'The Amateur': Shooting an Action Thriller around the world with director James Hawes & actress Caitríona Balfe

Today on the show, we’re joined by the brilliant James Hawes - director of Slow Horses , Black Mirror , and One Life - alongside the wonderfully talented Caitríona Balfe , acclaimed for her Golden Globe-nominated performance in Outlander and her standout role in Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast . They each sat down with host Dom Lenoir to dive into their latest feature film, The Amateur (2025), an edge-of-your-seat espionage thriller starring Rami Malek, Jon Bernthal, and Rachel Brosnahan. In this wide-ranging conversation, they explore: How the project came together The challenges and logistics of shooting a globe-trotting action thriller Finding the right tone: balancing emotional depth with high-stakes genre storytelling Directing and acting insights from two masters of their craft Collaborating under pressure ...and so much more. Enjoy! THE AMATEUR is out NOW | Trailer When his supervisors at the CIA refuse to take action after his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack, a decoder takes matters into his own hands. FOOD FOR THOUGHT is finally out NOW | Watch it HERE A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the vegan lifestyle around the world. And if you enjoyed the film, please take a moment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review & every comment helps us share the film’s important message with more people. Your support truly makes a difference! PODCAST MERCH Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, onset water bottles, mugs and more MERCH . https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/ COURSES Want to learn how to finish your film? Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/ PATREON Big thank you to: Serena Gardner Mark Hammett Lee Hutchings Marli J Monroe Karen Newman Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on film-making? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects! SUPPORT THE PODCAST Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com CREDITS The Filmmakers Podcast is written and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson Edited by @tobiasvees Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative Theme Music by John J. Harvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices