The Sandbox: A See-Saw Podcast On Creativity

We do a deep dive case study into producing Tenzing with Liz Watts, one of Australia's most successful producers — we get into working with a cross-cultural cast and crew, the detail required to stay on top of budgets, and the creative philosophy that held the whole production together. This is Part 2 of our conversation with Liz Watts. Part 1 was released last week. Host: Emile Sherman Producer: @jonahprimo on Instagram, Jonah Primo on Letterboxd https://boxd.it/cjFIF Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we sit down with Liz Watts, Head of Film and Television, Australia at See-Saw Films. Liz is one of Australia's most successful producers, with credits including Animal Kingdom and The King . Since joining See-Saw, she's executive produced Apple Cider Vinegar for Netflix, produced The Royal Hotel , and led us up a mountain with See-Saw's upcoming Apple Original film, Tenzing . We get into the art of producing — a job that's a little hard to understand from the outside. We talk about the relentless drive it takes to bring a project together, the instinct and taste behind choosing what to spend years of your life on, and what it really means to back the talent you work with. Next week in part two, we do a deep dive case study into producing Tenzing — working with a cross-cultural cast and crew, the detail required to stay on top of budgets, and the creative philosophy that held the whole production together. Host: Emile Sherman Producer: @jonahprimo on Instagram, Jonah Primo on Letterboxd https://boxd.it/cjFIF Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BAFTA winning casting director Nicky Barrett returns for part two, pulling back the curtain on how movies actually get cast: where star power, financier lists, and directors who need "director-proof" actors collide with the search for something real. The conversation widens into acting styles across cultures, the messy politics of authenticity casting, and closes on a genuinely unresolved question: can an AI performance ever have charisma, or is that something only a human being pretending to be someone else can give you? This is Part 2 of our conversation with Nikki Barrett. Part 1 was released last week. Host: Emile Sherman Producer: @jonahprimo on Instagram, Jonah Primo on Letterboxd Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"It's not who fits where — it's what is the world we're making." BAFTA award-winning casting director Nikki Barrett joins the show to talk about what makes a great actor, casting as world-building rather than list-filling: the difference between naturalism and truth on screen, why she's drawn to anthropological projects and non-actors, and how the best actors find the "safety to take risks.” This is Part 1 of our conversation with Nikki Barrett. Part 2 will be released next week. Host: Emile Sherman Producer: @jonahprimo on Instagram, Jonah Primo on Letterboxd Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Locke shot to fame playing Charlie Spring in See-Saw's beloved coming-of-age series Heartstopper — and now, with the release of Heartstopper Forever, that story comes to a close. Host Emile Sherman is joined by See-Saw co-founder Iain Canning to sit down with Joe and look back on the whole journey: what it was like stepping onto set as a newcomer to acting, navigating a whirlwind rise to fame, and what it took to bring Nick and Charlie's story to its conclusion. They also dig into what the show has come to mean to fans around the world. This is a warm, reflective conversation to send off one of the most-loved series of the past few years. ~~~ Host: Emile Sherman Producer: @jonahprimo on Insta & Letterboxd Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part 2 of our conversation with Jane Campion. Jane has been nominated for five Oscars, winning Best Original Screenplay for The Piano and Best Director for the See-Saw production The Power of the Dog. But what we really wanted to dig into was how Jane actually makes things. Where do her stories come from? How does she develop a visual language for a film? What is her relationship to her own subconscious as a creative tool? We explore the space between instinct and craft, between preparation and surrender, and what it means to build a body of work that is so unmistakably, fearlessly your own. ~~~ Host: Emile Sherman Producer: @jonahprimo on Insta & Letterboxd Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jane has been nominated for 5 oscars, winning best original screenplay for The Piano and best director for the See-Saw production The Power of the Dog. She is in fact the only woman to have been nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Director, and the first female filmmaker to receive the Palme d'Or at Cannes. We first worked with Jane In 2012 on the two season miniseries Top of the Lake , which became quite a landmark moment in serialised television - and then again on The Power of the Dog which earned 12 Academy Award nominations (a record for an Australian film). The power of Jane’s storytelling stems from her unflinching vision, her creative risk-taking, and her unwavering commitment to exploring not just the world around her but her inner world. She trusts, amongst other things, the deep reservoir of the subconscious that, if we’re still long enough to listen, can serve as our guide. What a treat to sit down with Jane and reignite that space of inner inspiration. This is Part 1 of our conversation with Jane Campion. Host: Emile Sherman Producer: @jonahprimo Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part 2 of our conversation with Volker Bertelmann, also known as Hauschka, an acclaimed film composer and experimental pianist, this time focusing on his creative process. Host: Emile Sherman Producer: @jonahprimo Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I’m speaking with Volker Bertelmann, also known as Hauschka, an acclaimed film composer and experimental pianist. We first collaborated on Lion (with Dustin O’Halloran), his debut score. Since then, he’s won an Oscar for All Quiet on the Western Front and scored projects like Conclave, The Day of the Jackal, and Dune: Prophecy, as well as our film One Life. In this conversation, we explore his dual identity and his relentless drive to reinvent sound—pushing instruments, ideas, and storytelling into entirely new territory. Host: Emile Sherman Producer: @jonahprimo Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Using Adolescence as a case study, Mediawan's