Andrew Whitehurst - Blitz

Welcome back to Silver Screen Social, listeners. I suppose it’s been a while.More on that later, but for now, here is my interview with the cinematographer of Sound of Falling, Fabian Gamper. A film by Mascha Schilinski that made its way into the competitive lineup at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025. The film was awarded the Jury Prize at the 78th Festival de Cannes and Fabian was awarded the “Silver Frog” at the 33rd EnergaCAMERIMAGE.

On this episode, I spoke to composer Volker Bertelmann about his work on Conclave. Bertelmann was nominated this year at the 2025 Academy Awards. CONCLAVE follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events – selecting the new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope’s wake, secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church.CONCLAVE is based on bestselling author Robert Harris’ 2016 thriller of the same name. Optioned for the screen by House Productions, it is scripted by Peter Straughan, the Oscar® - nominated writer of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and directed by Oscar®-winning filmmaker Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front).

On this episode, I spoke to production designer Craig Lathrop about his work on Nosferatu. Lathrop was nominated this year at the 2025 Academy Awards.Nosferatu is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in his wake. Written and directed by Robert Eggers, Nosferatu stars Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney, and Willem Dafoe.

On this episode, I spoke to costume designer Lisy Christl about her work on Conclave.  Christl was nominated this year at the 2025 Academy Awards.  CONCLAVE follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events – selecting the new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope’s wake, secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church. CONCLAVE is based on bestselling author Robert Harris’ 2016 thriller of the same name. Optioned for the screen by House Productions, it is scripted by Peter Straughan, the Oscar® - nominated writer of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and directed by Oscar® -winning filmmaker Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front).

On this episode, I spoke to the composer and sound team about their work on The Wild Robot, which includes Kris Bowers, Brian Chumney, Leff Lefferts, Gary A. Rizzo & Randy Thom. All five of these artisans were nominated at the 2025 Academy Awards.  From DreamWorks Animation comes a new adaptation of a literary sensation, Peter Brown’s beloved, award-winning, #1 New York Times bestseller, The Wild Robot.  The epic adventure follows the journey of a robot—ROZZUM unit 7134, “Roz” for short — that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling.  The Wild Robot stars Academy Award® winner Lupita Nyong’o (Us, The Black Panther franchise) as robot Roz; Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us, The Mandalorian) as fox Fink; Emmy winner Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek, Best in Show) as opossum Pinktail; Oscar® nominee Bill Nighy (Living, Love Actually) as goose Longneck; Kit Connor (Heartstopper, Rocketman) as gosling Brightbill and Oscar® nominee Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once, this summer’s The Fall Guy) as Vontra, a robot that will intersect with Roz’s life on the island. 

On this episode, I spoke to production designer Adam Stockhausen about his work on Steve McQueen’s Blitz.  Stockhausen is an… Oscar winner for The Grand Budapest Hotel. He was also nominated for West Side Story, Bridge of Spies and 12 Years a Slave Annie Award nominee for Isle of Dogs BAFTA winner for The Grand Budapest Hotel. He was also nominated for The French Dispatch, West Side Story, Bridge of Spies and 12 Years a Slave Critics Choice Award winner for The Grand Budapest Hotel. He was also nominated for Asteroid City, The French Dispatch, West Side Story, Bridge of Spies and 12 Years a Slave 2x ADG Award winner for The Grand Budapest Hotel and Isle of Dogs Steve McQueen’s film follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy in World War II London whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. George, defiant and determined to return home to his mom and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.  

On this episode, I spoke to editor Hansjörg Weißbrich about his work on September 5.  Weißbrich has been nominated for a Critics Choice Award and Independent Spirit Award for his work on the film. He tied for the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Editing.  Co-Written and Directed by Tim Fehlbaum, September 5 stars Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, Leonie Benesch, Zinedine Soualem, Georgina Rich, Corey Johnson, Marcus Rutherford, Daniel Adeosun, Benjamin Walker, Ferdinand Dörfler.  September 5 unveils the decisive moment that forever changed media coverage and continues to impact live news today. Set during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, the film follows the ABC Sports broadcasting team who quickly shifted from sports reporting to live coverage of the Israeli athletes taken hostage. Through this lens, September 5 provides an important perspective on the live broadcast seen globally by millions of people at the time.

On this episode, I spoke to the hair and makeup team behind Nosferatu, which includes Traci Loader, Suzanne Stokes-Munton & David White.  All three were nominated at the Critics Choice Awards this year in Best Hair & Makeup category.  Nosferatu is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in his wake.  Written and directed by Robert Eggers, Nosferatu stars Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney, and Willem Dafoe.

On this episode, I spoke to Re-recording Mixer Andy Nelson, Re-recording Mixer and Supervising Sound Editor John Marquis, and Supervising Sound Editor Nancy Nugent Title and Production Sound Mixer Simon Hayes about their work on Wicked.  Andy Nelson is a… 24x Oscar nominee (2x winner for Les Misérables and Saving Private Ryan)  22x BAFTA nominee (5x winner for Les Misérables, Moulin Rogue!, Saving Private Ryan, L.A. Confidential and Braveheart) 8x AMPS Award nominee 25x CAS Award nominee (3x winner for La La Land, Les Misérables and Saving Private Ryan) Simon Hayes is a…  2x Oscar nominee (Winner for Les Misérables) 3x BAFTA nominee (Winner for Les Misérables)  3x CAS Award nominee (Winner for Les Misérables)  2x AMPS Award nominee Nancy Nugent Title is a…  3x Emmy Award nominee (2x winner for Dinosaur Planet and When Dinosaurs Roamed America) 13x MPSE Award nominee (3x winner for Inglourious Basterds, Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk, and Top Speed)  John Marquis is a… 8x MPSE Award nominee (Winner for Megamind: The Button of Doom) 

On this episode, I spoke to VFX Supervisor Andrew Whitehurst. Whitehurst is an…      Oscar winner for Ex Machina BAFTA Award nominee for Ex Machina British Independent Film Award winner for Ex Machina Emmy nominee for Devs Visual Effects Society Award nominee for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny