Tribeca Film Festival Live

Brad Bird, director of The Incredibles and Ratatouille, first caught the attention of Disney after making his first animated film at age 14. Now one of the premier filmmakers in the Pixar camp, Bird is going live-action with the upcoming blockbuster Tomorrowland, based on the Disney park attraction.  Bird talks about making smart, creative family films with the very funny Janeane Garofalo, who stars as the voice of Colette, the feminist chef, in Ratatouille. 

There's a powerful group of people out there that are secretly running the world. The guys no one knows about. The guys that are invisible. The guys that play god without permission. And in the new USA Network series Mr. Robot, Christian Slater plays the leader of a hacker army at war with those guys. Hear Slater, his co-star Rami Malek, and the show's creator Sam Esmail discuss the show after a screening of the series premier.

Cary Fukunaga, the director of such edgy films as Jane Eyre and Sin Nombre, not to mention the often discomforting first season of True Detective, still has a fear of clowns. Fukunaga is now remaking Stephen King's It, and he told a crowd at the Tribeca Film Festival that in his mind, he still sees the same haunting image of Pennywise the clown that he saw as a kid.  Hear Fukunaga's full conversation with veteran independent film producer James Schamus.

Iman Crosson, who's better known on social media as Alphacat, has been making YouTube videos since the site's inception. But he's now perhaps just as well known for his Vine videos, which include remarkable six-second impressions of President Obama that actually earned Crosson the opportunity to meet the president. And yes, he Vined it.  But social media filmmaking isn't just a hobby. Some of the top performers on Vine and SnapChat bring in up to $100,000 a week by making sponsored content and selling advertisements.  Joining Crosson on this panel about the art and business of social media storytelling are Michael and Even Gregory of The Gregory Brothers, famous for their Auto-Tune the News videos. And we'll hear from "the Godfather of SnapChat," Casey Neistat. 

There's a scene in the movie Good Will Hunting where the character played by Stellan Skarsgard implores anyone in his class to solve this insurmountably difficult math problem, and of course, the one who solves it is a townie janitor played by Matt Damon. It turns out -- at least according to this video by a Cambridge mathematician -- that the problem itself wasn't so difficult. But the point remains: there's real intellectual heft to the film. And after this special screening of the film in partnership with The Alfred P. Sloan foundation, we'll hear from psychiatrist Paul Browde and World Science Festival co-founder Brian Greene about some of the math, science and psychology in movie. Joining them on the panel is the film's director, Gus Van Sant, and actors Minnie Driver and Stellan Skarsgard.

Who could forget the psychedelic jams of The Big Lebowski; the old-timey ballads of the Soggy Bottom Boys in O Brother, Where Art Thou?; or the eerie silence, minus the sound of Javier Bardem's cattle prod, in No Country for Old Men? Composer Carter Burwell and sound mixer Skip Lievsay, who've worked on almost every Coen brothers movie, discuss the unique sound they create, and reveal further details on the upcoming Coen brothers movie Hail, Caesar!

A lot has changed since 2003, when former CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity was leaked by members of the Bush administration. Now we're living in the age of WikiLeaks, Edward Snowden and the Sony hacking scandal, where digital information is more accessible than ever. Case in point: Ralph Echemendia, who goes by "The Ethical Hacker," showed just how easy it is to hack into someone's computer by pulling up a Tribeca Film Festival intern's desktop on a big screen during this panel.  Hear Plame and Echimendia, along with Alex Gibney, director of We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bart Gellman, discussing the intersection of "Secrecy and Power."

Jesse Ventura, a former Navy Seal and fan of Aristophanes' play "The Birds," went into pro wrestling because he loved drama and competition. For Ventura, the political ring seemed like a reasonable next step. But for those in the two-party establishment, his victory in Minnesota's 1998 gubernatorial election came as a total shock. How'd it happen? Nate Silver, the data guru behind FiveThirtyEight.com, has answers. He spoke with Radiolab's own Robert Krulwich about the cause of Ventura's improbable rise. This discussion followed a screening of FiveThirtyEight's short documentary, Shock the World.

Nonfiction filmmaking has truly revolutionized itself in recent years, bringing audiences stories which often seem too bizarre to be true. On this panel, leading documentary filmmakers expose how they choose their subjects and capture real life in new and innovative ways. You'll hear from Bobby Fischer Against the World director Liz Garbus, Big Men director Rachel Boynton, and God Loves Uganda director Roger Ross Williams. Film critic Eric Hynes moderates.

From binge watching to virtual reality, today’s entertainment is getting more immersive both physically and psychologically. As the way we experience stories is evolving to where we no longer separate ourselves from the action, how does this affect the way storytellers are producing their work? This "Immerse Yourself" panel includes The Art of Immersion author Frank Rose, The Storytelling Animal author Jonathan Gottschall, and futurist and "Shots of Awe" video series creator Jason Silva. Journalist Jon Erlichman moderates.

Montage of Heck, the first authorized documentary about the late Kurt Cobain, combines home movies, journal entries, and interviews with those who knew him best and knew him early for a striking portrait of the artist who's still celebrated 20 years after his death. Courtney Love, Cobain's former wife, teared up after a screening of the film at the Tribeca Film Festival, telling director Brett Morgen that the movie made her rethink whether she could have prevented Cobain's suicide. Love also discussed the impact of watching the movie with her daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, who was an executive producer of the film. And addressing a scene in the movie of Love and Cobain kissing, etc., Love wryly told the audience, "everyone makes one sex tape once in their lives." Moderating this panel between Courtney Love and Brett Morgen is Rolling Stone writer Neil Strauss. Montage of Heck premiers on HBO May 4.

Amy Schumer, who stars as a romantic train wreck in the new Judd Apatow film Trainwreck, is at the top of her game in real life. The third season of Inside Amy Schumer premieres April 21st on Comedy Central. The show just won a Peabody Award. And a screening of the new season's first episode at the Tribeca Film Festival showed there's nothing Schumer won't tackle. This season, the show takes on high school football and rape, declares 2015 the Year of the Butt, and Schumer and her staff told a packed audience that one of their favorite upcoming episodes will be a recreation of the film 12 Angry Men. Hear Schumer talking after the screening, along with the show's head writer Jessi Klein, director Ryan McFaul, writer Kim Caramele, writer Dan Powell, and producer Kevin Kane. Entertainment Weekly's Sara Vilkomerson moderates. 

It's Super Bowl XVII. The New York Giants are playing an undefeated New England Patriots team. And losing in the fourth quarter, Eli Manning throws one up, receiver David Tyree pins the ball to his head and comes down on the 24-yard line, and the Giants go on to win.  New York sports superfan Spike Lee was impressed. After a screening of his documentary, The Greatest Catch Ever, Lee speaks with Giants players Plaxico Burress, Chris Snee, and David Tyree himself. Michael Smith, co-host of ESPN's His and Hers podcast, moderates.

Harvey Weinstein—movie mogul, super-producer, founder of The Weinstein Company—has been involved with some of the most highly acclaimed films of the past few decades, from Pulp Fiction to Silver Linings Playbook. The Queens native spoke to a packed house at the Tribeca Film Festival about how he's stayed at the top of his game all these years.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel doesn't lack for beauty, but costume and production designer Catherine Martin, who works regularly with director Baz Luhrmann (they're also married), is plenty responsible for making The Great Gatsby look so vibrant on the screen. Her work on other films, including Moulin Rouge! and Romeo + Juliet, has redefined the cutting edge of maximalist glamour in modern film. Martin speaks here with Vogue editor-at-large and a man who happened to throw himself a Gatsby-themed 50th birthday party, Hamish Bowles.   Tribeca Film Festival Live theme music provided by Jason Cowit

Blue Valentine, the celebrated 2012 film that follows one couple's tumultuous marriage, has the intimate feel of a movie made simply. Except, it took 12 years, 66 drafts of the script, and endless headaches over budget shortfalls to get Blue Valentine made. And that isn't an anomaly. Independent producers are responsible for some of the greatest breakout hits in movie history. They fight passionately for their art, meeting every logistical and financial challenge along the way. And these roadblocks often force indie film producers to be just as creative as their acting and directing counterparts. On this panel, we hear from Blue Valentine producer Alex Orlovsky, Beasts of the Southern Wild producer Matt Parker, Meadowland producer and co-star Olivia Wilde, and Bachelorette producer Carly Hugo. Moderating this panel is The Hollywood Reporter’s Tatiana Seigel.

Iverson is the ultimate legacy of NBA legend Allen Iverson, who rose from a childhood of crushing poverty in Hampton, VA, to become an 11-time NBA All-Star and universally recognized icon of his sport. Off the court, his audacious rejection of conservative NBA convention and unapologetic embrace of hip-hop culture sent shockwaves throughout the league and influenced an entire generation. Told largely in Iverson's own words, the film charts the career highs and lows of one of the most distinctive and accomplished figures the sport of basketball has ever seen. Hear a conversation with Allen Iverson and Robert "Scoop" Jackson.

Compared To What: The Improbable Journey of Barney Frank is a rare and intimate peek into the life of Barney Frank, the quick-witted, cantankerous, and first openly gay Congressman in the United States. On the verge of his retirement, Frank reflects on his 40 years in office and the role his own homosexuality played in his campaigns for social justice. A flawless example of when the personal meets the political, with incredible “bare all” access, this documentary reveals Frank as one of the most sharp-tongued, entertaining, and lionhearted politicians of our time. Hear a conversation with Barney Frank and Alec Baldwin about the politics of Washington, Barney’s life and career, and what he plans to do in his retirement.

In his directorial debut, Mike Myers brings a comic touch to documenting the astounding career of consummate Hollywood insider Shep Gordon in the film Supermensch. Making playful use of archival footage, new interviews, and his own close relationship with the legendary talent manager, Myers reveals a man who has embraced his dualities: a hard-driving dealmaker who wants everyone to be happy and a rock ‘n’ roll hedonist who yearns for a family. Against a backdrop of debauchery, he’s a man on a spiritual quest. Hear a conversation with Shep Gordon and Michael Douglas.

Academy Award® winning filmmaker Ron Howard discusses his career as a filmmaker, writer and producer, which already spans over fifty years. Moderated by Brian Williams.

Filmmakers with a thirst for storytelling are saturating our digital media landscape with short content, changing the way we seek and consume media. Hear some of the creators discuss the challenges faced in making snappy, attention-grabbing, and informative content, and how to garner an audience outside of a theater. Panelists include filmmaker, director, and producer Morgan Spurlock, actress Gillian Jacobs, ESPN’s Dan Silver, and NY Times Op-Ed Doc Producer and Curator Jason Spingarn-Koff. Moderated by Vimeo's Greg Clayman.

A conversation about the particular art in creating authentic sports stories, from non-fiction material to heart-stopping hits that satisfy hardcore fans while also connecting with broader audiences. Featuring director Peter Berg, best known for his hit TV series and film Friday Night Lights, and for the recent sports documentary series State Of Play, which illuminates the intersection of sports and sports culture with wider society in 2014 America. Moderated by Connor Schell, Vice President and Executive Producer of ESPN Films and Original Content. The following podcast contains adult language and content.  

Almost everything we do creates a digital trail containing information about who we are, where we go, how we spend our time and money, and what we watch. Media and entertainment entities are increasingly able to use this information to tell rich, data-driven stories or to decide what content to acquire or produce. But does betting on the "wisdom of crowds" bode well or ill for future innovation in film, art, and journalism? True believers and tech skeptics square off.  In the era of big data, it's not about quality, it's about pure numbers. Simon joined "House of Cards" writer Beau Willimon and FiveThirtyEight founder Nate Silver at the Tribeca Film Festival on Thursday to discuss (and lament) how statistics are changing entertainment.

