SUZIE DAVIES - Production Designer

SUZIE DAVIES - Production Designer

Author: James Ellis Deakins, Roger Deakins April 23, 2025 Duration: 59:46

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 138 - Suzie Davies - Production Designer

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with production designer Suzie Davies (CONCLAVE, SALTBURN, MR. TURNER). Suzie once thought she'd be a sheep farmer, but after working for model-makers on commercials, she found herself drawn to the art department and filmmaking. A frequent collaborator with director Mike Leigh (Season 1, Episode 76), Suzie reveals how they first met and how she works with him within his unique process. We also learn how the boundaries of production inform Suzie's general approach to design, and she shares how she tries to help directors realize their creative visions within these limits. Later, Suzie reflects on the challenge of finding period locations in the modern world, and we discuss how she augments locations to suit the film's reality. Suzie also shares what made the estate in SALTBURN so unique as a location, and we learn how she balanced the production of that film with weekend location scouts in Rome for CONCLAVE. Throughout the episode, Suzie reflects on how she made the most of the opportunities presented to her throughout her career, and we discuss the enduring appeal of being just a sheep farmer.

-

This episode is sponsored by 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

Team Deakins
Podcast Episodes
CHRIS LOWE - Production Designer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:15
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 176 - Chris Lowe - Production Designer In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with production designer Chris Lowe (BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE, THE LAST JEDI, IN BRUGES). We worked with Chris o…
EMBETH DAVIDTZ - Actor / Director [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:33
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 175 - Embeth Davidtz - Actor / Director In this episode, of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with actor and director Embeth Davidtz (DON'T LETS GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT, MAD MEN, SCHINDLER'S LIST). Emb…
CÉSAR CHARLONE - Cinematographer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:24
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 174 - César Charlone - Cinematographer In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer César Charlone (PARTIDO, BLINDNESS, CITY OF GOD). Born in Uruguay, César found filmmaki…
KATE WINSLET - Actor / Director [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:36
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 173 - Kate Winslet - Actor / Director Actor and director Kate Winslet (GOODBYE JUNE, MARE OF EASTTOWN, HEAVENLY CREATURES) joins us in this extended episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. During our conv…
KLEBER MENDONÇA FILHO - Writer / Director [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:01
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 172 - Kleber Mendonça Filho - Writer / Director In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with writer and director Kleber Mendonça Filho (THE SECRET AGENT, BACURAU, NEIGHBORING SOUNDS). Kle…
LEDs - with Jeffrey Lee, Ph.D. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:57
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 171 - LEDs - with Jeffrey Lee, Ph.D. In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we return to the world of LEDs. After speaking with Tim S. Kang (Season 2, Episode 165), we realized we had even more q…
CRISTIAN MUNGIU - Director [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:20
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 170 - Cristian Mungiu - Director In this extended episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with director Cristian Mungiu (R.M.N., GRADUATION, BEYOND THE HILLS). Cristian's films—which we deeply ad…
EDGAR WRIGHT - Director [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:27
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 169 - Edgar Wright - Director Director Edgar Wright (THE RUNNING MAN, SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD, SHAUN OF THE DEAD) joins us in this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. Edgar is responsible for one o…
TED SCHILOWITZ - Futurist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:20
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 168 - Ted Schilowitz - Futurist In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with futurist Ted Schilowitz. Ted has spent his life working in entertainment, from producing commercials in Florid…
JAMES LAXTON - Cinematographer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:51
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 167 - James Laxton - Cinematographer In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer James Laxton (THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, ANYTHING, MOONLIGHT). If you've seen a film direc…