James L. Brooks: Directing Ella McCay, The Simpsons, Emma Mackey & Writing Honest Dialogue
The Filmmakers PodcastShow Notes
It's 2026! Welcome back to The Filmmakers Podcast!
The legendary James L. Brooks (Creator of 'The Simpsons', Director of 'As Good as It Gets') sits down with Conor Boru and Francis Annan to discuss his first film in 15 years, 'Ella McCay'.
In this exclusive interview, the 3-time Oscar winner breaks down his return to the director's chair, working with Emma Mackey and Jamie Lee Curtis, and his unique process for finding the "truth" in comedy. We dive deep into his screenwriting craft, how he produces for other directors (like Wes Anderson), and the lessons he's learned from a career that defined the "dramedy" genre.
Topics discussed:
Why he chose Ella McCay as his return to directing.
The challenge of writing dialogue that is both funny and heartbreaking.
Directing an ensemble cast (Woody Harrelson, Jaime Lee Curtis, Ayo Edebiri,
The legacy of Terms of Endearment and Broadcast News.
Producing advice for young filmmakers.
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