Seen on the Screen with Jacqueline Coley

Filmmaker Craig Brewer has always been drawn to stories where music fuels big dreams — often against the odds.From his award-winning films Hustle & Flow and Dolemite Is My Name to acclaimed series like Empire and Fight Night, Brewer’s work is steeped in rhythm and resilience. Now, he's back directing Song Sung Blue, a new Focus Features film starring Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman, about the incredible true story of "Lightning & Thunder," two Milwaukee musicians whose Neil Diamond tribute act became an inspiring sensation.In this episode, Craig sits down with Jacqueline Coley to talk about transforming a documentary into a feature film, earning the trust of the family behind the story, and capturing the soulful spirit that runs through his work. Craig opens up about his Memphis roots, his long creative partnerships, and the musical heartbeat that drives his storytelling. Plus, he shares the wild origin of the Oscar-winning “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” and the touching note Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder sent after reading the Song Sung Blue script.

For award-winning Paul Tazewell, costume design is storytelling in its purest form. From Death Becomes Her and Harriet to The Wiz Live! and Wicked, his work blends imagination, history, and emotional detail to reveal who characters are long before they speak. His designs for Wicked and Wicked: For Good reimagine Oz through texture, silhouette, and color—shaping a world that feels both fantastical and grounded.In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley talks with Paul about building Glinda and Elphaba’s looks from the inside out, collaborating with Jon M. Chu and the creative team, and crafting costumes that can withstand stunts, emotion, and cinematic scale. Together, they take a closer look at two of Paul’s signature designs from the Wicked: For Good, breaking down the choices that bring each character to life. From iridescent bubble silhouettes to Elphaba’s reimagined witch’s hat, Paul shares how every detail carries meaning—and how costume design can turn fantasy into something deeply human.

For award-winning Paul Tazewell, costume design is storytelling in its purest form. From Death Becomes Her and Harriet to The Wiz Live! and Wicked, his work blends imagination, history, and emotional detail to reveal who characters are long before they speak. His designs for Wicked and Wicked: For Good reimagine Oz through texture, silhouette, and color—shaping a world that feels both fantastical and grounded.In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley talks with Paul about building Glinda and Elphaba’s looks from the inside out, collaborating with Jon M. Chu and the creative team, and crafting costumes that can withstand stunts, emotion, and cinematic scale. Together, they take a closer look at two of Paul’s signature designs from the Wicked: For Good, breaking down the choices that bring each character to life. From iridescent bubble silhouettes to Elphaba’s reimagined witch’s hat, Paul shares how every detail carries meaning—and how costume design can turn fantasy into something deeply human.

Transforming a beloved game into a cinematic world isn’t simple, but Emma Tammi approaches it with equal parts respect, curiosity, and boldness. After turning Five Nights at Freddy’s into a global phenomenon, she returns with FNAF 2—a sequel that’s bigger, scarier, and packed with animatronics fans have been waiting years to see.In this episode, Jacqueline Coley sits down with Emma to revisit how she first entered the Freddy’s universe—answering Jason Blum’s pandemic-era phone call, diving into a fast-track education in lore, and uncovering the emotional spine beneath all the jump scares. Emma shares how collaborations with creator Scott Cawthon, Jason Blum, and the cast shaped the films, and why the franchise’s themes of grief, memory, and paranoia demanded a deeper, more character-driven approach in the sequel.She also breaks down the massive scale-up for FNAF 2: new set pieces, expanded world-building, and an entire army of animatronics engineered with the Jim Henson Creature Shop. From practical effects to Easter eggs designed for frame-by-frame internet sleuthing, Emma explains what it takes to make Freddy’s feel alive—sometimes terrifyingly so.

To Marc Platt, producing is not just about stories that entertain but that are aspirational and celebratory. Whether it’s the determination of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, the passion of Sebastian and Mia in La La Land, or the powerful friendship between Glinda and Elphaba in Wicked, his work reminds us how courage and collaboration turn stories into cultural touchstones everyone can relate to.In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley sits down with the award–winning producer to explore how stories evolve from page to stage and screen. Marc shares how Wicked grew from Gregory Maguire’s novel to a Broadway phenomenon, and how it ultimately became two feature films shot at the same time.  He reflects on working with visionary directors like Jon M. Chu, Damien Chazelle, and Edgar Wright, and the singular Steven Spielberg. Marc shares the pressure and joy of adapting beloved stories and how his own family has been a creative compass throughout his career.