Tagged BehindTheScenes

How Mari Yamamoto Found Healing in Hikari’s New Film ‘Rental Family’

Rental Family” is one of 2025’s most tender surprises, led by a deeply felt performance from Mari Yamamoto. In conversation with Awards Focus, Yamamoto discusses grief, cultural nuance, and the quiet strength of Aiko—revealing how compassion, identity, and connection shape Hikari’s moving new drama.

Shioli Kutsuna Bridges Worlds in Apple TV+’s ‘Invasion’

Shioli Kutsuna reflects on Mitsuki’s transformation in Apple TV+’s “Invasion,” exploring how loss and determination shape her character’s connection to the alien threat. As the third season finale approaches, Kutsuna discusses finding humanity within science fiction and the emotional cost of bridging two worlds.

Designing ‘Chief of War’: Jean-François Campeau Brings Hawaiian History to Life in Jason Momoa Epic

Production designer Jean-François Campeau brings Hawai‘i’s past to life in Apple TV+’s “Chief of War.” Collaborating with Jason Momoa and a predominantly Polynesian cast, Campeau blends cultural authenticity with cinematic scale, constructing temples, canoes, and landscapes that honor Hawaiian craftsmanship while capturing the epic scope of the islands’ unification.

Emmy-Nominated Designer Kalina Ivanov on Building Gotham for HBO’s ‘The Penguin’

Emmy-winning production designer Kalina Ivanov brings a new vision of Gotham to HBO’s "The Penguin," the most nominated show in HBO Max history with 24 Emmy nods. From Crown Point to Arkham, Ivanov’s designs shape the series’ gritty identity and earned her a nomination for Outstanding Production Design.

Brian Badie on Capturing Sofia Falcone’s Arc Through Hair in ‘The Penguin’

Emmy-nominated hairstylist Brian Badie breaks down the creative process behind Cristin Milioti’s transformation as Sofia Falcone in HBO’s "The Penguin." From the party-perfect waves to her jagged, self-inflicted wolf cut, Badie’s designs gave the character a visual fingerprint, shaping her descent from daughter to mob boss with striking precision.

Inside ‘The Penguin’: Mick Giacchino Talks Emmy Nod, Gotham’s Sound, and Carving His Own Path

Mick Giacchino’s first Emmy nomination comes for The Penguin, HBO’s most nominated series ever. Building on his work in The Batman, Giacchino created a score that blends classical strings, city textures, and silence itself to capture Gotham’s fractured world. He spoke with Awards Focus about forging his own musical identity.