General Meeting with Becky Sloviter

Becky Sloviter
  • 5.0 (40)
  • Film Interviews
  • Updated Weekly

Hollywood, but make it real. Warm, authentic conversations with the people who make the stuff we love — and the friends I’ve been lucky enough to make along the way. I’ve spent the past 20 years as a Hollywood producer having what’s known as “general meetings” — one-on-one sit-downs with actors, writers, and filmmakers. These personal and creative conversations have always been my favorite part of the job — the moments when the glossy version of Hollywood drops away and you connect with the real person across from you. So now, I’m bringing that to life as a podcast. Each week on General Meeting with Becky Sloviter, I sit down with smart, funny, and talented friends — actors and writers who have made us laugh and cry, and filmmakers who inspire us — for real conversations about creativity, connection, and everything in between. My hope is that these chats will help us all feel a little more connected — and a little less alone. Because we’re all going through it these days — but as the iconic Penny Lane says in my third favorite movie of all time: “Famous people are just more interesting.” Welcome to General Meeting with Becky Sloviter.

  1. 2d ago ·  Video

    Lena Khan: On Her New Netflix Movie 'Best of the Best' and What It Really Takes to Make a Dance Movie

    This week, Becky welcomes director Lena Khan (The Tiger Hunter, Flora & Ulysses) to talk about her new Netflix film, Best of the Best — a raucous comedy set in the cutthroat world of collegiate Bollywood dance competitions. It stars once-in-a-generation talent Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever), is co-written and produced by the brilliant Hasan Minhaj, and hits Netflix this Friday, September 18th. Lena takes Becky back to what actually inspired her to become a filmmaker — after starting at UCLA as an engineering major, before Don Cheadle's unwitting influence convinced her to pivot to film. They chat about Lena's first movie, The Tiger Hunter, starring Danny Pudi and inspired by her own family's story, a path she ultimately pursued with encouragement from her colleagues at Participant Films. Then it's on to Best of the Best: what it actually takes to make a dance movie, and how she told Maitreyi Ramakrishnan that all she had to do was "become Channing Tatum" — which led to seven hours of dance lessons a day for her star. Finally, during the "Last Looks" segment, Lena and Becky bond over their shared love of many things, but especially the Steve Martin/Nora Ephron classic My Blue Heaven, and the perfection that is Friday Night Lights. Check out our episodes on YouTube as well! https://www.youtube.com/@generalmeetingpod If you enjoyed this podcast, please follow, share, like, comment, all the things - thank you for your support! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalmeetingpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@generalmeetingpod Website: https://www.generalmeetingpod.com Host: Becky Sloviter Guest: Lena Khan - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3414572/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Lena Khan: On Her New Netflix Movie 'Best of the Best' and What It Really Takes to Make a Dance Movie

  2. Sep 8 ·  Video

    Matt Rosen: On Hollywood Hot Takes, Soderbergh's 'Karmic Debt', and Why Tom Cruise Gets Times Square

    This week is another first as Becky welcomes young talent manager Matt Rosen to the pod. Matt represents Hollywood screenwriters and filmmakers, but that's not the main reason why Becky invited him onto the pod. Driven by a desire to showcase underrepresented writers and help his clients share their stories, Matt has made a name for himself in Hollywood by doing something very unusual for someone in his position: posting hot takes, strong opinions and hilarious commentary about Hollywood every day on his Instagram stories — the movies he loves and which ones he thinks are garbage, the directors he thinks are hacks, the films people don't talk about enough, the stars who are overrated. But as he and Becky go a little deeper, Matt reveals why his friendships make some movies and TV shows off-limits to his commentary, how Mr. Thomas Cruise is the only person in the world they'd close down Times Square for, and why Philadelphia sports fans can sometimes (often?) be described as mentally ill. Matt and Becky also chat about the state of show business and the importance of keeping it real during these trying times, while Matt references some classics (that anyone interested in Hollywood will know or can seek out): 'What Makes Sammy Run' by Budd Schulberg, the 'karmic debt' that Steven Soderbergh famously talked about in his 'State of Cinema' speech in 2013 (link below), and why Dawn Steel's "they can kill you...but they can't eat you" has become a mantra for Matt. Check out our episodes on YouTube as well! https://www.youtube.com/@generalmeetingpod If you enjoyed this podcast, please follow, share, like, comment, all the things - thank you for your support! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalmeetingpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@generalmeetingpod Website: https://www.generalmeetingpod.com Host: Becky Sloviter Guest: Matt Rosen - https://www.instagram.com/mattyrosen21/ Steven Soderbergh's 'State of Cinema' Speech - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQrFSUwFwUM&t=16s See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Matt Rosen: On Hollywood Hot Takes, Soderbergh's 'Karmic Debt', and Why Tom Cruise Gets Times Square

