The Big Picture — Feb 10, 2026

What It’s Really Like at an Awards Show. Plus: Cliff Booth Returns and the Best Super Bowl Trailers!

Overview

In this episode, Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins dive into their inside experience attending the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards—a rare, industry-only event not televised to the public. They also break down this year’s buzziest Super Bowl trailers, including the surprise "Cliff Booth" spot (Tarantino + Fincher!), and reflect on the state of Hollywood awards, superhero fatigue, and the shifting landscape of movie marketing. In the final segment, Sean shares a lively conversation with Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans, co-directors of the animated hit "K Pop Demon Hunters," recorded in front of a live (and very young) audience.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Super Bowl Trailers Recap

(Timestamps: 02:32–33:59)

• "Adventures of Cliff Booth" — Tarantino + Fincher Netflix Project

  • Sean is excited by the 70s exploitation-style, faux-gag reel spot, noting its meticulous Fincher visuals and vintage vibe.
  • Amanda calls the scaled, creative “bleeping” both funny and effective for teasing the film’s naughtiness and tone.

    “It looks like a dingy, beautiful 70s exploitation movie, which is kind of what I hope it turns out to be.” – Sean (05:25)

  • They both appreciate the marketing’s secrecy, especially the lack of a titular reveal and official online trailer. (06:05)

• Other Super Bowl Movie Trailers

  • Disclosure Day—Mysterious Spielbergian vibes, big set pieces, but little plot given away.
  • Project Hail Mary—Both hosts are “sold” and want to avoid further spoilers.
  • Minions & Monsters—Amanda is “electric” for the mix of monster-movie and movie-making parody; Sean wonders if we’re at “peak minion.”
  • Mandalorian & Grogu (Star Wars movie)—They discuss the generational shift of Star Wars towards being kid-first; Amanda notes the lack of adult anticipation.

    “This is a movie purely for kids, and I think that's a good thing… it just feels small. And Star Wars should be big.” – Sean (24:00)

  • Supergirl—Both are lukewarm: Amanda “forgot to Google it,” Sean is worried it looks like a throwback to the weakest era of superhero films (25:50).

• On Superhero Fatigue & Industry Shifts

  • Long gap between superhero releases staggers them—longest since 2008.
  • Amanda observes video games are replacing superhero movies for “people who like screens.”

2. The DGA Awards: An Insider’s Night

(Timestamps: 34:10–63:15)

• Atmosphere & Experience

  • Sean and Amanda liken it to “being the plus ones at a large wedding”—glamorous but loose, focused on filmmakers and craft, not celebrities.
  • The Directors Guild Awards run at Beverly Hilton (also home to Golden Globes).
  • All feature film nominees give short speeches before the award—uncommon for awards shows and a treat for film lovers.

• Notable Moments & People

  • Kumail Nanjiani hosts—funny, with jokes tailored to filmmakers (“The difference between Michael B. Jordan and Michael Jordan... and Scottie Pippen and Scottie B. Pippen.”)
  • Conan O’Brien travel show producers Jason Chalemmy & Mike Sweeney sit at their table—Mike wins an award and gives a hilarious speech. (38:25–39:12)
  • On the Guild’s Structure:
    • The show spotlights assistant directors and below-the-line crew—rarely honored elsewhere.
    • Sean: “There was a lot of conversation throughout the night about what the Guild is. The Guild is not just Ryan Coogler and Paul Thomas Anderson…” (39:32)

The Big Five: Feature Director Nominees Presentations

(Timestamps: 46:19–61:09)

• Paul Thomas Anderson ("One Battle After Another")

  • Leonardo DiCaprio introduces him, telling a story of PTA showing up with a Laserdisc of Raging Bull and “a VHS of a John Holmes movie” to his mom’s house in the ‘90s. (47:33)
  • PTA speaks touchingly about the collective soul of filmmaking, quoting Steinbeck.
  • Dedication to his longtime first AD, Adam Sumner, was a key element of his speeches.

• Ryan Coogler ("Sinners")

  • Michael B. Jordan introduces Coogler, remarking on their creative partnership.
  • Coogler’s speech is direct, talking about union power, gratitude for the DGA and health insurance (because his child was sick at home), and referencing government overreach. (49:56)

    “I've always been grateful for these [union] cards, but I'm really grateful tonight.” – Coogler (49:56)

• Guillermo del Toro ("Frankenstein")

  • Jacob Elordi presents warmly (“I love you, Guillermo. I’m so happy to be in this movie…” – 52:07)
  • Del Toro starts the running joke of calling Nolan “President Nolan” and invites the audience to build model kits and eat quesadillas.
  • He’s generous, playful, and emotional—invoking collaboration and friendship.

• Josh Safdie

  • Timothée Chalamet’s intro is playful and very New York; tells a story about Safdie assigning “Mike Dipey” as an alias for no reason (56:13).
  • Safdie’s speech is deeply personal, about his immigrant father weaponizing Kramer vs Kramer during divorce—making movies is “how I process life.” (57:23)

• Chloe Zhao ("Hamnet")

  • Steven Spielberg introduces, referencing their difference in style (he jokes the set is “too dark”—Chloe: “it is lit”).
  • Zhao talks about process, naturalism and her Shakespearean source material.

