This week on On Story, a conversation with Brian Helgeland, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter who penned acclaimed movies including L.A. Confidential and Mystic River, and the director who brought to life beloved films such as A Knight’s Tale and 42. He lends a behind the scenes look at the making of Finestkind, a film mined from his relationship with his father and their experiences as deep sea fishermen.

The film, set in Helgeland’s own hometown of New Bedford, Massachusetts, tells the story of two estranged brothers’ navigating a splintered relationship in the high-stakes world of commercial fishing and drug dealing. Helgeland discusses grounding the story in setting, crafting character backgrounds with Tommy Lee Jones (who plays the boys’ father) and imbuing the film with his personal touch. Finestkind is now streaming on Paramount Plus. 

Finestkind clips courtesy of Paramount Plus.

This week on On Story, AFF moderator Harrison Glaser speaks with Celine Song about her feature debut, Past Lives. Inspired by Song’s own experiences, Past Lives tells the story of two childhood friends who reunite as adults and reckon with the nature of the enduring bond between them. This multi-language film is a deeply personal exploration of the modern immigrant experience, unflinchingly confronting the “what-ifs” that plague lost love and paths not taken. 

Celine Song began her writing career as a playwright in New York City, and joined fantasy series The Wheel of Time as a staff writer before her feature debut. The bittersweet romance premiered to critical acclaim and soared to Oscar nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture. 

In conversation at the 30th annual Austin Film Festival, Song discusses creating complex identities for her characters, writing dialogue that feels true to life, and transitioning from playwright to filmmaker.

Past Lives clips courtesy of A24.