Ep. #15: "The White Lotus" with 1st AD Justin Ritson

This episode features Justin Ritson - the 1st Assistant Director of all three Seasons of the HBO series "The White Lotus" created by Mike White.Justin told us the most interesting things about how shooting changed from Season 1 to 3 and why the shoot days tripled over time. You will never guess how many shoot days the first season had! He also speaks about how troubling filming out on the sea is, among other things explains the famous boat stunt with Jennifer Coolidge in Season 2 and the challenge of filming with only Russian speaking extras. We can't wait to travel to Hawaii, Sicily and Thailand for at least an hour on todays show. And we hope you do, too!As always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are happy to hear from you. DM us on Instagram or write to us: Follow us & stay updated:Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia & Tim: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Post Production Audio: Fabian Simon (@fabian_a_simon)Music: Daniel Herget (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.blacktriaudio.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Logo Design: Benjamin Probst (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.benjamin-probst.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

This episode features two Assistant Directors who might as well be legends already: 1st AD Sarah Lucas and 3rd AD Ash Spall. Sarah and Ash will be telling us how the hell they pulled off Netflix’s latest hit miniseries, Adolescence.The show got so much love from within the industry because of its sheer technical ambition. The show uses these long, unbroken one-shots that only work when every single department is perfectly in sync – camera, lighting, sound and of course the ADs and the background action. It’s so rare to see our craft so clearly reflected on screen. And honestly? It’s a bit of a love letter to what we do. So we couldn't be happier to speak with Sarah and Ash today about how you plan a shoot when you can´t do it with a regular shooting schedule. So let´s dive and hear about their work which is nothing short of a masterclass in AD-ing. Enjoy!As always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are happy to hear from you. DM us on Instagram or write to us: ⁠[email protected]⁠Follow us & stay updated:Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia & Tim: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Post Production Audio: Fabian Simon (@fabian_a_simon)Music: Daniel Herget (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.blacktriaudio.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Logo Design: Benjamin Probst (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.benjamin-probst.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Powered by the ADU (Assistant Directors Union) Germany: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adu_germany

We´re back! This episode features the 1st Assistant Director of "Anora": Liza Mann. "Anora" has won five Oscars this year, including best picture, best director for Sean Baker and best actress for Mikey Madison. Today we are be talking to 1st AD Liza Mann who also won this years DGA award as part of the directorial team of Anora. She is taking us behind the scenes – showing us what real indie filmmaking looks like, and how you can create truly great cinema on a not so Hollywood like budget. We’ll also hear about shooting in a real strip club, why the location manager was Lisas hero and how they managed to pull off a 30-minute house invasion sequence. Plus, why first the weather and then the police almost ruined the film’s final scene. And Liza will share how her side job working for famous magician David Blaine actually makes her a better AD. There’s a lot to unpack – so let’s get into it!As always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are happy to hear from you. DM us on Instagram or write to us: [email protected] us & stay updated:Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia & Tim: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Post Production Audio: Fabian Simon (@fabian_a_simon)Music: Daniel Herget (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.blacktriaudio.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Logo Design: Benjamin Probst (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.benjamin-probst.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Powered by the ADU (Assistant Directors Union) Germany: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adu_germany

This episode features Australian Art Director Bryce Tibbey. Bryce has over 25 years experience in the Art Department. His most famous jobs that he will also talk about include „All Quiet on the Western Front“, „Anonymous“, „Mad Max: Fury Road“, „Tribes of Europe“ and „James Bond: Spectre“. Learn more about the perks of his job and why having Bryce on can save productions a lot of money on this episode. Enjoy! And as always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are happy to hear from you. DM us on Instagram or write to us: [email protected] INSTAGRAM: Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Julia: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tim: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Powered by the ADU (Assistant Directors Union) Germany: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adu_germany

Episode 11 features two industry legends who we spoke to about one of the most anticipated films of 2024: "Joker: Folie A Deux" directed by Todd Phillips. 1st Assistant Director David Webb and 2nd Assistant Director Trevor Tavares will be telling us about the logistics and challenges the musical aspect brought to the shoot, achieving impressive one shots, building the prison yard set, working with Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga and Todd Phillip directorial style which they call "advanced filmmaking“. And in the end, a trip down memory lane will tell us how to convince Martin Scorcese to shoot in a typhoon. So stay tuned! And as always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are happy to hear from you. DM us on Instagram or write to us: [email protected] INSTAGRAM: Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Julia: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tim: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Powered by the ADU (Assistant Directors Union) Germany: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adu_germany

