Film & TV, The Creative Process: Acting, Directing, Writing, Cinematography, Producers, Composers, Costume Design, Talk Art &

The Creative Process
The Creative Process
  • 5.0 (82)
  • Film Interviews
  • Updated Biweekly

Film & TV episodes of the popular The Creative Process podcast. We speak to actors, directors, writers, cinematographers & variety of behind the scenes creatives about their work and how they forged their creative careers. To listen to ALL arts & creativity episodes of “The Creative Process · Arts, Culture & Society”, you’ll find our main podcast on Apple: tinyurl.com/thecreativepod, Spotify: tinyurl.com/thecreativespotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Exploring the fascinating minds of creative people. Conversations with writers, artists & creative thinkers across the Arts & STEM. We discuss their life, work & artistic practice. Winners of Oscar, Emmy, Tony, Pulitzer, leaders & public figures share real experiences & offer valuable insights. Notable guests and organizations include: David Rubin (Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences), Neil Patrick Harris, Matthew Libatique (A Star is Born, Black Swan), Martin Ruhe (The Midnight Sky), Alice Brooks (In the Heights), Jack Thorne (Harry Potter & the Cursed Child), George Pelecanos (The Wire, The Deuce), Neil Gaiman (American Gods), Alan Edward Bell (The Hunger Games), David Hollander (Ray Donovan), Marian Macgowan (The Great), Paul Hirsch (Star Wars, Mission Impossible), Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom), Carter Burwell (Carol, Twilight), Joe Mantegna, Robert Nathan (Law & Order, ER), Jane Alexander, John Powell (Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Bourne films), Stuart Dryburgh (The Piano), Amy Aniobi (Insecure), Salvador Pérez (President Costume Designers Guild, The Mindy Project), Cindy Chupack (Sex & the City, Modern Family), Daniel Handler a.k.a. Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events), Howard Rodman (Sundance Institute, Fmr. President Writers Guild of America West), Tom Perrotta (The Leftovers, Mrs. Fletcher), Marcelo Zarvos (Wonder, Fences), Delia Ephron (You’ve Got Mail), Ian Seabrook (Jungle Cruise, Batman v Superman), Tema Staig & Allison Vanore (Women in Media), Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands), Jordan Kerner (Charlotte’s Web, Fried Green Tomatoes), Jonathan Furmanski (Search Party), Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild), Harris Yulin, Denson Baker (Get Out), François Clemmons (Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood), James McDaniel (NYPD Blue), Trish Sie (Pitch Perfect 3), Peter Weller, Alan Jacobsen (The Lonliest Whale), Michael Maren (Shriver), Albert Serra (Last days of Louis XIV), Ante Cheng & Matthew Chuang (Blue Bayou), John Matysiak (Old Henry), Josh Pais, Linh Nga (Inside this Peace), among others. The interviews are hosted by founder and creative educator Mia Funk with the participation of students, universities, and collaborators from around the world. These conversations are also part of our traveling exhibition.
 www.creativeprocess.info For The Creative Process podcasts from Seasons 1 & 2, visit: tinyurl.com/creativepod or creativeprocess.info/interviews-page-1, which has our complete directory of interviews, transcripts, artworks, and details about ways to get involved. INSTAGRAM @creativeprocesspodcast

  1. 5d ago

    AQUA: A Story of Water & Lost Dreams w/ Author, Screenwriter CHIARA BARZINI

    “I think first of all that in order to have disillusion, you need to have illusion and I really want to sort of take a stand in the name of being a delusional person, you know? I do think illusions are necessary to our sense of creativity, and we need to fall in love with extreme projects, and we need to have ideas that are sometimes unsustainable. We need to dream big in order to be creative and feel alive. The illusions that are a part of Aqua are larger illusions. They're illusions that have to do with my adult life. They're connected to nature and the presence or absence of water, the illusion that we can keep sustaining a city even though the water has run out.” My guest today, Chiara Barzini, has spent her life navigating the literal and cultural fault lines between Italy and California. Today we will discuss her book, Aqua: A Story of Water and Lost Dreams, and her life as an artist living between two countries. In her acclaimed 2017 novel, Things That Happened Before the Earthquake, she wrote about arriving in the San Fernando Valley just weeks after a catastrophic natural disaster and the illusions of the '90s. In Aqua, she examines nature, the California water crisis and the broken dreams of the Hollywood machine. We talk about family, film, art as an act of faith and our collective ecological coming of age, where the end of empire meets the end of abundance, and the consequences of hypercapitalism and colonialism. What does it mean to stare our illusions in the eye and find the courage to imagine a better future? (0:00) The Necessity of Illusions (1:40) Chiara Barzini, Author, Screenwriter (4:44) The End of Empire and Ecological Anxiety (12:15) The Allure and Cruelty of Capitalism (16:07)   Aqua: A Reading - On Hollywood and Water (21:02) Screenwriter Robert Towne and the Legacy of Chinatown (26:20) AI Consumption and Water Bankruptcy (30:23) The Edge of Apocalypse and Bombay Beach (33:41) The Etruscans and the Art of Dying (42:33) Translation and Creativity (44:28) Raising Children in a Crazy World (47:30) Poetry, Ruins, and The Waste Land (57:33) Scents and Sounds of Rome and Los Angeles (01:04:17) The Connection with Animals and Nature (01:07:35) The Evolution of Love and Compassion (01:09:17) The Memory Museum (01:13:00) We Are in This Lifetime Together Episode Website www.creativeprocess.info/pod Instagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