  3. Sep 1 ·  Video

    Dan Trachtenberg: On the Predator Franchise, 10 Cloverfield Lane, The Boys, Black Mirror, and His Affection for Underdog Stories

    It's another one of Philadelphia's finest as acclaimed writer/director Dan Trachtenberg (Predator: Badlands, 10 Cloverfield Lane) joins Becky as she wears a Sixers t-shirt in honor of LeBron (still can't believe it!) for a wide-ranging conversation about creative collaborations, leaps of faith and where underdog mentality really comes from.  First, Dan takes Becky back to growing up in Philly: working at Suncoast Video in the Willow Grove Mall, leaning into his passion for comic books and movies that laid the foundation for his directing career. Then Dan shares his path from film school at Temple University (go Owls!) to years of trying to make it in Los Angeles directing commercials, before his buzzy short films and a fortuitous connection from Philly helped him land the job directing his first film, 10 Cloverfield Lane — produced by one of Dan's biggest filmmaker influences, J.J. Abrams.  Dan then shares the backstory of how he found a fresh and original way into the Predator franchise and how he's continued to build out the Predator universe in distinct ways — prequels, animated films, and not one but two incredible roles for Elle Fanning — and what else he's working on next.  Dan and Becky also bond over their shared love of movies that try to show the full human experience — especially '80s and '90s movies, anything Spielberg touched, and definitely if John Cusack holds up a boombox.    Check out our episodes on YouTube as well! https://www.youtube.com/@generalmeetingpod If you enjoyed this podcast, please follow, share, like, comment, all the things - thank you for your support! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalmeetingpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@generalmeetingpod Website: https://www.generalmeetingpod.com Host: Becky Sloviter Guest: Dan Trachtenberg - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0870469/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Dan Trachtenberg: On the Predator Franchise, 10 Cloverfield Lane, The Boys, Black Mirror, and His Affection for Underdog Stories

  4. Aug 25 ·  Video

    Macon Blair: On His New Movie 'Idiots', Oppenheimer, The Lowdown, Blue Ruin, and (Finally!!) Twin Peaks

    It's a damn fine episode this week as Becky is joined by acclaimed filmmaker and actor Macon Blair (Blue Ruin, I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore), whose latest film, Idiots — a darkly comedic road trip movie starring Dave Franco, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Mason Thames, Kiernan Shipka, and Peter Dinklage — comes out in theaters this Friday, August 28th from IFC. Macon shares the initial inspiration for Idiots while giving a peek into how fruitful his collaboration with Dave Franco in particular was on the path to getting the movie made. Macon then indulges Becky's fandom over his previous films, sharing the backstory of how his collaboration with filmmaker Jeremy Saulnier (Rebel Ridge, Green Room) dates back to their childhoods in Virginia, and continues today with their production company, Bonneville Pictures.  Macon also talks about his work as an actor — how playing his first deeply dramatic role in Blue Ruin didn't allow him to rely on his usual acting tricks, and how special it was to work with legendary filmmaker Christopher Nolan on Oppenheimer as well as acclaimed showrunner Sterlin Harjo on both Reservation Dogs and The Lowdown. And finally, should you want to see Becky lose her mind with happiness, stay until the final "Last Looks" question, where Twin Peaks FINALLY gets its due from fellow die-hard fan Macon as they discuss a place both wonderful and strange. Check out our episodes on YouTube as well! https://www.youtube.com/@generalmeetingpod If you enjoyed this podcast, please follow, share, like, comment, all the things - thank you for your support! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalmeetingpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@generalmeetingpod Website: https://www.generalmeetingpod.com Host: Becky Sloviter Guest: Macon Blair - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0086301/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Macon Blair: On His New Movie 'Idiots', Oppenheimer, The Lowdown, Blue Ruin, and (Finally!!) Twin Peaks

