Ron Howard and Brian Grazer talk with Chris about where the idea for their show Breakthrough came from, what topics will be featured on the show, and how Ron is such a normal guy after working in entertainment for so long. They also talk about how they formed Imagine Entertainment, choosing movies and shows they want to produce, and playing the game of show business!
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Walking the nerds podcast number seven hundred and fifty two, if you're a regular listener, the podcast pricing, because I really wasn't the last episode, seven hundred and fifty two with Dirk Ahlborn and Bebop Gresta. Well, I did say that yes, but I was lying to you, but intentionally though it was a clerical error.
And I just mean it- was like a bookkeeping error, not like a clear it came in in cascade, create water spell, and I drown in my own ignorance, which would be one way to look at it. So you know what I like: mistakes. Mistakes are fun, the imperfections of life are what make life in.
So I guess, let's just say, there's two seven hundred and fifty twos now technically, I hope you having a nice week. This podcast is going out Wednesday, it's the middle of the week. If you subscribe to a basic work week, maybe that's the middle of your week. I don't know, I don't know if you're listening this on Wednesday. Are you don't answer that? I can't hear you, but you can say you know what, how about this, I'm going to give you the opportunity to answer so that it feels like we're actually having conversations what day is it that you're listening to podcast uh huh? Oh my uncle listens to it that day to see, I tried to make it personalized so that it felt like we were having a conversation. I hope that made you feel more loved and supported this
I have some nervous community Court board stuff to tell you about the Nurse Communicorp Board and just fill in a song here in your head. Whatever the song is, if you want to submit a song, you can fill in and submit a jingle if you want or I'll just go nurse credit card fraud local time, the radio. Okay, this
this is from Ricky Bagwell hello. Our gaming group, four hundred and seventeen gamers is teeming with local gaming store meta games, unlimited to Ave B night on Saturday
number 14th in Springfield Missouri will be playing in teaching gateway
this will be easy going night for people to come out and have fun meet new people and their new games before this will be an easy going night people to come out and have fun meet new people and learn a game or four people can just bring themselves in a friend
they like will be teaching in playing from five hundred to one thousand pm for more info into Facebook? Page up at Facebook?
I'm such for seventeen gamers for meet up at meetup dot com, slash four, seventeen gamers, yes, jury, Brito, PS, you enjoy your burrito Ricky. Also, all right Katie submitted this one for which is the door. Will it the door will but away the good that I feel like I have to let you know it's Katie. You know
Katie, is the best friend to every animal in the world, and so she submitted this podcast for me to tell you about which is Brooke Rights. My friend Justin created cast a podcast of cats, purring all right, I'm kind of on board with this. Actually every of the features one of his
cats or friends, cat purring, along with stories about each cat and their awesomeness Justin, also happens to rescue cat,
as a foster with barks helping sweet.
Kitties, find forever homes check him and the kitties out per cast dot com. I feel like it's a good idea feel like perk, as
makes a tremendous amount of sense. Now, there's a lot of negative news out there so
if you happen to watch the news or read a newspaper and then you start shaking to your core, because you feel like, like every other generation, does that were totally screwed in the face, listen to per cast and let's compare and kitties make it all better for you as a fantastic idea. This episode is Brian Grazer returns. He was just on the podcast not long ago, but he returns with his friend and partner RON Howard, who was rad. You know it's so nice
to meet one of your heroes and they turned out to be super rad. I don't know there was some sort of weird happy days. Curse for everyone who was ever on. That show seems to be super awesome, because Henry Winkler was red. Ron Howard was amazing and they were and run and Brian were both fantastic gather and when you look at the wide berth the things they produce and- and so you look at the Imdb page and go all they did- that they did that there that these guys, I am I was so in awe of them and ron- is just
best and Brian Grazer is a wealth of knowledge from people that he's interviewed over the years. So I want them to come back as a team again and just chat some more here's. Another podcast, that's the other seven hundred and fifty two with RON Howard and Brian Grazer Katie Roll. The per cast
Now entering noticed dot com
right you just on not that long ago and run it is wonderful to see you and I
you guys are the main
The main thing that you guys running right now is the Ge Breakthrough Project, which I believe, premiers November first on National Geographic yeah, I'm going to say nine hundred pm. If my brain
is is is being useful today, but it
it's exactly what it sounds like it's people who
king, incredible scientific breakthroughs and there's a lot of different guest direct
right. Paul Giamatti and Angela Bassett
wow, yeah, Ratner and so
What was it where the project come from and who you know? What did you guys decide to get on board kind of initiated with Brian and original conversation, and then it evolved through really quickly through some?
some really good meetings over there yeah, but basically what
you know because you've interviewed me, I just curiosity discipline discipline
every two weeks. Well, Beth Comstock,
Who is vice chairman of GE
Does a similar thing kind of with a different demographic, all young people really like young.
Tech but she's, really cool person. I've known her a while. She works for Jeff,
ceo of
I also know of GE and they're. Both cool curious, generous
You know regular people, even though they're you know running the stranded billion dollar company and
So they said. I me
basically Beth after
Your curiosity conversation she and I were having we talked about maybe doing,
second spots. I said I don't think so. Let me think about it.
And then I started thinking about high wrote how I romantically kind of look at,
GE when it
was Thomas Edison and when he created you know electricity and
alt multiple uses for it and
I said I'll do that and then we talked about. Then we just
this idea called breakthrough, which would be like thirty
for 30s these in
It shows science, but for science. Actually, that's the picture yeah. Besides that I've brought as it being someone who doesn't really watch sports. I would totally I go
Oh yeah, ok, I'm in I'm Totale in because it's there so many.
Especially now we're so addicted. I feel like a cultural is addicted to advancement. We expect advancement at any given
missing, really interesting point, and I and- and I think, you're right and we quickly Involved- was the idea of not so much looking back but but really looking forward at this small
an humanizing it, and this is sort of where we come in. Is it in terms of
of all of wanting to celebrate individuals who
who are actually investing in their lives in making these kinds of breakthroughs. So it's kind
sort of understanding where the sciences understanding what the problems are and what the crisis is, the use of the dramatic narrative term, and then here are the protagonists who are trying to act upon that? An
and you know, and and so that's that's the way
began to shape it and that's one of the
that we, instead of going to documentarians too
see each individual one. We went, we went to narrative storytellers and, to sort of you know to infuse it with that kind of
Focus on story really, which is what we're always about yeah. You know we would find there's so many by the way problems on the point of it, and so we would carry those.
Did our first six and then we're going to do more, and then we find people
beings that are in the middle of these crises and problems that are creating solutions, so you have,
There's hope here. I know I'm a person that I I feel
I foolishly do this thing that most human beings do where I go.
I probably shouldn't, have a cheeseburger today, but in thirty years, they'll just replace my blood because, like I'm really playing the long game on technology, like science will be fine,
and I worry that- maybe that's not entirely the case, so where are the biggest breakthroughs? Are they is it
The technologies that are exciting to you, or is it going to be like there should be an advancement in infrastructure to handle emerging tech
it's one of the things that kind of came to light in in the one that I directed, which is about aging, and
Much more immediate 'cause you're dealing with a lot of people who you know can't look thirty years down the road
and yet many many
who who do, and so there is, that question of. Do you keep pushing that one
a sort of down the road kicking that can down the road or do you address it now and for that very reason, it's been really difficult on a kind of an institutional level and on a governmental level to even look at it as a particular issue- and this is the thing that was sort of surprising- is that there are
there are technologies. There are there are there and
and drugs that are beginning to promise. This possibility that you can not attack just diabetes, not just look at cancer but in fact-
you know deal with aging as an idea right at the FDA. Fda doesn't know what to do with that. We sort of stumbled into this really interesting. Really, you know problem that they're. You know they're they're, simple.
Medic like any human being would be, but they sort of they don't know quite how
with, and it's up to science, to sort of prove that this holistic,
and when I say holistic, I don't necessarily mean chinese herbs right, but
is, is, is worth tackling sound run.
