THE HOLLYWOOD PODCAST

Ric Roman Waugh, a director and producer known for grounded, high-stakes storytelling, returns to the Greenland world with its' sequel Greenland 2: Migration, now being released on digital. His past directing credits include Angel Has Fallen, Shot Caller, Snitch, and Felon — films that combine large-scale action with deeply human stakes.

In celebration of the Blu Ray re-release of the 2009 modern indie cult comedy classic MYSTERY TEAM, the film's co-writer/director Dan Eckman and co-writer/actor DC Pierson are joining the show today. In this episode, they share how their viral online sketch comedy led to the making of the film.

Emmy–winning visual effects supervisor Eran Dinur has shaped unforgettable effects work across film and television, contributing to major titles like The Trial of the Chicago 7, Uncut Gems, Hereditary, The Greatest Showman, The Lost City of Z and The Wolf of Wall Street, as well as acclaimed TV such as Boardwalk Empire—for which he earned a Primetime Emmy and two Visual Effects Society awards. He’s joining us to talk about his latest film, the nine-time Oscar nominated film MARTY SUPREME directed by Josh Safdie and starring Timothee Chalamet, and the ambitious VFX work behind its stylized table-tennis action, massive period environments, and large-scale crowd sequences.

Costume designer Malgosia Turzanska, whose credits include The Green Knight, Hell or High Water, Stranger Things, X, Pearl, Expats, brings deeply emotional storytelling to her costuming work. She’s had two incredible films come out this year, Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar’s Train Dreams with Joel Edgerton and the other film, which is what we’re discussing, Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet with Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.  Her work uses natural textures and subtle Elizabethan references to reflect grief, memory, and the inner lives of Agnes and William Shakespeare—earning her major awards attention this season.

Michael Ralla and James Alexander are part of the VFX team from Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS starring Michael B Jordan - which became a cultural phenomenon of a film this past year and now an awards juggernaut. Michael’s past credits include John Wick Chapter 4, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and The Tragedy of Macbeth. James’s previous credits include The Marvels and the Disney+ series WandaVision.

Joachim Trier is an acclaimed Oscar-nominated writer-director known for emotionally precise films like Reprise, Oslo, August 31st, and The Worst Person in the World, which premiered at Cannes, and went on to receive two Academy Award nominations. He now returns with Sentimental Value, a deeply personal exploration of family, memory, and art - and the complicated ways art and life overlap. The film stars Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgard, and Elle Fanning.Additionally, as mentioned in today's episode, I had the chance to attend the Golden Globes Gifting Suite hosted by Dubois Pelin and Associates, also known as DPA Group—and it was such a cool experience.DPA is known for producing these incredibly elevated luxury gifting lounges around some of the biggest awards weekends of the year—like the Golden Globes, the Oscars, the Grammys, Cannes, and more. And over the years, their lounges have been attended by major names in entertainment, which really speaks to how respected and established they are in this space.This suite had such an amazing mix of brands. Please find below links to a few of the businesses featured at this year's gifting suite.https://lamourmere.com/https://stingrayclean.com/https://vielorie.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqPRe0IN35tdxsBmpeEqZ-er27SMAgE6DSHJWgwMRpre7mvz6YNFor more information on the DPA Group, visit https://dpagroup.org/.

Director Shea Wageman is the filmmaker behind the upcoming animated feature Charlie the Wonderdog. The film is about a family dog named Charlie who gets abducted by aliens & comes back with superpowers who then needs to save the world with his best friend, Danny. Shea’s bringing years of animation experience to his first feature film, which hits theaters January 16th.

Fiona Crombie is an Oscar-nominated & BAFTA-winning production designer whose previous credits include Top of the Lake, MacBeth, The Favourite, The King, Cruella, Beau is Afraid, and Mickey 17. With her latest film - in Chloe Zhao’s HAMNET - she brings a quiet but deeply expressive design sensibility to a story about love, loss, and the spaces we inhabit during a period of grief.

Brittany Hites is a production designer whose recent film Regretting You - starring McKenna Grace, Mason Thames, Dave Franco, and Allison Williams - is now streaming on Paramount+. Brittany has built an impressive body of work in feature film and TV - with her previous credits including The Suicide Squad, Shazam Fury of the Gods, Megalopolis, Thunderbolts and Peacemaker. On Regretting You, a novel-adapted drama about a mother-daughter relationship upended by tragedy, Brittany was tasked with creating the physical world that supports the emotional journey of the characters.

Director Valerie Weiss has built an impressive career across both film and television, with credits ranging from the Netflix feature Mixtape and the indie film A Light Beneath Their Feet to major TV franchises like Chicago Med, How to Get Away with Murder, Scandal, Outer Banks and more recently - Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and NCIS: Tony and Ziva.What makes her path especially interesting is that she came to filmmaking from a completely different world — she earned a Ph.D. and was on a medical career track before making the leap into directing.In this episode, we discuss her background in science, why she made the leap toward storytelling & her latest directorial projects with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and NCIS: Tony and Ziva.

