LYDIA DEAN PILCHER - Producer / Director
From Team Deakins by James Ellis Deakins, Roger Deakins
May 13, 2026 · 1h 4m · Season 2 · Episode 193
About this episode
In this episode, Lydia Dean Pilcher discusses her career as a producer and director, her experiences during the Vietnam War era, and her collaboration with Mira Nair.
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 193 Lydia Dean Pilcher - Producer / Director In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with producer and director Lydia Dean Pilcher (A CALL TO SPY, QUEEN OF KATWE, THE DARJEELING LIMITED). From producing plays in her parents' garage to making feature films and documentaries seen around the world, Lydia has always been drawn to the power of stories. Throughout our conversation, we discuss the lifelong impact of growing up in the United States during the Vietnam War era, her varied work as a producer and director, and how she developed her skills working in the New York film scene. Lydia also reflects on her longtime collaboration with director Mira Nair, and we learn how Lydia helped produce many of Mira's films such as MISSISSIPPI MASALA and THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST. She later helps clear up the differences between the numerous producer credits, and she reflects on how the business of producing and financing films has changed how she does her job nowadays. Plus, Lydia reveals which mountain she slept on while attending the inaugural edition of the Sundance Film Festival and which previous guest of the podcast spent nine weeks of nights working…
People in this episode
Hosts: James Ellis Deakins, Roger Deakins
Guest: Lydia Dean Pilcher
Topics covered
- film production
- directing
- storytelling
- Vietnam War
- collaboration
- film financing
Keywords
- Lydia Dean Pilcher
- film producer
- director
- Mira Nair
- film financing
- storytelling
- Sundance Film Festival
Sponsors
Aputure
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: A CALL TO SPY, QUEEN OF KATWE, THE DARJEELING LIMITED, MISSISSIPPI MASALA, THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST, AFTER HOURS
More episodes of Team Deakins
- MICHAEL CONNELLY - Author · June 10, 2026 · 59 min
- DREW KUNIN - Production Sound Mixer · June 3, 2026 · 1h 18m
- JAFAR PANAHI - Director · May 27, 2026 · 1h 6m
- BUDDY SQUIRES - Cinematographer · May 20, 2026 · 1h 5m
- CHRIS CARROLL - Assistant Director · May 6, 2026 · 1h 5m
- DIANA BURTON - Prop Master · April 29, 2026 · 1h 4m
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