A LOOK AT TWO INSPIRATIONAL FILMS - with Joe Walker - Part 2

A LOOK AT TWO INSPIRATIONAL FILMS - with Joe Walker - Part 2

Author: James Ellis Deakins, Roger Deakins July 16, 2025 Duration: 1:00:59

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 150 - A LOOK AT TWO INSPIRATIONAL FILMS - with Joe Walker - Part 2

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we finish our two-part conversation with editor Joe Walker (Season 1, Episode 35) about two of our favourite films: Richard Brooks' IN COLD BLOOD and Jean-Pierre Melville's ARMY OF SHADOWS. Following the previous episode, we shift our focus towards ARMY OF SHADOWS, contrasting the film's measured pacing with the rapidity of its violence that punctuates several points in the story. We reflect on the emotional effect of the movie's unique sense of rhythm and handmade nature, and we discuss the use (and absence) of music throughout the film. We also reflect on the film's near-lack of inserts and intimacy, and we share how the film successfully adapts the essence of the book from which it is based despite making several story changes. Roger was in college at the time of both films' theatrical runs, and he shares what it was like watching them with contemporary audiences. Later, Joe reveals why he and director Denis Villeneuve (Season 1, Episode 25) vary their film diet and watch "slower" films such as ARMY OF SHADOWS to refresh their brains, and Joe observes that fisherman make great camera operators.

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Recommended Viewing: IN COLD BLOOD (1967), ARMY OF SHADOWS (1969)

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This episode is sponsored by Barco & Aputure


There’s a particular kind of conversation that happens when two people who have spent a lifetime in film just start talking, following a thread wherever it leads. That’s the heart of Team Deakins. Roger Deakins, the Oscar-winning cinematographer, and his longtime collaborator and wife, James Ellis Deakins, sit down to unpack questions sent in by listeners, which means every episode begins with a specific point of curiosity-a technical detail, a business dilemma, a philosophical query about storytelling-and unfolds from there. You’ll hear them dig into the craft of cinematography, dissect the realities of the film and television industry, and share stories from their own remarkable journey. The discussion is meandering, insightful, and grounded in decades of practical experience. While it’s primarily their dialogue, they are occasionally joined by guests from across the film world, adding new dimensions to the talk. This isn’t a formal lecture series; it’s an accessible, ongoing dialogue between experts who love what they do. For anyone fascinated by how movies are made, from the lighting of a scene to the navigating of a career, this podcast offers a rare, unfiltered look behind the curtain. The entire project feels like a natural extension of their shared life in art, making each episode a unique and personal listen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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