    AQUA: A Story of Water & Lost Dreams w/ Author, Screenwriter CHIARA BARZINI

  2. Oct 1

    Los Angeles, Lost Dreams & Hollywood Illusions - A Road Trip w/ CHIARA BARZINI - Highlights

    Chiara Barzini has spent her life navigating the literal and cultural fault lines between Italy and California. Today we will discuss her book, Aqua: A Story of Water and Lost Dreams, and her life as an artist living between two countries. In her acclaimed 2017 novel, Things That Happened Before the Earthquake, she wrote about arriving in the San Fernando Valley just weeks after a catastrophic natural disaster and the illusions of the '90s. In Aqua, she examines nature, the California water crisis and the broken dreams of the Hollywood machine. We talk about family, film, art as an act of faith and our collective ecological coming of age, where the end of empire meets the end of abundance, and the consequences of hypercapitalism and colonialism. What does it mean to stare our illusions in the eye and find the courage to imagine a better future? (0:00) Water as Power (2:17) The Necessity of Illusions (4:24) Aqua: A Reading - On Hollywood and Water (7:51) The Edge of Apocalypse & Writing (9:10) The Etruscans and the Art of Dying (13:13) Translation and the Creative Spark (14:38) Raising Children in a Crazy World (16:18) Poetry, Ruins, and The Waste Land (18:48) Scents and Sounds of Two Cities (Rome and Los Angeles) (20:43) The Connection with Animals and Nature (22:54) The Evolution of Love and Compassion (24:12) The Memory Museum (27:04) We are in this lifetime together Episode Website www.creativeprocess.info/pod Instagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

    Los Angeles, Lost Dreams & Hollywood Illusions - A Road Trip w/ CHIARA BARZINI - Highlights

  3. Mar 19

    Palestine & Generational Trauma: CHERIEN DABIS on Directing All That's Left of You - Highlights

    Two weeks away from filming her most ambitious film to date, Cherien Dabis and her crew were forced to evacuate Palestine as the devastating events of October 2023 began. Instead of abandoning the project, they adapted, filming across Cyprus, Jordan, and Greece, creating a cinematic love letter to the resilience, joy, and humanity of the Palestinian people. My guest today is Cherien Dabis. She’s a filmmaker and actress who has spent much of her career trying to fill the silences in the American narrative. In 2022, she became the first Palestinian to receive an Emmy nomination. She has worked on everything from The L Word to Ozark, Only Murders in the Building to the hit Netflix series Mo, always with an eye toward breaking the one-dimensional mold that has historically defined Arab representation in the West. But her latest project is perhaps her most ambitious yet. It’s a film called All That’s Left of You. It follows one Palestinian family across three generations, beginning in 1948 and ending in 2022. It is a story of exile and memory, and it’s Jordan’s official submission for this year’s Academy Awards. (0:00) The Inheritance of TraumaCherien Dabis discusses how collective trauma is passed down and the importance of showing Palestinian resilience and humanity (1:50) Inherited Trauma: Identity And History The passage of trauma requires a multi-generational lens to truly understand how history and political events shape people (2:37) The Bakri Acting Dynasty: Collaborative Lineage Collaborating with four generations of the Bakri Family brought immense authenticity to the screen (4:02) Filming The Nakba: Art Imitating Crisis Evacuating Palestine weeks before shooting forced the crew to adapt amidst devastating, ongoing events (7:09) The Moment Of Activation: Racism In Ohio Experiencing severe racism during the first Gulf War ignited a lifelong drive to challenge dangerous media stereotypes (9:34) Psychological Violence: Impact Of Humiliation The film explores how non-physical harassment and humiliation leave devastating, long-term relational scars (10:48) Broken Distribution: Industry Gatekeepers Navigating systemic fear and gatekeeping in Hollywood distribution remains a profound challenge for Palestinian cinema (11:37) Previous Films, Television And Craft Directing television hones the craft and expands the creative capacity needed for ambitious feature films (12:28) Truth Seekers: The Next Generation Hope lies with young people who refuse to accept the broken systems and hidden truths of previous generations Episode Website www.creativeprocess.info/pod Instagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

