Seen on the Screen with Jacqueline Coley

Universal Entertainment
  • 4.8 (51)
  • TV & FILM
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

A podcast series hosted by Jacqueline Coley, Awards Editor at Rotten Tomatoes. Claim your ticket to witness the personal narratives happening behind the scenes of film and entertainment. Each episode invites you into intimate conversations with filmmakers, actors and industry insiders. Blending sharp cinematic trivia with thoughtfully crafted interview questions, Jacqueline leads each guest through a rich, reflective journey into their lifelong relationship with entertainment. From the formative movie‑going experiences that shaped their artistic worldview to their career‑defining moves — asking them to reflect on the films that have rocked their world, scared the daylights out of them, and changed them forever. Check out new episodes of SEEN ON THE SCREEN every other week! Follow Seen on the Screen wherever you listen to podcasts and watch on YouTube.🎧

  1. 3D AGO

    Will Packer Is Bringing the Rom-Com Back to Theaters With You, Me & Tuscany

    Producer Will Packer has built his career on making movies that feel both specific and undeniably communal, focused on Black joy. From early box office breakthrough Stomp the Yard to iconic fan-favorites like Girls Trip, his filmography celebrates big humor, big heart and the kind of authenticity that invites everyone in and still celebrates his core audience. Now, he’s bringing that same crowd-pleasing energy to his newest film, You, Me & Tuscany, a romantic comedy starring Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page. In this episode, Will talks with Jacqueline Coley about what it takes to create stories that feel universal without losing their point of view and why he thinks romantic comedies are long overdue for a theatrical comeback. He also shares the moment he knew his Tuscany leads had real chemistry and why creating a strong creative community has contributed to his success and legacy.

    36 min

  2. 12/17/2025

    Music, Memphis, and Making Song Sung Blue With Craig Brewer

    Filmmaker Craig Brewer has always been drawn to stories where music fuels big dreams — often against the odds.From his award-winning films Hustle & Flow and Dolemite Is My Name to acclaimed series like Empire and Fight Night, Brewer’s work is steeped in rhythm and resilience. Now, he's back directing Song Sung Blue, a new Focus Features film starring Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman, about the incredible true story of "Lightning & Thunder," two Milwaukee musicians whose Neil Diamond tribute act became an inspiring sensation.In this episode, Craig sits down with Jacqueline Coley to talk about transforming a documentary into a feature film, earning the trust of the family behind the story, and capturing the soulful spirit that runs through his work. Craig opens up about his Memphis roots, his long creative partnerships, and the musical heartbeat that drives his storytelling. Plus, he shares the wild origin of the Oscar-winning “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” and the touching note Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder sent after reading the Song Sung Blue script.

    39 min

  3. 12/04/2025

    Wicked Wardrobe Secrets With Paul Tazewell

    For award-winning Paul Tazewell, costume design is storytelling in its purest form. From Death Becomes Her and Harriet to The Wiz Live! and Wicked, his work blends imagination, history, and emotional detail to reveal who characters are long before they speak. His designs for Wicked and Wicked: For Good reimagine Oz through texture, silhouette, and color—shaping a world that feels both fantastical and grounded.In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley talks with Paul about building Glinda and Elphaba’s looks from the inside out, collaborating with Jon M. Chu and the creative team, and crafting costumes that can withstand stunts, emotion, and cinematic scale. Together, they take a closer look at two of Paul’s signature designs from the Wicked: For Good, breaking down the choices that bring each character to life. From iridescent bubble silhouettes to Elphaba’s reimagined witch’s hat, Paul shares how every detail carries meaning—and how costume design can turn fantasy into something deeply human.

    45 min

  4. 11/26/2025

    Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 with Director Emma Tammi

    Transforming a beloved game into a cinematic world isn’t simple, but Emma Tammi approaches it with equal parts respect, curiosity, and boldness. After turning Five Nights at Freddy’s into a global phenomenon, she returns with FNAF 2—a sequel that’s bigger, scarier, and packed with animatronics fans have been waiting years to see.In this episode, Jacqueline Coley sits down with Emma to revisit how she first entered the Freddy’s universe—answering Jason Blum’s pandemic-era phone call, diving into a fast-track education in lore, and uncovering the emotional spine beneath all the jump scares. Emma shares how collaborations with creator Scott Cawthon, Jason Blum, and the cast shaped the films, and why the franchise’s themes of grief, memory, and paranoia demanded a deeper, more character-driven approach in the sequel.She also breaks down the massive scale-up for FNAF 2: new set pieces, expanded world-building, and an entire army of animatronics engineered with the Jim Henson Creature Shop. From practical effects to Easter eggs designed for frame-by-frame internet sleuthing, Emma explains what it takes to make Freddy’s feel alive—sometimes terrifyingly so.