Pierre-Antoine Capton and Elisabeth Darvieu speak to how they back bold, unconventional projects while maintaining independence and creative vision. They reveal the principles and processes that allow a media powerhouse to thrive in an unpredictable industry. If you’re curious about how risk, intuition, and collaboration drive some of the world’s most compelling film and TV, this conversation is essential listening. Host: Emile Sherman Producer: @jonahprimo Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emile Sherman sits down with Pierre-Antoine Capton, co-founder and chairman of Mediawan, and Elisabeth Darvieu, CEO of Mediawan Pictures. This is the story of Mediawan’s journey from France to a worldwide presence, their approach to nurturing talent and IP, and how they take risks while staying true to their purpose: creating compelling films and TV that connect with audiences around the globe. This is a must-listen for anyone curious about the minds behind one of the world’s leading independent media companies. Host: Emile Sherman Producer: @jonahprimo Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part 2 of our conversation with Oscar-nominated screenwriter Luke Davies, this time a deep dive into creativity under pressure and Luke’s creaitve process. Host: Emile Sherman Producer: @jonahprimo Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Oscar-nominated screenwriter Luke Davies, cinema isn’t just storytelling. It’s a search for grace, a confrontation with suffering, and a medium capable of revealing the sacred inside flawed human lives. From writing stories of loss, redemption and transcendence like 'Lion' to grappling with addiction and grace in 'Candy', Luke unpacks film as a place where audiences gather in the dark searching for meaning. Host: Emile Sherman Producer: @jonahprimo Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back! Today we’re speaking to John Yorke, former Head of Drama at Channel 4 and BBC Controller of Drama Series, founder of the BBC Writers’ Academy, and author of the bestselling Into the Woods . We explore the deep mechanics of story, the comfort and power it gives us, and even its role in politics, showing why storytelling isn’t just entertainment, but a fundamental part of being human. John Yorke’s new book, Trip to the Moon, is out now: https://amzn.eu/d/01SHk6nD Host: Emile Sherman Guest: John Yorke Producer: Sabrina Organo & Jonah Primo Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does a writer decide an idea is worth dedicating years of their life to? And how do you structure a story which is layered with the complexities of how lies are told and how we believe them? Emile speaks with writer and executive producer Samantha Strauss, and See-Saw’s Head of television and film in Australia Liz Watts, about a true story based on a lie, Apple Cider Vinegar. They discuss the similarities between ballet dancing and film making, when sentimentality works, and the allure of the wellness industry in a world coming to grips with the power of social media. Host: Emile Sherman Guests: Samantha Strauss and Liz Watts Executive Producer: @Sam_Joly_ Producer: Sabrina Organo Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you create the world for a story that sits right on the edge of reality? And how do you know you’ve struck the right tone when combining the dark with the comedic? Emile speaks with lead actor and executive producer Ella Purnell, director and executive producer Ella Jones and executive producer for See-Saw and fanboy Patrick Walters, about the comedic thriller, Sweetpea. They discuss walking the tightrope of moral ambiguity, the technical complexities of on-camera performance, and the joy of finding one's dream collaborator. Host: Emile Sherman Guests: @ella_purnell, @ellasjones and @patwalters__ Executive Producer: @Sam_Joly_ Producer: Sabrina Organo Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does a producer support an author turned first-time screen writer, and how do you bring together the right team for the material? Emile speaks with creator, writer and executive producer Alice Oseman and executive producer for See-Saw Patrick Walters about the beloved series Heartstopper. They discuss representing a diversity of young voices, the challenges of shooting the series, and the complexity behind bringing a beloved teen universe to the screen. Host: Emile Sherman Guests: @aliceoseman and @patwalters__ Executive Producer: @Sam_Joly_ Producer: Sabrina Organo Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you turn a hit series of novels into a show that honours its source material? And how do you stay true while building out 6 hours of television for each season? Emile speaks with executive producer and writer Will Smith and executive producer for See-Saw Julian Stevens, about the landmark series Slow Horses . They discuss the challenges of genre-crossing, the critical role of actors in the writing process, and how Mick Jagger was convinced to sing the theme song. Host: Emile Sherman Guests: @willsmithwriter and Julian Stevens @see_saw_films Executive Producer: @Sam_Joly_ Producer: Sabrina Organo Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does a director who cut his teeth in the world of commercials, translate that experience into feature films? And how does a production house define and maintain their creative vision? Emile speaks with producer Samantha Lang and director Garth Davis about See-Saw's partnership with Garth, I Am That. They discuss how to use rehearsal time to achieve truth in performance, and the importance of bringing the whole crew along with a project’s creative vision. @see_saw_films Host: Emile Sherman Guests: Garth Davis and Samantha Lang Executive Producer: @Sam_Joly_ Producer: Sabrina Organo Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does a project make its way onto a See-Saw slate? And to what extent is the creative integrity of a film influenced by the commercial imperatives of the industry? Emile speaks with See-Saw’s development producer Bill Bowring and director Kitty Green, about her psychological thriller The Royal Hotel. They discuss cross-continental script writing, how to fit a seven-week shoot into five, and the fine line between light and dark when building character and tension. @see_saw_films Host: Emile Sherman Guests: @KittyGreen and @BillyBowring Executive Producer: @Sam_Joly_ Producer: Sabrina Organo Composer: @Adiescar Artwork: @studiostromberg A See-Saw Films Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.