Some say the birth of cable news, the 24-hour news cycle, and the internet have caused the demise of journalism. On the flip side, our thirst for news and information has only become more intense in recent years. Citizen journalists, bloggers, viral videos and even video games are stepping up to answer the call. Just this week, VICE News' Simon Ostrovsky was kidnapped while covering the pro-Russian insurgency in Ukraine (his release was confirmed Thursday).  As these citizen reporters go to ever more dangerous lengths to bring us information, new questions about boundaries and journalistic ethics need to be addressed. Hear a conversation with Upworthy co-founder Eli Pariser, VICE correspondent Ben Anderson, Syria Deeply managing editor Karen Leigh, Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer co-director Maxim Pozderovkin, and executive director of Witness Yvette Alberdingk Thijm. Moderated by filmmaker and journalist Perri Peltz. A portion of this audio contains a film clip spoken in Russian.  

Hear a candid conversation about the "habits" of successful psychopaths. Sounds crazy? Not really. Turns out, it’s not only screen psychos that we love. Many of the people we admire -- and even elect as our leaders -- share traits with psychopathic killers. Your Brain On Story features futurist Jason Silva on why and how people are hardwired for stories and cinema. Also, actor Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”) and Terence Winter (“The Sopranos,” “Boardwalk Empire”) discuss the connection between horror and humor and what makes a great screen villain. Chiming in is neuroscientist James Fallon, who not only studies the brains of serial killers, but has one himself. Moderated by Cynthia McFadden (ABC News, Nightline Co-Anchor).

Writer and producer Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, Newsroom, The Social Network) talks with former Chief Presidential Speechwriter Jon Favreau about what it means to be moral in 2014, what we value as heroic in life and in fiction, and how film and television have documented our transition from an analogue to a digital world. On the critically maligned HBO series The Newsroom, Sorkin had this to say to the journalists in the room: “I think you and I got off on the wrong foot with The Newsroom and I apologize and I’d like to start over." He went on to explain: I think that there’s been a terrible misunderstanding. I did not set the show in the recent past in order to show the pros how it should have been done. That was and remains the furthest thing from my mind. I set the show in the recent past because I didn’t want to make up fake news. It was going to be weird if the world that these people were living in did not in any way resemble the world that you were living in… Also, I wanted the option of having a terrific dynamic that you can get when the audience knows more than the characters do… So, I wasn’t trying to and I’m not capable of teaching a professional journalist a lesson. That wasn’t my intent and it’s never my intent to teach you a lesson or try to persuade you or anything. This episode is included in the Tribeca Film Fest Talks #smartbinge podcast playlist at wnyc.org/smartbinge

Cinematographers are responsible for some of the most breathtaking and memorable images on screen. Join us to hear cinematographers discuss their careers, capturing images to tell a story, and how they shot some of their most famous scenes. Panelists include All Is Lost cinematographer Frank G. DeMarco, Ballet 422 cinematographer Nick Bentgen, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind cinematographer Ellen Kuras. Moderated by critic Eric Hynes. A portion of this audio contains a film clip spoken in Japanese.

From inner-city housing projects to the biggest stages in boxing, Champs is an insightful and provocative documentary charting the lives of some of America’s heaviest hitters, including Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Bernard Hopkins, as they seek to break out of poverty via one of the few outlets available. Hear them live at the Tribeca Film Festival. Director Bert Marcus skillfully weaves their personal histories and gripping footage from their biggest bouts to explore the meaning of the American dream in a society increasingly fragmented between rich and poor. Hear a conversation with former boxers Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, and boxing promoter Lou DiBella about life, rivalry and conflict both inside and out of the ring. The following podcast contains adult language and content.

It’s said that a movie is made three times: once through a script, once on set, and finally in the edit room. Join us to hear tales from the cutting room floor. Featuring longtime Martin Scorsese collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker. The following podcast contains adult language and content.

Ever since the creation of the talkie, sound in film has been evolving. The Dolby Institute brings together top sound designers to discuss what it really takes to create the sound of a film, and the army it takes just to hear a pin drop. Panelists include Academy Award® winning sound mixer Skip Lievsay (Gravity) and music supervisor Susan Jacobs (Silver Linings Playbook). They'll explore scenes from their work and divulge the strategy behind using sound as a storytelling tool. Moderated by Glenn Kiser of the Dolby Institute.