TRACY LETTS - Actor / Writer

TRACY LETTS - Actor / Writer

Author: James Ellis Deakins, Roger Deakins August 13, 2025 Duration: 1:04:53

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 154 - Tracy Letts - Actor / Writer

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with actor and writer Tracy Letts (AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, BUG, HOMELAND). Born and raised in Oklahoma, Tracy struck out for Chicago after high school to find work as an actor in the city's active theatre scene, and we learn why Tracy began writing plays himself. We also discuss cinema's role as a messenger for exposing the stories of the stage to rural American communities without access to the theatre, and he shares his mixed experiences adapting his plays into films, from director William Friedkin's tense vision of BUG to the Hollywood ensemble version of his Pulitzer Prize winning play AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY. An accomplished actor as well, Tracy reflects on seeking advice for performing for the camera from his seasoned HOMELAND castmates Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin, and he reveals how he felt when, after being replaced on a film he had written, he was asked to act in additional scenes invented for his character. Plus, Tracy quotes a critical review that ironically sold out the remaining shows of his first play KILLER JOE. 

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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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