’The Last Shift’ is a Masterclass in How to Make the Leap from DIY Nonfiction to Big-Time Narrative
You've never directed an actor before. Now you're directing an Oscar nominee. Ready?
Richard Jenkins was nominated for an Oscar in The Shape of Water. He's acted in a hundred movies (literally). How did writer-director Andrew Cohn get an experienced actor like Jenkins in his first narrative feature? How did the first-time director approach working with Jenkins? And how the heck did he go from making docs with his friends (and putting them on credit cards) to Sony Pictures releasing his first feature, The Last Shift, in theaters nationwide? Our podcast has all of these answers and more. Cohn discusses how he made the transition from documentary to narrative, being mentored by executive producer Alexander Payne (Election, Sideways), and what it means to “shoot for the edit.” The film hit theaters September 25th. Listen to our pod here:
See the trailer for The Last Shift here:
For more on Cohn's Sundance premiere, check out our podcast from Park City, where we also recommend our other favorites from Sundance.
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This episode of The No Film School Podcast was produced by George Edelman, Ryan Koo, and Jeffrey Reeser.