VIFF Podcast

Tony McNamara and Alena Smith on creating satirical comedies – 'The Great' and 'Dickinson'

March 03, 2021 Tony McNamara and Alena Smith Season 2 Episode 3
VIFF Podcast
Tony McNamara and Alena Smith on creating satirical comedies – 'The Great' and 'Dickinson'
Show Notes

In this episode, we’re joined by the creators behind two of the most audaciously funny series of the last year. 

Tony McNamara is the creator of the Emmy-nominated The Great, a genre-bending, anti-historical ride through 18th-century Russia – following the wildly comedic rise of Catherine the Nothing to Catherine the Great.

Tony is joined by Peabody Award-winning Alena Smith, creator of Dickinson – a coming of age story featuring Hailee Steinfeld that takes place during Emily Dickinson's era with a modern sensibility and tone.

In this talk recorded at VIFF 2020, Tony and Alena chat with host Noelle Carbone (Executive Producer, Coroner) about crafting comedic language through the ages and why period pieces are no longer just about petticoats and pretentiousness.

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ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

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