Happy Independence Day. Spike Lee joined Franklin and Kate to talk about narrative filmmaking, his longtime collaborators, and the movement for Black lives. From Do the Right Thing, to Malcolm X, to Bamboozled, to his ilm for Netflix, Da 5 Bloods, the trio talks about how culture talks to movies, and how movies talk back to the culture.

Questions? Comments? Criticism? Hit us up on social media at @theblcklst.

This episode first aired in mid-2020. To learn more about The Black List, visit www.blcklst.com.

Mentions:

+Do The Right Thing: rottentomatoes.com/m/do_the_right_thing

+Malcom X: rottentomatoes.com/m/1042135-malcolm_x

+Bamboozled: rottentomatoes.com/m/bamboozled

+Da 5 Bloods: netflix.com/title/81045635

Emmy winner and two-time Oscar nominee Kirby Dick joins Kate and Franklin for a riveting conversation about the role of investigative journalism in film and the responsibility of storytellers to speak truth to power. The acclaimed director, known for his groundbreaking work exposing abuse and institutional cover-ups, discusses the #MeToo movement, his HBO Max documentary On the Record (co-directed by Amy Ziering), and why he “doesn’t love movies”—at least not in the conventional sense. From navigating social issues to challenging powerful institutions, Kirby unpacks the ethics, impact, and urgency behind his change-making work.

Questions? Comments? Criticism? Hit us up on social media at @theblcklst.

This conversation took place in 2021. To learn more about The Black List, visit www.blcklst.com.

Maybe you love Adaptation, or Synechdoche, or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.The prolific screenwriter Charlie Kaufman discusses some of the diverse and notable projects of his career, starting with his early days as a staff writer for shows like Get A Life, and The Dana Carvey Show. He also recounts the unbelievable, and ultimately life-changing story of his screenplay for Being John Malkovich, a film that nobody initially wanted to make. Franklin and Kate dive with Charlie into the continued fan love for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (for which Kaufman won a writing Oscar), the reactions they all have to Adaptation, and wrap up with a discussion of the Jessie Buckley/Jesse Plemons film I'm Thinking of Ending Things, and so much more.

Questions? Comments? Criticism? Hit us up on social media at @theblcklst.

This conversation took place during 2020. To learn more about The Black List, visit www.blcklst.com.

Mentions:

• I’m Thinking of Ending Things: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/im_thinking_of_ending_things
• Get A Life: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/get_a_life
• Being John Malkovich: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/being_john_malkovich
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/eternal_sunshine_of_the_spotless_mind
• Antkind: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/546823/antkind-by-charlie-kaufman/