April 15, 2026·Interview
Oscar Boyson
The producer behind Uncut Gems and Good Time on Lou Reed, sleep masks, and how wars are run like casinos.
Oscar Boyson’s filmography doubles as a play list for the best contemporary indie cinema. He collaborated with Noah Baumbach on Frances Ha and Mistress America, and, as co-founder of Elara, produced the Safdie brothers’ Good Time and Uncut Gems. His directorial debut, Our Hero, Balthazar — a satirical comedy-drama about gun control — premiered at Tribeca last year and hit theaters in March. Here he talks Lou Reed, sleep masks, and an article about how wars are run like casinos.
What do you do when you hit a creative block?
Come up with a new question to ask.
What’s the last film you watched that moved you deeply?
Straw Dogs (1971)
What book have you gifted most?
Ella Quittner’s Obsessed with the Best.
What’s something you bought under $100 that changed your life?
My Manta sleep mask.
Where do you go to find peace?
Maine.
Who is your forever inspo?
Lou Reed.
What’s the last article you sent to a friend?
“Maybe Turning War into a Casino Was a Bad Idea?” by Charlie Warzel.
What’s the best investment (money, time, habit) you’ve made?
Running, an investment in my wellbeing.
Follow Oscar on Instagram.
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