This episode features ‘The Apprentice’ - a film about young Donald Trump building his business in the ’70s and ’80s in America as he was mentored by the famously ruthless lawyer Roy Cohn. Canadian 1st Assistant Director Joel Hay takes us behind the scenes of this brilliant film. It is not a conversation about political views, controversies or accusations. It is about how this very important film was made. We are talking not only about the incredible acting performances by Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, their wigs and the genius prosthetics work by the hair and makeup team but also about the directors unique style of working and filming a hair transplant as well as a difficult rape scene. On top of that we are touching the subject of finishing days too early, finding locations that exist in real life to recreate in Canada without a Location Manager and doing all of this in a little over 30 days. Have lovely Christmas holidays and enjoy the last episode of this year. And as always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are happy to hear from you. DM us on Instagram or write to us: [email protected] INSTAGRAM: Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Julia: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tim: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: Daniel Herget (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.blacktriaudio.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Logo Design: Benjamin Probst (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.benjamin-probst.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Powered by the ADU (Assistant Directors Union) Germany: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adu_germany

This episode features the American Apple TV sports comedy series "Ted Lasso" developed by Jason Sudeikis who also plays the lead role of Ted. We are talking to the three British 1st ADs James Blackwell, Sophie Worger and Jim Imber about the art of "letting go" as an AD, scheduling an entire series on beat sheets and not on scripts. But also about working with guest directors like Zach Braff, bringing real life football clubs to the big screen and why the American and British way of spending a film budget is quite different. Would you have guessed that the locker room scenes were the most difficult to shoot? Find out why on this episode. Sit back and enjoy this very fun conversation with James, Sophie and Jim! As always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are always happy to hear from you. Write to us: [email protected] INSTAGRAM: Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Julia: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tim: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: Daniel Herget (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.blacktriaudio.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Logo Design: Benjamin Probst (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.benjamin-probst.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Powered by the ADU (Assistant Directors Union) Germany: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adu_germany⁠

This episode features the industry legend Michael Lerman. 1st AD Michael worked on the biggest pictures possible such as the Bond movies "Quantum of Solace", "Skyfall" and "Spectre". But also on "1917", "Jurassic World", "Doctor Strange", "Man in Black" or "Garden State".  We are talking about firsting the world's biggest franchise not once, not twice but three times. And we are getting an insight on when you get to say no to DoP Sir Roger Deakins. From PA to 1st AD we are learning about Michaels impressive career, his experience in shooting in multiple countries with thousands of extras and about the biggest challenges he ever faced on set. Sit back and enjoy this very inspiring conversation with Michael Lerman - someone we learned to admire in so many ways possible and wanna thank again that he took the time to talk to us. Enjoy!   As always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are always happy to hear from you. Write to us: [email protected] INSTAGRAM: Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Julia: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tim: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: Daniel Herget (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.blacktriaudio.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Logo Design: Benjamin Probst (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.benjamin-probst.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Powered by the ADU (Assistant Directors Union) Germany: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adu_germany⁠

This episode features the Oscar winning feature by Giorgos Lanthimos "Poor Things" starring Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo. We are talking to 1st Assistant Director Hayley Williams and Key 2nd Assistant Director Edoardo Petti about the director´s very unique style of filming and the perks of dressing as well as lighting every set 360 degrees. But we are also taking a closer look at working with an Intimacy Coordinator, full nudity and closed sets as well as creating an environment that gives everyone including crew and cast space and safety for intimate scenes. Enjoy!   As always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are always happy to hear from you. Write to us: [email protected] INSTAGRAM: Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Julia: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tim: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: Daniel Herget (⁠⁠⁠⁠www.blacktriaudio.de⁠⁠⁠⁠) Logo Design: Benjamin Probst (⁠⁠⁠⁠www.benjamin-probst.de⁠⁠⁠⁠) Powered by the ADU (Assistant Directors Union) Germany: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adu_germany⁠

Episode 6 features the 2022 drama "Tár" written and directed by Todd Field. Cate Blanchett stars as Lydia Tár, a world-renowned conductor facing accusations of misconduct. We're talking to 1st AD Sebastian Fahr-Brix, Key 2nd AD Maria Mehnert and Crowd 2nd AD Ann Sophie Heier about their journey on this film. The topics are limited prep-time, impressive one shots, prepping cast for numerous difficult tasks such as conducting and working with a real life orchestra in an actual philharmonic hall. Enjoy!  Als always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are always happy to hear from you. Write to us: [email protected] INSTAGRAM: Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠ Julia: ⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠ Tim: ⁠⁠⁠@tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠ Music: Daniel Herget (⁠⁠⁠www.blacktriaudio.de⁠⁠⁠) Logo Design: Benjamin Probst (⁠⁠⁠www.benjamin-probst.de⁠⁠⁠) Powered by the ADU (Assistant Directors Union) Germany: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@adu_germany⁠