In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins speaks with directors Jessica Dimmock and Zackary Canepari about their haunting and thought-provoking HBO documentary Thoughts & Prayers. The film offers a chillingly observational look at the normalization of school shootings in America—not by focusing on the tragedies themselves, but by examining the surreal, billion-dollar industry of “school safety” that's risen in their aftermath. Through restrained cinematography and a surprisingly dark sense of humor, Dimmock and Canepari capture how everyday life continues against the backdrop of unimaginable trauma, and how children are often more articulate than adults about the realities they face.In this episode, we discuss:How the project evolved from a photo series to a full-length documentaryThe cultural and industrial normalization of school shootings in AmericaWhy the film avoids graphic depictions of violence and instead focuses on the systems around itThe use of stillness, humor, and wide shots as storytelling toolsCasting nontraditional “characters” in a documentary formatThe emotional challenges of working with children on such a sensitive topicCo-directing as creative collaborators and partnersThe gear and post-production tools that made the film possibleWhy the title Thoughts and Prayers was chosen, and how satire plays into itGuests:Jessica DimmockZackary CanepariSubscribe to the No Film School Podcast on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogleGet your question answered on the podcast by emailing podcast@nofilmschool.com Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here: ...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Yesterday