The Backlot

Listen as Paramount Pitcures CEO Jim Gianopulos talks about his professional path from being an aspiring lawyer for the Rolling Stones to head of Fox and then Paramount.

Writer, Director, and Producer Eileen Cabiling discusses her creative process and her inspiration for the critically acclaimed short film Basurero.

Screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen discusses working with Luc Besson on The Professional (Leon), The Fifth Element, Kiss of The Dragon, the Taken series, and his inspiration for and work on The Karate Kid.

On this episode of The Backlot, we sit down with Nollywood filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi as he discusses the rise of Nollywood and the direction he hopes the industry will take.

Nathalie Emmanuel discusses her iconic role as Missandei on Game of Thrones as well as her more recent roles, including starring along side Kevin Hart in Quibi's Die Hart and Mindy Kaling's Four Weddings and a Funeral reboot.

On this episode Academy Award nominated actress Juliette Lewis recounts her start in the industry, her experience filming "Cape Fear" with Martin Scorsese and "Kalifornia" with then boyfriend Brad Pitt.

Listen to cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, whose work on Close Encounters of the Third Kind garnered him an Academy Award, as he speaks on his career and his experience filming McCabe & Mrs. Miller, The Deer Hunter, and working with Steven Spielberg.

Since he was an acting student at NYFA, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo has worked in Hollywood hits such as "The Magnificent Seven", "Widows", and "Murder on the Orient Express". On this Episode of The Backlot, he takes time to come back to his alma mater and discuss how he got started, his career, and his experiences on set.

After breaking onto the scene with a Golden Globe-winning performance for his role in Stand and Deliver (1988), Lou Diamond Phillips remains a strong name in Hollywood. Listen to our interview with him as he discussing directing, acting opposite Denzel Washington, and more.

Get to know Amy Smeed, head of animation on Disney's Moana and Raya and the Last Dragon. Smeed discusses the process of creating the character of Moana and the importance of truly understanding and knowing your character as well as acting out scenes.

In this episode, we sit down with Janusz Kaminski, an Oscar-winner from his work as the cinematographer on Schindler's List (1993) and Saving Private Ryan (1998). Listen along as he speaks about his start in the industry and working with the legendary Steven Spielberg.

Kelly Fremon Craig gathered an impressive reputation after working as the writer and director of The Edge of Seventeen (2016) and takes the time to discuss her experience on the film with us, including working closely with Oscar-winner James L Brooks.

On this episode, NYFA alum Hayden Szeto discusses how he got his start in the industry, the auditioning process, and what it was like filming "The Edge of Seventeen" (2016).

After playing prominent roles in hit films "Lady Bird" and "Booksmart", Beanie Feldstein recently worked as the star on "How to Build a Girl." Talking to Eric Conner from NYFA, Feldstein takes times to discuss her experience on Broadway and her challenges as Johanna in "How to Build a Girl".

Former Oscar nominee Alec Baldwin has made his mark all over Hollywood, such as starring in the popular sitcom "30 Rock", his role in the action-filled "Mission Impossible" series, and his legendary monologue in "Glengarry Glen Ross." Listen as he recounts his acting career.

Reginald Hudlin, director of "House Party" and producer of "Django Unchained," "Marshall," and Netflix's "The Black Godfather", discusses his experience working with the award-winning Quentin Tarantino on Django.

Noted film critic and author Peter Rainer joins The Back Lot to discuss the profession of film critic after working for The New Yorker, The L.A. Times, and currently the Christian Science Monitor.

From comedies such as 21 Jump Street and Super Bad to Oscar-nominated performances in Moneyball and Wolf of Wall Street, Jonah Hill has carved out an impressive career in Hollywood. Take a listen as he discusses how he became an actor and his experiences working with living legends such as Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Brad Pitt.

On this week's podcast, we sit down with Steve Mitchell and Matt Verboys, the directors of "King Cohen", to discuss the career of legendary Sci-fi and horror screenwriter Larry Cohen.

Ron Howard joins us to discuss his acting and directing career in Hollywood, including his Oscar-winning work on A Beautiful Mind and other classics such as Apollo 13 and American Graffiti.