Interviews — FilmSpeak

Michael Gracey Directs the Magic of ‘Better Man’

After the runaway success of 2017’s ‘The Greatest Showman’, director Michael Gracey has another trick up his sleeve: a singing, dancing, potty-mouthed CGI monkey in ‘Better Man’. Gracey sits with FilmSpeak to discuss the musical biopic of Robbie Williams through the eyes of a CGI monkey.

Interviews, Celebrity InterviewsTina KakadelisFebruary 10, 2025michael gracey, better man, robbie williamsComment

Production Designer Arthur Max & Costume Designer Dave Crossman Bring Ancient Rome to Life in 'Gladiator II'

Ridley Scott had to call upon some trusted collaborators and immediately went to Arthur Max, and Dave Crossman for Gladiator II. They sat down with FilmSpeak to discuss how they re-built the epic world of ancient Rome.

Inside Volker Bertelmann's Score for 'Conclave'

Volker Bertelmann’s score is a vital part of ‘Conclave’. His rich, stringed orchestra breathes deeper life into the social, cultural, and political reckoning at the core of the music. He sat down with FilmSpeak recently to discuss composing the score.

Celebrity Interviews, InterviewsTina KakadelisDecember 24, 2024conclave, volker bertelmann, music for conclave, raph fiensComment

Experience the Horror of ‘Smile 2’ with Rosemarie DeWitt & Miles Gutierrez-Riley

Rosemarie DeWitt and Miles Gutierrez-Riley star in‘Smile 2’ - bigger, bloodier, and more brutal than its predecessor, thanks in part to the all-out performances from the two stars. They sit down with FilmSpeak to discuss the smile-filled sequel.

'A Quiet Place: Day One' Writer/Director Michael Sarnoski Talks Power of Connection

To celebrate the at-home release of one of the year’s biggest blockbusters - writer/director of ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’, Michael Sarnoski, sat down with FilmSpeak to discuss the underlying human heart of his alien invasion flick.

Celebrity Interviews, Interviews, HorrorTina KakadelisJuly 30, 2024a quiet place, michael sarnoskiComment

Making ‘Mean Girls’ (2024) Fetch with Jaquel Spivey, Samantha Jayne, & Arturo Perez Jr.

In preparation for ‘Mean Girls’ (2024) digital release on Paramount Home Entertainment, FilmSpeak sits down with some of the people who had a hand in bringing the musical to life including directors Samantha Jayne & Arturo Perez Jr. and star Jaquel Spivey.

SUNDANCE '23: Composer Patrick Jonsson and the Childlike Magic of 'Scrapper'

First and foremost, composer Patrick Jonsson is a film lover, and this film lover sits down with FilmSpeak to discuss his latest projects including an upcoming Stephen King adaptation and Charlotte Regan’s Scrapper, which had its premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Interviews, SundanceTina KakadelisFebruary 9, 2023scrapper, patrick jonssonComment

SUNDANCE '23: Composer Brian McOmber and the Power Struggle of 'Fair Play'

Composer Brian McOmber is responsible for the music behind the tension-filled Fair Play., and he’s no stranger to the world of indie film. The workhorse musician has three films at Sundance this festival, but he took some time off his busy schedule to speak to FilmSpeak about his banner year.

Interviews, SundanceTina KakadelisFebruary 8, 2023fair play, brian mcomber, Sundance, sundance 23, interview with brian mcomber, ComposerComment

SUNDANCE '23: Composer Heather McIntosh on the Horrors of Modern Dating in 'Cat Person'

Composer Heather McIntosh sits with FilmSpeak to discuss her latest project - the score of Susanna Fogel’s Cat Person. The film shares its name with his inspiration: a short story from 2017 that went viral that spurred a conversation about modern dating, sex, and romance.

Getting to the Heart of ‘Bones and All’ with Screenwriter Dave Kajganich

Looming over director Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Bones and All’ is the notion that this coming-of-age love story is just a bit different than what most people are used to. Writer Dave Kajganich sits down with FilmSpeak to explain that he hopes people see beyond the film’s initial strangeness.

Horror, Interviews, MoviesTina KakadelisJanuary 12, 2023bones and all, Luca Guadagnino, Dave KajganichComment

Interview: How David Buckley Wrote the Music of Dreams for ‘The Sandman’

Netflix’s hit series The Sandman captivated audiences this month. FilmSpeak sat down with composer David Buckley to discuss how he first got interested in making music, the pressures of adaptation, and his role in creating the “sonic worlds” of The Sandman.

Elliot Wheeler: The Man Who Brought Elvis Back to Life

Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis is a sensory overload. Over the course of the nearly three-hour-long film, only two minutes are not accompanied by music, and much of that music is a brand new score by Elliot Wheeler. Wheeler sat down with FilmSpeak to talk about how he started making music, and the collaborative process with Luhrmann.

"Screw You Guys" - The Newton Brothers Talk Composing 'Midnight Mass'

Composers Andy Grush and Taylor Newton Stewart are better known as The Newton Brothers, creating film scores since 2011, and recently, are responsible for working on some of the more critically acclaimed horror entertainment out there. They sat down with FilmSpeak to talk about their personal musical journeys.

InterviewsTina KakadelisJune 3, 2022the newton brothers, Mike Flanagan, Midnight Mass, Netflix Midnight Mass, netflixComment

'Crush' Writers Casey Rackham and Kirsten King on the Enduring Power of Rom Coms

Sitting down with FilmSpeak are writers Casey Rackham and Kirsten King, whose upcoming feature film, Crush, premieres on Hulu April 29th. Rackham and King are longtime lovers of the genre, but they knew they wanted their writing debut to shine the spotlight on an often-under-represented group of people.

'The Fairly Oddparents: Fairly Odder' Cast Interviews: Introducing a New Generation to Cosmo and Wanda

Streaming on Paramount+, the new show The Fairly Oddparents: Fairly Odder sees the return of a now grown Timmy Turner and his beloved fairy godparents, Cosmo and Wanda. FilmSpeak got to sit down with the cast to talk about the exciting retooling of the popular animated show.

‘Morbius’ Composer Jon Ekstrand on How John Carpenter Inspired the Music of Jared Leto’s Marvel Movie

Morbius composer Jon Ekstrand discusses how John Carpenter and 80’s synth scores helped shape the soundscape for Sony’s Jared Leto-vampire comic book adaptation.