Behind the Scenes: DJing for the Oscar-Winning Film Anora
When Anora won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, it became one of the most talked about films of the year. Directed by Sean Baker and starring Mikey Madison, the film was raw, authentic, and unlike anything Hollywood had produced in years. What many people don't know is that the energy inside those scenes — the music, the atmosphere, the feeling of being in that room — was real. And I was behind the decks making it happen.
How It Came Together — The Vanity Fair Moment Sean Baker is a director obsessed with authenticity. In his Vanity Fair breakdown of the film alongside Mikey Madison, Baker spoke about finding the most luxurious mansion he could for the New Year's Eve party scene — and wanting every single element of that scene to feel genuinely real. Not staged. Not performed. Real.
That extended to the music. Baker wanted a real DJ behind the decks — someone who could walk into that mansion on New Year's Eve with cameras rolling and make every person in the room feel like they were actually at the most electric party of the year. Not an actor pretending to DJ. Not a prop. A real performer creating a real atmosphere.
That is where I came in.
Being chosen for that role was a validation of everything I have built over the years. Sean Baker did not want a name. He wanted authenticity. And that is exactly what I delivered.
New Year's Eve at the Mansion The scene was set inside a stunning mansion — the kind of space that immediately tells you the stakes are high. It was a New Year's Eve party. The energy needed to feel celebratory, electric, and real. Not performed. Not staged. Real.
That is what Sean Baker wanted for Anora — authenticity above everything else. The party had to feel like an actual New Year's Eve celebration, not a movie set pretending to be one. My job was to make sure that when midnight hit on screen, every person in that room — cast, crew, and extras alike — felt it.
I played the kind of set I would play at any high-end New Year's Eve event. Reading the room, building the energy, timing every drop and transition to the feeling of the moment. The only difference was that cameras were rolling.
What a Film Set Is Really Like People imagine film sets as glamorous. And in some ways they are — you are surrounded by incredibly talented people all working toward a shared creative vision. But it is also incredibly disciplined work. Takes are repeated. Lighting is adjusted. Scenes are shot from multiple angles. Through all of it, the music has to remain consistent and the energy has to stay high.
As the DJ, my job was to keep the atmosphere alive between takes — to make sure that when the camera rolled, the energy in that mansion was exactly where it needed to be. That is a skill that goes beyond just playing music. It is about reading a room and sustaining a feeling over hours of work.
The Experience of Watching It Come Together There is something surreal about watching a film you were part of come to life on screen. When Anora was released in October 2024 and the reviews started pouring in — 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, the Palme d'Or at Cannes, six Academy Award nominations — it was an incredible feeling to know I had contributed to something that resonated so deeply with audiences around the world.
And when the film won Best Picture at the Oscars, it was a moment I will never forget.
What Film and Live Events Have in Common Whether I am performing on a film set or at a luxury private event, the fundamentals are the same. Understand the vision. Read the room. Deliver an experience that feels authentic and alive. The stakes are different but the commitment is identical.
Every event I perform at — whether it is a celebrity private party, a corporate gala, a destination wedding, or a New Year's Eve mansion party — gets the same level of preparation and presence. That is the standard I hold myself to regardless of the context.
Working in Film and Television Anora is one of several film and television productions I have been part of. I also served as the DJ on Apple TV+ series WeCrashed starring Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway, and on Starz Power Book II: Ghost. Each experience has deepened my understanding of how music shapes storytelling — and brought that perspective back to every live event I perform at.
Watch the Vanity Fair Breakdown Want to see Sean Baker and Mikey Madison break down the New Year's Eve scene themselves? Watch the full Vanity Fair video here:
Ryan Vandal is a New York-based DJ, producer, and director with credits in film, television, and over 1,000 live performances worldwide. He is available for private events, corporate activations, destination weddings, and nightlife residencies. Engagements begin at $5,000. To check availability reach out at hello@djryanvandal.com or visit the contact page.