Director Martin Scorsese discusses The Irishman

October 27, 2019

DGA Q&As in Los Angeles and New York

An aging underworld assassin recalls his involvement with the slaying of Jimmy Hoffa in Director Martin Scorsese’s epic gangster drama, The Irishman.

Scorsese’s film tells the story Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), a WWII veteran and former mob hitman. Now in retirement, Sheeran reflects on the moments that defined his career as a figure in organized crime, especially his role in the 1975 disappearance and murder of Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).

Following the DGA membership screening in New York on October 6, Scorsese sat down with Director Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman) to discuss the making of The Irishman. Scorsese also discussed the film in a conversation moderated by Director Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story) following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles on October 27.

In addition to The Irishman, Scorsese’s credits include the DGA Award-nominated features Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, The Age of Innocence, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, Hugo and The Wolf of Wall Street; the DGA Award-nominated documentary George Harrison: Living in the Material World; the DGA Award-winning pilot episode of the dramatic series Boardwalk Empire; and the DGA and Academy Award-winning feature The Departed.

A DGA member since 1971, in 1999, Mr. Scorsese was presented with the Filmmaker Award at the inaugural DGA Honors Gala; and he was honored with the DGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Feature Film in 2003.

You can listen to Scorsese's Q&A by clicking the podcast episode embedded below. You can find more DGA podcast episodes here.

Pictures

Event photos by Marcie Revens (New York) and Trixie Textor (Los Angeles) - Print courtesy of Netflix

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Director Martin Scorsese speaks about the making of his epic gangster drama, The Irishman, following the DGA membership screening in New York.

Robert De Niro as Frank Sheeran in Director Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman.

Director Martin Scorsese speaks about the making of his epic gangster drama, The Irishman, following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.

Director Martin Scorsese (right) speaks about the making of The Irishman with Director Noah Baumbach (moderator) following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.

Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa in Director Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman.

Director Martin Scorsese speaks about the making of The Irishman with Director Spike Lee (moderator) following the DGA membership screening in New York.

Director Spike Lee (moderator) asks Director Martin Scorsese a question about the making of Scorsese’s gangster drama, The Irishman, following the DGA membership screening in New York.

Joe Pesci as Russell Bufalino in Director Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman.

Director Noah Baumbach (moderator) asks Director Martin Scorsese a question about the making of Scorsese’s gangster drama, The Irishman, following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.

Directors Noah Baumbach (moderator) and Martin Scorsese pose for a photo following the Los Angeles DGA membership screening of Scorsese’s new gangster drama, The Irishman.

Harvey Keitel as Angelo Bruno in Director Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman.

Directors Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee (moderator) pose for a photo following the New York DGA membership screening of Scorsese’s new gangster drama, The Irishman.

Jesse Plemons as Chuckie O'Brien, Ray Romano as Bill Bufalino, Robert De Niro as Frank Sheeran and Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa in Director Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman.

Director Martin Scorsese acknowledges the presence of his long-time editor, 2015 DGA Honors honoree Thelma Schoonmaker, who attended the New York membership screening of their latest collaboration, The Irishman.

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