of intimate male relationships in our modern society, how his mother seeing the movie Titanic taught him about the power of film and made him want to be a filmmaker, and more.