Behind the Scenes of the 2021 Best Picture Nominees I spoke with directors of the films competing for the top prize at the Oscars. Here are my takeaways. Frances McDormand working with Chloé Zhao on “Nomadland.”Credit...Searchlight Pictures April 23, 2021Updated 3:37 p.m. ET In a year when theaters were largely closed, it has been a strange path to the Oscars on Sunday. Along the way, I spoke to the directors of the season’s most acclaimed films about key moments from their work. Below are clips and commentary from all but one of this year’s best picture nominees (David Fincher, the director of the Netflix feature “Mank,” declined to be interviewed for the series).