    Palestine & Generational Trauma: CHERIEN DABIS on Directing All That's Left of You - Highlights

  4. Mar 19

    The Psychological & Emotional Impact of Occupation w/ Actress, Director CHERIEN DABIS

    “These oppressive structures are built to strip us of our humanity. One of the ways they do that is by filling us with anger and hatred. If we allow ourselves to stay there, we're doing the job of the oppressor for them by slowly killing ourselves. I wanted to make a movie that would remind people that we can't allow them to win by giving up our humanity. We have to hold onto our humanity and try in these impossible circumstances.” My guest today is Cherien Dabis. She’s a filmmaker and actress who has spent much of her career trying to fill the silences in the American narrative. In 2022, she became the first Palestinian to receive an Emmy nomination. She has worked on everything from The L Word to Ozark, Only Murders in the Building to the hit Netflix series Mo, always with an eye toward breaking the one-dimensional mold that has historically defined Arab representation in the West. But her latest project is perhaps her most ambitious yet. It’s a film called All That’s Left of You. It follows one Palestinian family across three generations, beginning in 1948 and ending in 2022. It is a story of exile and memory, and it’s Jordan’s official submission for this year’s Academy Awards. (0:00) The Inheritance of Trauma Cherien Dabis discusses showing the multifaceted humanity of Palestinians beyond just pain and suffering (3:41) Inherited Trauma: Identity And History The film explores how collective trauma is passed down across generations and shapes individual identities (5:52) The Bakri Dynasty: Collaborative Lineage Working with the legendary Bakri Family brought deep, authentic relational dynamics to the screen (9:25) Filming The Nakba: Art Imitating Crisis The crew faced severe challenges and had to evacuate Palestine during the October 2023 escalation (16:10) Representation Gap: Dehumanization In Media Growing up in Ohio, Cherien Dabis witnessed the dangerous misrepresentation of Arabs in Western media (21:24) The Moment Of Activation: Racism In Ohio The stark racism experienced during the first Gulf War ignited her passion to become a filmmaker (33:40) Psychological Violence: Impact Of Humiliation The film depicts how psychological harassment under occupation leaves devastating, long-term impacts on families (38:23) Broken Distribution: Industry Gatekeepers Despite international success, systemic fear and gatekeeping in the US distribution market remain significant obstacles (45:28) Previous Films, Television And Craft Directing television shows like Only Murders in the Building expanded her creative capacity and adaptability (51:45) Truth Seekers: The Next GenerationCherien Dabis shares her profound hope for young people who refuse to accept the broken systems of the past Episode Website www.creativeprocess.info/pod Instagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

    The Psychological & Emotional Impact of Occupation w/ Actress, Director CHERIEN DABIS

  5. 11/17/2025

    Twists, Truth & Tension - Creating Compelling TV with NIGEL MARCHANT & MEGAN GALLAGHER - Highlights

    “We're at times where a lot of the arts are really suffering in multiple countries with funding and cost of living. Understandably, people come for the arts, but our job is at times to hold a mirror to society. We can learn a huge amount. It can really change everyone's perspective. So look, it could be escapism, and we all need that at times, but it also can have something that fundamentally can't be enacted just through journalism at times. I think when you dramatize something, it can reach the very core of an audience.” Today, we'll be talking about the intense emotional toll of modern life, and how the deepest secrets often hide behind the most polished facades. My guests have dedicated their careers to crafting psychological dramas. Nigel Marchan tis the Managing Director and an Executive Producer at Carnival Films, the powerhouse behind some of television's most beloved and intricate dramas, from Downton Abbey to the television adaptation of The Day of Jackal. Megan Gallagheris a writer who understands the delicate mechanics of suspense and the human heart. She created and wrote the critically acclaimed series Borderliner, and most recently, the BBC thriller Wolf. They’ve joined forces for the new limited series, All Her Fault (now streaming on Peacock). It’s an anxiety-inducing thriller adapted from Andrea Mara's novel and the show plunges us into the frantic world of a wealthy working mother, Marissa Irvine, after her five-year-old son disappears. Starring Sarah Snook in her first television role since Succession, the series starts with a rupture when Marissa’s son Milo is kidnapped and ripples into many lives, exploring momshaming, the guilt, blame, and sacrifice of motherhood. And what happens when domestic bliss turns to domestic misery. Episode Website www.creativeprocess.info/pod Instagram:@creativeprocesspodcast @carnivalfilmsX: @carnival_filmsFacebook: Carnival Films

