Top Filmmaking Articles of the Week - June 22, 2025
To be a filmmaker, you have to lead. You have to be psychotic in your desire to do something. People always like the easy route. You have to push very hard to get something unusual, something different.
-Danny Boyle
Top Filmmaking Articles of the Week - June 22, 2025
Here are some filmmaking articles that we found interesting the past week. We hope you enjoy!
IndieWire – Kate Erbland
Familiar Touch, the debut feature from Sarah Friedland, offers a tender and quietly powerful portrayal of aging and memory loss. Set in a real retirement home, the film follows Ruth Goldman, an elderly former cook navigating dementia after moving into assisted living. With a focus on routine, touch, and small acts of care, the story reframes aging as a “coming of old age” rather than a decline. Friedland’s restrained direction and Kathleen Chalfant’s subtle performance bring authenticity and warmth to a subject rarely treated with such intimacy on screen
IndieWire – Jim Hemphill
In a new IndieWire interview, production designer Adam Rowe reveals how he shaped the visual identity of CBS’s Matlock reboot, filmed at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. By repurposing and expanding set elements originally created for two canceled series, Rowe achieved an unexpectedly grand and cohesive urban courtroom feel that mirrors the lead character’s sharp, meticulous perspective. His designs leverage architectural depth and a modern palette to subtly reinforce narrative themes of authority and justice, turning the series’ environment into an active reflection of Kathy Bates’s formidable presence in the role.
No Film School – Jason Hellerman
In his No Film School interview, comedy legend David Zucker, best known for Airplane! and The Naked Gun, reveals his core philosophy: the first rule of comedy is that actors must not try to be funny. By delivering absurd lines with total seriousness, the humor emerges naturally from the writing. Zucker also emphasizes a fast pace with roughly three jokes per minute, combining clever visual gags with layered punchlines. He stresses that a strong narrative and compelling characters are essential to sustaining any comedy, especially through the second act. His approach highlights that great comedy is built on precision, not just laughs.
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No Film School – Jason Hellerman
An eager race is underway to find the next director of the James Bond franchise, following Daniel Craig’s exit in No Time to Die. The shortlist blends intense drama and blockbuster spectacle: German filmmaker Edward Berger—famed for his visceral and character-rich All Quiet on the Western Front—is a frontrunner; visionary sci-fi auteur Denis Villeneuve brings cinematic grandeur; genre-savvy Edgar Wright would infuse kinetic energy and wry wit; Jonathan Nolan offers psychological depth from TV’s Westworld; and Paul King, known for Paddington and Wonka, could take the series in a whimsical, offbeat direction. Each would reshape Bond’s legacy in distinct and thrilling ways.
Film Independent – John Squire
Film Independent’s spotlight on 7 LBS 8 OZ, the animated short from 2021 Project Involve fellow Yoo Lee, explores the delicate humor and human connection found in unexpected encounters. The story follows a young Asian mother who moves into a changing Jersey City neighborhood and discovers that her gruff new neighbor may not be what he seems. Drawing on Lee’s personal experiences, the stop-motion piece balances socio-economic tension with lighthearted comedy and earned acclaim, including the Grand Jury Prize at the Florida Film Festival. Created amidst the pandemic by a novice crew learning together, the film reflects the power of collaboration and mentorship, leading Lee to direct for HBO Max and develop a Netflix-supported documentary. Meanwhile, applications for the next round of Project Involve, including animation, are now open through July.
If you’ve found anything interesting this week let us know and we can spread the word next time!