  5. Aug 18 ·  Video

    Amy Talkington: On Valley Girl, Her Dallas Roots & Enduring Fascination, and Why Timing is Everything

    For the 50th episode of the pod, Becky is joined by someone very special to her family: writer/director Amy Talkington (Little Fires Everywhere, Valley Girl), who went on a 12 year odyssey with an incredible producer to bring the remake of the classic film Valley Girl to life as a jukebox musical for MGM. Amy shares the juxtaposition of being raised in a prominent Dallas family while also being the "goth girl at cotillion," and how the countercultural music scene in Deep Ellum in the '80s saved her during those tumultuous teen years — ultimately inspiring her to leave Dallas and chase her dreams. She then shares a few incredible stories from her encounters with legendary filmmakers: first, Milos Forman — while Amy was in graduate school at Columbia — whose feedback on her short film helped forge her fairytale launch into Hollywood; and then with the master himself, Francis Ford Coppola, and why their meeting was lovely but not at all what she expected. Amy and Becky then reminisce about the commitment and dedication it took to get Valley Girl made and the many obstacles along the way — studio bankruptcies, multiple directors, a Logan Paul scandal, and a global pandemic, just to name a few — before connecting on the challenges of balancing motherhood and identity while navigating an artistic career. Check out our episodes on YouTube as well! https://www.youtube.com/@generalmeetingpod If you enjoyed this podcast, please follow, share, like, comment, all the things - thank you for your support! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalmeetingpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@generalmeetingpod Website: https://www.generalmeetingpod.com Host: Becky Sloviter Guest: Amy Talkington - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0848090/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Amy Talkington: On Valley Girl, Her Dallas Roots & Enduring Fascination, and Why Timing is Everything

  6. Aug 11 ·  Video

    Maradith Frenkel: On Career Pivots, Taking Risks, Reinventing a Classic, and Bridesmaids Perfection

    This week, Becky is joined by an old friend with an incredible career trajectory. Maradith Frenkel spent 15 years as a top studio executive at Universal Pictures — working on films including Bridesmaids, Mamma Mia!, and Snow White and the Huntsman — before her entrepreneurial instincts and a desire to solve a problem for her newborn son led her to launch the wildly successful clothing company Little Sleepies. Through Maradith's drive and perseverance, Little Sleepies developed a unique bamboo-based fabric that almost immediately soothed her son's irritated skin while reinventing a category in the baby clothing space. From there, she built the company from a scrappy start-up in her garage into the ever-expanding success story it is today: with billboards in Times Square, collaborations with Disney, Warner Bros., Paw Patrol, and (of course) Bluey, and a sizable headquarters in Hollywood. Becky and Maradith reminisce about their days together at Universal Pictures before diving into Maradith's storied career path, how the skills she picked up in the film industry proved surprisingly transferable to launching a company all on her own, how — as Maradith puts it — "you never get anywhere without taking a risk," and why she's so proud to be part of people's happiest memories (or "go the f**k to sleep," as the case may be).   Check out our episodes on YouTube as well! https://www.youtube.com/@generalmeetingpod If you enjoyed this podcast, please follow, share, like, comment, all the things - thank you for your support! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalmeetingpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@generalmeetingpod Website: https://www.generalmeetingpod.com Host: Becky Sloviter Guest: Maradith Frenkel - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2724059/ Little Sleepies: https://littlesleepies.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Maradith Frenkel: On Career Pivots, Taking Risks, Reinventing a Classic, and Bridesmaids Perfection

  7. Aug 4 ·  Video

    Jeff Wadlow: On His New Film The Devil's Mouth, His Mentor Warren Beatty, and Showing Up For Family

