Documentary filmmaker Lixin Fan discusses the social realities of the Chinese family he followed for three years in his film “Last Train Home.” The film, a directorial debut for Fan, tells the story of a family who, like millions across China, moved away from the countryside to pursue factory jobs in big cities. The movie illustrates how, as the family struggles with being separated, China’s position as world power soars. Fan explains how internal immigration and urbanization in China is very common and for many, the only opportunity for work and a better life is to leave the picturesque rural landscapes and their loved ones behind. He describes how his intent was to show how his country’s economic policies affect the individual, placing it in the context of a nationalist trend in China. Although Fan did not know the family before he began shooting the documentary, he talks about now keeping close ties with them.

Ryan O’Nan, America Ferrera and Wilmer Valderrama share the experience of being emotionally invested in a U.S. soldier’s return home in “The Dry Land.” Ferrera explains how the story and visits with U.S. veterans compelled her to take a role in the film, which she had initially signed onto as executive producer only. Ferrara plays Sarah, wife to a young war vet (O’Nan) who has returned home to Texas from Iraq and struggles to assimilate back into the life he left behind. She also recounts meeting with the wives and girlfriends of soldiers who returned from war with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental conditions and her sense of duty to these women. Valderrama, who plays James’ army buddy, Raymond, divulges what it was like to work with the United Service Organizations while doing research for his role and the effect that had on his commitment to the story. Newcomer O’Nan describes what it was like to meet with vets and soldiers getting ready to deploy while making the film.

Director John Stalberg and actor Michael Chiklis come together to talk about the casting and collaboration on the new comedy, “High School.” The film, the feature-film debut for Stalberg, tells the story of a high school valedictorian who gets high the day before a surprise mandatory drug test and his attempt to get his entire school baked so everyone will fail the test along with him. Chiklis discusses the development of and inspiration for his role as the uptight and authoritative Principle Gordon, who instates the mandatory test. Chilkis, best known for his role in the Fox television drama “The Shield,” reflects on his turn in this comedy and the relaxing sense of play and improvisation on set. Stalberg recounts how some of the cast members got on board for the movie and how each actor challenged him to be a better filmmaker. The two also share some light-hearted stories from the set and preproduction.

Luca Guadagnino and Tilda Swinton chat about their newest project “I Am Love” and the years of development they have put into it. Director Guadagnino also talks about his first meeting with Swinton. She talks about working relationships with directors, making several films with the same person, and what it is actually like to develop a character over such a long period of time. Swinton explains her reasons for comparing “I Am Love” to Michael Moore’s “Capitalism: A Love Story,” discussing the way this film looks at the old bourgeois society of Milan and how those wealthy families made their money in the beginning. She also opens up about the possibility that she and Guadagnino will remake “Auntie Mame,” and discusses why it will be a new rendering of the book and not actually a remake of the film or musical. And she talks about what she was doing and how she felt when she got the call informing her she’d been nominated for an Oscar (“Michael Clayton”).

Andrew Dickler, Drake Doremus and Ben York Jones chat about how their movie “Douchebag” came to be and how they feel being called by that name. They contemplate the various concepts of what makes the titular character a douchebag. In the movie “Douchebag” Sam (played by Dickler) is about to get married, but his brother Tom (played by Jones) is not coming to the wedding. When Sam’s fiancée forces a reunion of the two brothers, Sam finds out that Tom has been in love only once and that was with his fifth grade girlfriend — and this leads to a quest by the brothers to find her. Dickler and Jones discuss their characters and what it was like to make the film. The trio banter about their experiences working together since high school and whether it jeopardizes their friendship. Director Doremus — who was at Sundance in 2009 for his film “Spooner,” which he also made with Jones and Dickler — talks about his unexpected decision to put Dickler in front of the camera for this film.

Director-actor Katie Aselton is joined by her co-star Dax Shepard to talk about the process behind her first feature film, “The Freebie.” Aselton and Shepard play a devoted married couple that agrees to give each other one night of sexual freedom in an attempt to reinvigorate their sex life. Aselton, who is married to filmmaker Mark Duplass, talks about learning directing from watching Mark and his brother Jay direct. Since “The Freebie” is her first film, Aselton was very particular about choosing her crew, and she explains this process with Shepard and praises the influence her crew had on the final result. Shepard recounts how he got involved with the project and reveals what the experience on set was like and being able to completely give in to the process. Finally, the two describe the challenges of making their characters’ decisions believable and keeping an honest tone throughout the story.

Director Ryan Piers Williams and actors Melissa Leo and Jason Ritter talk about their sense of responsibility in telling the stories in “The Dry Land.” Williams, who grew up in Texas, where his film takes place, discusses his commitment to authenticity in the filmmaking process and the years of research on veterans and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Leo, who plays the mother of Iraqi war vet James (Ryan O’Nan), describes what she calls the “magic” that Williams imparted on the cast and crew during the making of “The Dry Land” through his devotion and passion. Ritter explains preparing for his role as Michael, a childhood friend of James who looks out for his wife while James was abroad, by spending time in a family-operated slaughterhouse. Finally, Williams shares one of the more nerve-wracking parts of the process: showing the movie to military leaders and hearing feedback from the people who have lived through these stories.

Greenlandic director Torben Bech and actor Lars Rosing talk about reactions to their film “Nuummioq,” Greenland’s first international feature film. The film tells the story of a man, Malik (Rosing), after he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and the final boat ride he takes with his best friend into the fjords of Greenland. Bech and Rosing reflect on how their film is going up against an American public that knows very little about Greenland or its people and the effect this has had on the film’s reception. Each shares the strange questions they have heard after film screenings, such as whether it is true Greenlanders hardly speak to each other. Rosing talks about his surprise at how people received Greenland humor. Bech elaborates on how Greenland, itself, is a character in the film and on his use of non-professional actors and the effect that had on writing the script.

First-time director Philip Seymour Hoffman is joined by his cast members to discuss adapting the Broadway play “Jack Goes Boating” to the big screen. Set against the backdrop of working-class New York City, “Jack Goes Boating” centers around two love stories and stars Hoffman, Amy Ryan, John Ortiz and Daphne Rubin-Vega. Hoffman talks about the excitement of being at the Sundance Film Festival for the first time as a director, how the experience of this movie was different than his previous work, and what he learned about the filmmaking process from it. Ortiz, who acted in the Broadway incarnation of “Jack Goes Boating,” explains what changed in making the story come alive on film. Rubin-Vega, also reprising her role as Lucy from the stage version, reveals the struggles of translating a character from one storytelling medium to another. Ryan provides some insight into the story’s awkwardness and tension and how this translates for audiences.

Adrian Grenier talks about making his film “Teenage Paparazzo” with Alex Baldwin and Matt Damon, and what he learned entering the paparazzi world. In his second full-length documentary, Grenier (HBO’s “Entourage”) turns the tables on juvenile paparazzi – focusing on one foul-mouthed 13-year-old paparazzo named Austin Visschedyk – in order to give the world a different view of the paparazzi and how they fuel our culture’s obsession with the glitz and glamour of fame. Grenier discusses the medium of documentary in filmmaking. He explains his interest in presenting the human side of both the celebrities and the paparazzi. He opens up about what it feels like to be on the other side of the lens looking at the celebrities and the difficulties he faced getting some of the famous names in the film to talk to him about their experiences with the paparazzi. Grenier also talks about how storytelling is different as an actor and as a director.