    Twists, Truth & Tension - Creating Compelling TV with NIGEL MARCHANT & MEGAN GALLAGHER - Highlights

  6. 11/17/2025

    ALL HER FAULT starring SARAH SNOOK - Behind the Scenes w/ NIGEL MARCHANT & MEGAN GALLAGHER

    “The people that we choose to love and the ones we choose to rely on and trust… Marissa and Jenny's relationship and that female friendship, that's what we watch happen in the series in real time. Whereas the marriages and the relationships that they're already in maybe aren't so perfect, the one we watch them choose is the one that's rewarding. It's so nice to listen to people's reactions to that relationship and how real that relationship feels. These two women, from a character perspective, have every reason to not get along or to hate each other or to yell at each other. That's the opposite of what each one of them does, and that just feels true and honest. I know a lot of women who I feel would act that way, be the best version of themselves in such an awful situation.” Today, we'll be talking about the intense emotional toll of modern life, and how the deepest secrets often hide behind the most polished facades. My guests have dedicated their careers to crafting psychological dramas. Nigel Marchant is the Managing Director and an Executive Producer at Carnival Films, the powerhouse behind some of television's most beloved and intricate dramas, from Downton Abbey to the television adaptation of The Day of Jackal. Megan Gallagher is a writer who understands the delicate mechanics of suspense and the human heart. She created and wrote the critically acclaimed series Borderliner, and most recently, the BBC thriller Wolf. They’ve joined forces for the new limited series, All Her Fault (now streaming on Peacock). It’s an anxiety-inducing thriller adapted from Andrea Mara's novel and the show plunges us into the frantic world of a wealthy working mother, Marissa Irvine, after her five-year-old son disappears. Starring Sarah Snook in her first television role since Succession, the series starts with a rupture when Marissa’s son Milo is kidnapped and ripples into many lives, exploring momshaming, the guilt, blame, and sacrifice of motherhood. And what happens when domestic bliss turns to domestic misery. Episode Website www.creativeprocess.info/pod Instagram:@creativeprocesspodcast @carnivalfilmsX: @carnival_filmsFacebook: Carnival Films

    ALL HER FAULT starring SARAH SNOOK - Behind the Scenes w/ NIGEL MARCHANT & MEGAN GALLAGHER

  7. 11/09/2025

    Mind Games, Power & Obsession - Veteran Showrunner HOWARD GORDON & Writer DANIEL PEARLE on THE BEAST IN ME - Highlights

    “How do you render something interior filmically? How do you communicate the details of the lost child, of the amount of time of the stuck creative process, and even the exterior, or the externalization of the house as a kind of hellish thing that's barely staying together—literally flooding with waste—and that you can't afford? So those are the details that we had to carefully figure out how to weave. But, you know, when you look at the first 10 minutes, it could be a horror movie. From that moment, a lot can happen. But what's important about it is that it sets the table for what does happen.” -Howard Gordon Today, we explore the dark psychology of obsession, guilt, and the thin line between predator and victim. Our guests are two of television's most accomplished architects of high-stakes drama and moral ambiguity: Howard Gordon, the showrunner and executive producer whose work defined a generation of thrillers with 24 and the multi-award-winning Homeland; and Daniel Pearle, an executive producer and writer who brings a distinct, penetrating depth from his background as a celebrated playwright and his work on series like Accused and American Crime Story. Episode Website www.creativeprocess.info/pod Instagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

    Mind Games, Power & Obsession - Veteran Showrunner HOWARD GORDON & Writer DANIEL PEARLE on THE BEAST IN ME - Highlights

  8. 11/09/2025

    The Beast in Me starring CLAIRE DANES - Behind the Scenes w/ HOWARD GORDON & DANIEL PEARLE