Emmy- and Critics' Choice-nominated nominated makeup designer Siân Richards has had a long, impressive career — starting in London in fashion and beauty, then going on to lead makeup departments for film and TV. Over the years she’s worked on big-name projects like Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War as well as Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Da 5 Bloods, and Judas and the Black Messiah.Now she brings that experience to Ryan Coogler's Sinners — a critical and cultural phenomenon that's become a major Oscar contender this awards season.

Actor Jefferson White and director Adam Volerich discuss their new film DRINK AND BE MERRY. Jefferson is best known for playing Jimmy Hurdstrom from YELLOWSTONE — but his resume goes way beyond that. He’s popped up in shows like HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, HOUSE OF CARDS, BLINDSPOT, THE ALIENIST and even had a stint on CHICAGO PD as Sean O’Neil. On the film side, he’s shown up in projects like GOD'S COUNTRY, EILEEN, and the 2024 movie CIVIL WAR.With this film, Adam is making his feature film directorial debut after directing several shorts over the years as well as being a writer and cinematographer. Adam's previous credits include producing and developing the Signal Award Winning and Ambie and Webby Nominated narrative fiction podcasts AMERICAN HOSTAGE (Amazon Originals), starring Jon Hamm (soon to be a TV Show from Shawn Ryan and MGM+), and THE FOXES OF HYDESVILLE (QCODE), starring Carey Mulligan, for Criminal Content. Adam is the host of Wondery film podcast Eye of the Duck.

Today on the podcast, we’re clicking our heels and heading straight to Oz. I’m joined by actor John O’Hurley, known for Seinfeld, Broadway’s Chicago, his memorable run as host of Family Feud, and his past Lythgoe Panto appearance in Peter Pan and Tinker Bell. Also with us is director Becky Lythgoe, who has helmed favorites like Rapunzel and Her Holiday Wish and helped shape the modern American panto tradition. Together they’re bringing a festive new twist to a classic story in The Wonderful Winter of Oz, opening this December in Thousand Oaks.

Andrew Polec stars as the titular character in 'Dr. Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical', now playing at The Old Globe in San Diego. In this episode, we dive into his process, his experience bringing this beloved story to life, and what it’s like performing in a show that spreads holiday cheer to audiences of all ages.Polec previously starred in Bat Out of Hell: The Musical.

Emmy-winning composer Mac Quayle is known for his music from Mr. Robot, American Horror Story, Feud, 9-1-1, Pose, The Politician, Ratched, and so many other unforgettable scores. Now he’s brought his unique musical voice to Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story — a series that dives into one of the most unsettling chapters in American true-crime history.

Thomas Sadoski is one of those actors who you recognise from so many different corners of entertainment — from playing Don Keefer on the HBO drama The Newsroom, to playing the affably flawed Matt Short on the long-running sitcom Life in Pieces, as well as his stage work in Broadway productions such as his Tony-nominated performance in Reasons to be PrettyIn his latest project, Adult Children, he takes on the role of Josh — one of the older half-siblings in a family pulled together when a crisis hits, only to discover that the lift they expected from each other is maybe more fragile than it looks.

Today’s episode is for the dreamers, the collectors, the annual passholders, the snack-ranking experts, the popcorn bucket resellers — yes, we’re talking about Disney Adults.My guest is AJ Wolfe, founder of the massively popular Disney Food Blog and now author of the new NY-times bestselling book Disney Adults — a smart, empathetic, and often hilarious deep dive into one of the most passionate—and misunderstood—fandoms out there.We’re going to talk about what it really means to be a Disney Adult, the emotional pull of nostalgia, the fine line between joy and overindulgence, and why some people spend thousands chasing the magic... while others just don’t get it at all.Whether you're a lifelong park-goer or a curious skeptic, this conversation just might reframe how you think about fandom, fantasy, and what it means to grow up in a chaotic world.

Tony-nominated actress Starletta DuPois discusses her captivating role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. She explores her journey working with one of cinema’s most visionary directors, the challenges and triumphs of her character, and what it was like bringing this intense story to life.

Ellen Greene, best known for her unforgettable voice and luminous presence from Little Shop of Horrors, Pushing Daisies, Broadway, and beyond—discusses her powerful new role in the short film Beatrix Is Invisible. It's a haunting, intimate piece that explores themes of invisibility, identity, and resilience—and Ellen’s performance is, unsurprisingly, mesmerizing.

My guest today is Eskil Vogt — the acclaimed Norwegian screenwriter and filmmaker behind Oslo, August 31st, the Oscar-nominated The Worst Person in the World, and Blind. His latest film, Sentimental Value, co-written with Joachim Trier, is a beautifully layered story about family, memory, and the ways art reshapes our lives. The film is now playing in theaters.