Sam Mendes: SPECTRE

November 5, 2015

A DGA Q&A in New York

007 is back and plunging headlong into danger in Director Sam Mendes’ new action feature, SPECTRE.

A cryptic message from the past leads James Bond (Daniel Craig) once again into harm’s way as he seeks to uncover a sinister organization. As he peels back the layers of deceit, what he ultimately discovers may shock him to his core.

Following the DGA membership screening in New York on November 4, Mendes spoke about the challenges of taking on such an iconic character as Bond for the second consecutive entry, during a conversation moderated by Director Bennett Miller (Foxcatcher).

In addition to SPECTRE, Mendes’ filmography includes the feature films Road to Perdition, Jarhead, Revolutionary Road, Away We Go, and the previous 007 feature Skyfall. In 2000 he took home the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for American Beauty. Mendes has been a DGA member since 1998.

Pictures & Video

photos by Krista Kennell, print courtesy of Columbia Pictures

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FULL TALK (35:18): Director Sam Mendes discusses his latest film, Spectre, with Director Bennett Miller.

HIGHLIGHT: Mendes talks about the challenge of making the necessary, action-packed elements of a Bond film organic, while still taking the time to incorporate a believable love story.

HIGHLIGHT: Mendes speaks about how Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest and his previous film, Skyfall, influenced his approach to the first shot of the film.

HIGHLIGHT: Director Sam Mendes and Bennett Miller discuss Spectre as a "post-Edward Snowden" film and how the the story establishes relevance by responding to contemporary concerns about privacy and civil liberties.

Director Sam Mendes speaks about the making of SPECTRE following the DGA membership screening in New York.

Director Sam Mendes (right) discusses the challenges of making SPECTRE with Director Bennett Miller (moderator) following the DGA membership screening in New York.