    31 min

  5. 11/19/2025

    Crafting On-Screen Magic with Wicked Producer Marc Platt

    To Marc Platt, producing is not just about stories that entertain but that are aspirational and celebratory. Whether it’s the determination of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, the passion of Sebastian and Mia in La La Land, or the powerful friendship between Glinda and Elphaba in Wicked, his work reminds us how courage and collaboration turn stories into cultural touchstones everyone can relate to.In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley sits down with the award–winning producer to explore how stories evolve from page to stage and screen. Marc shares how Wicked grew from Gregory Maguire’s novel to a Broadway phenomenon, and how it ultimately became two feature films shot at the same time.  He reflects on working with visionary directors like Jon M. Chu, Damien Chazelle, and Edgar Wright, and the singular Steven Spielberg. Marc shares the pressure and joy of adapting beloved stories and how his own family has been a creative compass throughout his career.

    38 min

  6. 11/12/2025

    The Audience is Never Wrong with Kevin Goetz

    What makes audiences fall in love with a movie—and what makes them walk out? Kevin Goetz is the founder and CEO of Screen Engine/ASI, the research and strategy firm trusted by major Hollywood studios. Nicknamed “The Doctor of Audience-ology,” Kevin has built his career helping filmmakers and studios understand their audiences.In this episode, Jacqueline Coley sits down with Kevin to explore his unexpected journey from child actor to the world’s leading voice on audience testing, work that continues to influence some of Hollywood’s films, from Fatal Attraction to the most recent blockbusters.He shares stories behind test screenings that changed movie history, the art of interpreting data without losing emotion, and his newest book, How to Score in Hollywood: Secrets to Success in the Movie Business. In the end, Kevin reminds us that the audience is never wrong—and that listening may be a creator’s most valuable skill.

    34 min
  7. How Music Moves Movies with Mike Knobloch

    11/05/2025

    How Music Moves Movies with Mike Knobloch

    From Titanic to Despicable Me, Fifty Shades of Grey to Oppenheimer, Mike Knobloch has helped define the sound of modern cinema. As President, NBCUniversal Music and Publishing for Universal Film, he’s spent his career shaping the way audiences experience music on screen—whether that’s through a sweeping score or a pop song that takes on a life of its own.In this episode, brought to you by the Universal Composers Initiative, Jacqueline Coley talks with Mike about his journey from production assistant on Father of the Bride to one of the most influential music executives in Hollywood. He shares the high-stakes tension behind Titanic’s now-iconic theme, the unlikely struggle that led to Pharrell’s hit “Happy,” and what it means when a movie song reaches the elusive diamond certification.

    35 min
  8. Black Phone 2 Behind the Mask with Ethan Hawke

    10/17/2025

    Black Phone 2 Behind the Mask with Ethan Hawke

    Not many actors have lived as many lives on screen as Ethan Hawke. From Dead Poets Society to Reality Bites, Training Day to The Black Phone, his career is nothing short of a masterclass in evolution.At New York Comic Con, Jacqueline Coley sat down with the award-winning actor to talk about his return in The Black Phone 2 and the creative choices that have helped shape his second act. Ethan opens up about reuniting with longtime collaborator Scott Derrickson, stepping once again behind the mask of “The Grabber,” and how genre films allow him to explore deeper truths.Reflecting on his decades-long collaborations with Richard Linklater and Jason Blum, Ethan shares insights on aging with curiosity and the wisdom that comes from a life devoted to storytelling. As he put it: “One lifetime is not enough.”

    20 min
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4.8
out of 5
51 Ratings

About

A podcast series hosted by Jacqueline Coley, Awards Editor at Rotten Tomatoes. Claim your ticket to witness the personal narratives happening behind the scenes of film and entertainment. Each episode invites you into intimate conversations with filmmakers, actors and industry insiders. Blending sharp cinematic trivia with thoughtfully crafted interview questions, Jacqueline leads each guest through a rich, reflective journey into their lifelong relationship with entertainment. From the formative movie‑going experiences that shaped their artistic worldview to their career‑defining moves — asking them to reflect on the films that have rocked their world, scared the daylights out of them, and changed them forever. Check out new episodes of SEEN ON THE SCREEN every other week! Follow Seen on the Screen wherever you listen to podcasts and watch on YouTube.🎧

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