    This week's episode marks a first for Becky: a true 'general meeting' with a filmmaker she'd never met before and was delighted to sit down with: DGA-nominated director Jeff Wadlow (Imaginary, The Curse of Bridge Hollow), whose new survival thriller The Devil's Mouth, starring Kathryn Newton and Lana Condor, just premiered July 29th on Amazon Prime.  Jeff takes Becky through his journey from growing up in Virginia to majoring in film at Dartmouth to earning his MFA from USC's Peter Stark Producing Program — but first, they dive (pun intended) into his experience making The Devil's Mouth in Thailand, including why he was drawn to this wholly original take on a shark movie and the challenges of filming on the open ocean. Jeff then shares some incredible stories from his film school days — including the time he brought his mentor Warren Beatty to class — before getting into the backstory of the Adrenaline Film Project, a 72-hour filmmaking competition that Jeff launched more than 20 years ago in his hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia. And poignantly, Jeff opens up about his close relationship with his aunt, Katie Couric, and what it meant to show up for his family when he moved in with Katie and her daughters following the tragic death of her husband, Jay, just a few years before Jeff's mother, Emily Couric, would also pass away from cancer — one of the many reasons Katie's work with Stand Up To Cancer is so personally meaningful to their family.  Check out our episodes on YouTube as well! https://www.youtube.com/@generalmeetingpod If you enjoyed this podcast, please follow, share, like, comment, all the things - thank you for your support! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalmeetingpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@generalmeetingpod Website: https://www.generalmeetingpod.com Host: Becky Sloviter Guest: Jeff Wadlow - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0905592/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Jeff Wadlow: On His New Film The Devil's Mouth, His Mentor Warren Beatty, and Showing Up For Family

  8. Jul 28 ·  Video

    Eliot Glazer: On His Hilarious New Book, Perfect Dogs, and Real Talk About the Crushing Realities of Hollywood Today

    This week's episode got deep, vulnerable AND featured a perfect dog — so Becky has never been happier as she welcomes screenwriter, author and all-around wonderful human, Eliot Glazer (Broad City, New Girl) to the pod, whose new book of hilarious and poignant essays, The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Gay, will be released by Simon & Schuster on August 11th — pre-order ASAP if you have great taste. First, Eliot takes Becky back to his upbringing on Long Island, the intense fear of his queer identity being discovered that plagued him on a daily basis, and what ultimately prompted him to write his laugh-out-loud forthcoming book of essays — a book that would have meant so much to him when he was younger and that he hopes (and Becky is certain!) will be a balm to so many people's souls. Then Eliot and Becky get very candid about the realities of having a career in Hollywood these days, the internal and external voices that get in the way (and how hard those voices are to quiet down), and how the nature of being an artist comes with an inability to suppress your creativity — no surprise, Becky quotes Brené Brown for the millionth time as she and Eliot explore what "unused creativity is not benign" really means. Check out our episodes on YouTube as well! https://www.youtube.com/@generalmeetingpod If you enjoyed this podcast, please follow, share, like, comment, all the things - thank you for your support! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalmeetingpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@generalmeetingpod Website: https://www.generalmeetingpod.com Host: Becky Sloviter Guest: Eliot Glazer - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2513282/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Eliot Glazer: On His Hilarious New Book, Perfect Dogs, and Real Talk About the Crushing Realities of Hollywood Today
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About

Hollywood, but make it real. Warm, authentic conversations with the people who make the stuff we love — and the friends I’ve been lucky enough to make along the way. I’ve spent the past 20 years as a Hollywood producer having what’s known as “general meetings” — one-on-one sit-downs with actors, writers, and filmmakers. These personal and creative conversations have always been my favorite part of the job — the moments when the glossy version of Hollywood drops away and you connect with the real person across from you. So now, I’m bringing that to life as a podcast. Each week on General Meeting with Becky Sloviter, I sit down with smart, funny, and talented friends — actors and writers who have made us laugh and cry, and filmmakers who inspire us — for real conversations about creativity, connection, and everything in between. My hope is that these chats will help us all feel a little more connected — and a little less alone. Because we’re all going through it these days — but as the iconic Penny Lane says in my third favorite movie of all time: “Famous people are just more interesting.” Welcome to General Meeting with Becky Sloviter.

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