Writing and Directing "Dual" with Riley Stearns | AD 233

·1 hr 1 min·5 clips

Riley Stearns reveals his new film where a woman who miraculously recovers from a terminal illness must fight her own clone to the death.

This episode of Artist Decoded features an interview with filmmaker Riley Stearns, conducted by host Joe Shino and guest Saman Keshe. Stearns is promoting his latest film 'Dual', a sci-fi story about a woman who clones herself after a terminal diagnosis, then must duel the clone when she recovers. The interview begins with lighthearted questions about Stearns' earliest memories, including crawling up stairs at age one and a half and randomly asking if it was his birthday at age three. Stearns reflects on his sensitive nature and precise memory, which he connects to the idiosyncratic dialogue in his films. He traces his creative origins to childhood writing assignments and an early interest in music, where he played bass to avoid the spotlight. Stearns explains how visiting film sets with his ex-wife sparked his interest in screenwriting, leading him to mimic styles of directors like Tarantino before finding his own voice with the short film 'The Cub'. He details the evolution of 'Dual' from a failed music video pitch about time loops, emphasizing his love for doppelgänger stories and introspection. Stearns describes his structured writing process, using index cards to plot films and writing scripts in focused two-week periods. He shares anecdotes about working with actors like Karen Gillan, who did 'fun runs' for improvisation, and the challenges of getting his films financed, noting that 'The Art of Self-Defense' was only picked up by one company. Stearns discusses his growth in confidence through jujitsu and how it parallels his filmmaking career. He contemplates his legacy and the pressure of following up 'Dual', while expressing gratitude for being able to make personal films. The conversation touches on comparisons to directors like Yorgos Lanthimos, with Stearns highlighting his brighter sensibility and overt humor. The interview concludes with plans to stay in touch and encouragement for listeners to watch 'Dual'.

As heard by us

Riley Stearns breaks down the craft and perspective behind a film designed to leave viewers room to meet it on their own terms.

Riley Stearns returns to Artist Decoded for a focused conversation about Duel, built around a terminal diagnosis, cloning, a failed decommissioning, and a court-mandated fight to the death.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want Riley Stearns to unpack Dual's clone premise, its court-mandated duel, and the kind of writing that lets you walk beside it without being guided by the hand.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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