    “And I think there's also just something about an unfettered or uncensored id that is so captivating. We all have that fantasy of doing exactly what we want with no consequences and sort of letting that go. I think when you see an athlete at the peak of their game, doing that embodied thing and living that dream, or when someone has actually done horrible things that you would never allow yourself to do, there is a fascination there. I had one teacher who said, "Anyone who drives you crazy or that you just cannot stand in life, put them in a play or put them in a scene, and the audience will love them." If someone has really gotten under your skin and you just cannot stand them, and you have a visceral reaction—like, "I just hate this person"—make them a character, and the audience will make them everyone's favorite character. There is something to that.” - Daniel Pearle Today, we explore the dark psychology of obsession, guilt, and the thin line between predator and victim. Our guests are two of television's most accomplished architects of high-stakes drama and moral ambiguity: Howard Gordon, the showrunner and executive producer whose work defined a generation of thrillers with 24 and the multi-award-winning Homeland; and Daniel Pearle, an executive producer and writer who brings a distinct, penetrating depth from his background as a celebrated playwright and his work on series like Accused and American Crime Story.. Episode Website www.creativeprocess.info/pod Instagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

    The Beast in Me starring CLAIRE DANES - Behind the Scenes w/ HOWARD GORDON & DANIEL PEARLE
See All (252)

Hosts & Guests

5
out of 5
82 Ratings

About

Film & TV episodes of the popular The Creative Process podcast. We speak to actors, directors, writers, cinematographers & variety of behind the scenes creatives about their work and how they forged their creative careers. To listen to ALL arts & creativity episodes of “The Creative Process · Arts, Culture & Society”, you’ll find our main podcast on Apple: tinyurl.com/thecreativepod, Spotify: tinyurl.com/thecreativespotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Exploring the fascinating minds of creative people. Conversations with writers, artists & creative thinkers across the Arts & STEM. We discuss their life, work & artistic practice. Winners of Oscar, Emmy, Tony, Pulitzer, leaders & public figures share real experiences & offer valuable insights. Notable guests and organizations include: David Rubin (Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences), Neil Patrick Harris, Matthew Libatique (A Star is Born, Black Swan), Martin Ruhe (The Midnight Sky), Alice Brooks (In the Heights), Jack Thorne (Harry Potter & the Cursed Child), George Pelecanos (The Wire, The Deuce), Neil Gaiman (American Gods), Alan Edward Bell (The Hunger Games), David Hollander (Ray Donovan), Marian Macgowan (The Great), Paul Hirsch (Star Wars, Mission Impossible), Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom), Carter Burwell (Carol, Twilight), Joe Mantegna, Robert Nathan (Law & Order, ER), Jane Alexander, John Powell (Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Bourne films), Stuart Dryburgh (The Piano), Amy Aniobi (Insecure), Salvador Pérez (President Costume Designers Guild, The Mindy Project), Cindy Chupack (Sex & the City, Modern Family), Daniel Handler a.k.a. Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events), Howard Rodman (Sundance Institute, Fmr. President Writers Guild of America West), Tom Perrotta (The Leftovers, Mrs. Fletcher), Marcelo Zarvos (Wonder, Fences), Delia Ephron (You’ve Got Mail), Ian Seabrook (Jungle Cruise, Batman v Superman), Tema Staig & Allison Vanore (Women in Media), Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands), Jordan Kerner (Charlotte’s Web, Fried Green Tomatoes), Jonathan Furmanski (Search Party), Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild), Harris Yulin, Denson Baker (Get Out), François Clemmons (Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood), James McDaniel (NYPD Blue), Trish Sie (Pitch Perfect 3), Peter Weller, Alan Jacobsen (The Lonliest Whale), Michael Maren (Shriver), Albert Serra (Last days of Louis XIV), Ante Cheng & Matthew Chuang (Blue Bayou), John Matysiak (Old Henry), Josh Pais, Linh Nga (Inside this Peace), among others. The interviews are hosted by founder and creative educator Mia Funk with the participation of students, universities, and collaborators from around the world. These conversations are also part of our traveling exhibition.
 www.creativeprocess.info For The Creative Process podcasts from Seasons 1 & 2, visit: tinyurl.com/creativepod or creativeprocess.info/interviews-page-1, which has our complete directory of interviews, transcripts, artworks, and details about ways to get involved. INSTAGRAM @creativeprocesspodcast

Information

More From The Creative Process

You Might Also Like