The Spielberg-to-Nolan Baton Pass

(Timestamp: 78:19–80:55)

• Del Toro, PTA, and Kumail riff on Nolan’s new role as DGA president and Spielberg’s looming industry presence.
• Sean: “It was almost like Spielberg was passing the baton to Nolan or something as, like, the signature directorial voice in the world.”

Reflections on the Awards Race

(Timestamps: 65:15–76:08)

• DGA historically predicts Oscar best director—P.T. Anderson is now the favorite.
• Discuss possible splits (best pic/director) in Oscar voting history, and the open race between Sinners and One Battle After Another.

  “We both really love One Battle After Another… It is strange to be talking about this race while rooting for both films.” – Amanda (74:19)

Industry Changes and the Future of Award Shows

• Amanda and Sean express ambivalence about attending the Oscars (too much hassle/work!), and discuss the declining attendance at Academy screenings as voters watch at home via portals (76:08).

3. Interview: Maggie Kang & Chris Applehans (K Pop Demon Hunters)

(Timestamp: 88:08–118:30)

• Audience Q&A after midday screening at Vidiots—family-friendly, energetic atmosphere.
• Why Make the Film?
  • Kang: “We made the film for ourselves… for my young self, the 12-year-old self that loved K Pop and had to hide it.”
• Inspiration & Process
  • Both cite influences from anime (Cowboy Bebop), the tonal blending of Bong Joon Ho’s "The Host," and both classic and contemporary animation.
• Musical Creation
  • Songs were developed with extensive back-and-forth between Korean pop producers and Broadway-trained music supervisors (over a dozen tries for one song!).
• Themes: Female Friendship, Vulnerability, & Joy
  • Kang: “I truly believe true intimacy comes when you are the most silly version of yourself with somebody else… there’s power and confidence to be stupid.” (109:52)
• Why the Film is Resonating
  • Kang highlights how viewers identify with the film’s message about embracing scars, both literal and emotional.
  • Applehans calls it “sneaky deep”—using spectacle and humor to plant moving ideas that later bloom for the audience.
• Last Great Thing They Watched
  • Both mention “Sentimental Value” starring Alexander Skarsgård—a slow, European drama with subtle, powerful acting. (117:17)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sean on the DGA:

  “This is an untelevised award show that is always a little bit more interesting because you get a little bit of a looser crowd, a little bit of a looser energy at the show. And obviously we love filmmakers…” (34:10)

• Amanda on Star Wars’ changing focus:

  “Do you think they've given up on adults?” (23:47)

• Sean on Coogler’s impact:

  “Once again, Coogler is just the coolest guy in the world.” (49:49)

• Amanda on the DGA as an event:

  “I felt like we were the plus ones at a large wedding… kind of an ideal assignment.” (41:29)

• Maggie Kang on making "K Pop Demon Hunters":

  “For me it was just all ages of myself… the 12-year-old self that loved K Pop and had to kind of hide it. And this was like, yes, now we can celebrate this. I was right all along.” (89:55)

• Chris Applehans on animation tone:

  “Superficially [a scene] is a wacky moment, but it's actually advancing character… You're never just doing one of the things.” (98:16)

• Maggie Kang on female characters:

  “The comedy of it… we want it to feel stupid. And I think there's power and confidence… to be stupid is like… it takes a lot of courage.” (111:15)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 02:32 — Super Bowl Trailers Begin
• 05:25 — Cliff Booth/Fincher-Tarantino Discussion
• 20:02 — Star Wars: Mandalorian & Grogu Reaction
• 34:10 — DGA Awards: Arriving/Atmosphere
• 46:19 — Best Feature Presentations (Leo/PTA, MBJ/Coogler, Elordi/Del Toro, Chalamet/Safdie, Spielberg/Zhao)
• 63:43 — Non-Feature Awards Highlights, Documentary Speech
• 65:15 — Paul Thomas Anderson’s Win and What It Means
• 78:19 — The Spielberg–Nolan Presidential Transition
• 88:08 — Maggie Kang & Chris Applehans Interview
• 109:52 — On Writing Female Friendship & Intimacy
• 117:17 — “Last Great Thing” Seen: Sentimental Value

Summary Takeaways

• Super Bowl movie trailers remain a huge marketing event but are increasingly focused on “vibes” rather than plot, with studios like Netflix and Universal playing games of secrecy.
• Hollywood is in an in-between period as superhero movies wane and awards shows focus more on industry than spectacle.
• The DGA Awards is a unique, collegial, craft-focused evening, prioritizing directors and their teams over superficial celebrity.
• Industry changes—like declining event attendance and shifting pop-culture priorities—reflect larger questions about moviegoing and fandom.
• "K Pop Demon Hunters" stands out for channeling complex, joyful themes about vulnerability, friendship, and representation, with Kang and Applehans illustrating the blend of personal and cultural storytelling that’s capturing global audiences.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode brings listeners directly into the room at one of Hollywood’s most authentic awards nights. You'll get unvarnished reports on the year’s tentpole marketing, the state of Star Wars, why the DGA Awards matters, and why the next generation of filmmakers is blending personal—sometimes silly—stories with global, genre-busting impact. Plus, if you want to know what it’s actually like to attend a big awards show…and which movies you should be truly excited for in 2026, this is the definitive dispatch.