August 5, 2026
Shot Talk – The Invite with Director Olivia Wilde
Summary
In this episode of Shot Talk, Director/Actor Olivia Wilde, Production Designer Jade Healy, Executive Producer Saul Germaine, and Colorist Damien Vandercruyssen sat down at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival to discuss their new A24 film, The Invite.
From starting production with only weeks of prep, to how Olivia choose her key collaborators, to advice for directing and acting in a feature film, this discussion is a deep dive / guide into how an independent film truly comes together.
Key moments
- 00:01:09 The Challenge of Making a One Room Movie
- 00:01:50 Bringing the Creative Team Together in a Matter of Weeks
- 00:04:15 Designing and Building an Apartment with Character
- 00:06:30 Creating the Right Environment on Set
- 00:08:10 Creating a Unified Visual Language with Production Design and Cinematography
- 00:10:15 Visual References: Mike Nichols, Agnès Varda & Joanna Hogg
- 00:11:13 The 35mm Fight and Testing Film Stocks
- 00:12:37 Giving Texture to the Image and Making Close Ups Feel Like Landscapes
- 00:13:35 Designing the Apartment Around Camera Movement
- 00:15:00 Letting the Film Evolve on Its Own
- 00:16:20 The Fight to Shoot on Film as a Creative Statement
- 00:19:20 Lessons from Making the Film: Film with Friends and Step Up to the Challenges
- 00:22:00 Taking Creative Risks & Trusting Your Team
- 00:23:40 Directing Actors Through Trust
- 00:25:58 How the Cast Came Together
- 00:31:55 Preparing, Rehearsing, and Improvising on Set
- 00:34:54 Bringing Personal Experience to the Story
- 00:36:11 The Director as the Leader of a Creative Collective
- 00:40:10 Advice for Emerging Female Filmmakers