Became became a human interest story. No, but no actually that's the first of all. I just want to go back and make the point that
I think most people don't understand what the word holistic actually means. I think you're right. I think it has become synonymous with that, but it really
I mean everything is like your deal
with the whole the whole thing from top to bottom and an aging is one of those interesting topics where I well
You know if they could cure aging. Is that a good thing or is it
being able to use your cell phone on a plane good. But then you have to hear someone talking on the and we and we deal with that controversy and all and all of the all of the all the stories. In fact, prime, is always pushing for that as a good speed, good storytellers ideas to to
to to tell as many sides as we could still
What we really have is a very cool
personalized. Sh. Brief look at the issue now and What'S- and these are these crises and what science is doing, you know to try to tackle them, and it and- and it is kind of here
What because we we believe people who are dedicated themselves to that? Are
you know there making sacrifices and taken bigger
So when you go in as a director for something like this, I mean when you're, when you have you have a scripted project,
you, I assume you know, you know where it's going to go most of the time right you have.
At least you have a script in an idea. There's a there's, a rough outline in this case,
when you're doing a documentary, you know you do have to be ready to to take advantage of what you find.
Don't know so when you're going into this. What is your? What is your thought? I mean
You have a hypothesis or something that you want to prove, or do you say I'm just going to
Into this and see where it leads me, this one was very much see where it leads me and and beginning with the research. So we we, you know we
kind of a point of view by the time we were starting to starting to shoot, but we still didn't really know about these. The scientists who were right this moment kind of struggling to get
idea through and there's a there's a line of narration. I happen to be the narrator. Some people,
get science sounding an awful lot like arrested development, but I wound up being an aerator, so Michael Bluth is trying to fight the FDA
Reluctant to here with the blues I mean the other science. Well anyway, that's where there is like a corner, but it but the whole the
how do you know when you're done? You know
when you're investigating this, and you feel like well are infinite possibilities. How do you know when you're when you've completed this
air date out of my hair days, no money, let it go on and on and on, but that's why these things did become kind of snapshots. Let's take let's, let's get these people to the point of view. That's come in by the way I gotta say gee very helpful and, to be honest, not all about G
all about science- and you know when we're GE is out doing something. Interesting, they'd, let us know- and we could cover that and where somebody elses that's exciting,
yeah? That was the only the cool
exception. We all came up with this work done it together. G was soup
cool about it? 'cause they're involved in probably a hundred of these different times types of kind of medical,
science type problem solving equations. You know that their company
they're very conscientious about it, but they made.
One is that we don't want to be in it. We do want to be the protagonist we do want to say. Geeze fixing it even though there,
there are working on it and also like
A good friend of mine, Andy Conrad, is a geneticist. He works at. He runs
Google X with which is like two hundred and fifty scientists and doctors all over the world like working to solve problems like this, so
None of these people, they're kind of kind of like you know the way we
astronauts environment, there's sort of selfless can heroes and away, and they don't really feel like they have to be protagonists in this, but I think it's good for g. It's it's good for companies that care about the
social consciousness and are interested, but it's cooler when they don't want to have to be
person solving the problem and I'd also say that on I, just a creative level on a storytelling level
you know the National Geographic exaction, the people weighing in there were extremely conscientious and it was sort of like
you guys are great storytellers, but we got to get the science right.
They were they were. They were very you know just holding everything to a particular standard, so for me,
This is an exciting time for our company in terms of the way,
the various mediums are broadening out and we programming is shifting and changing the tastes are evolving. It's you know it's just giving
people like Brian and I and and and it you know chance to to work on a lot of
and things and grow from that. It's pretty great yeah. I mean like the hip
is. Is that it's
This is a moment right now, and it's going to continue where it's very empowering for artists storytellers there was
shift and there's always some sort of shift in show business, of course, right where the corporation
the movie companies in the television networks were really dominating control of what the narratives themselves would.
And now it's sort of shifting, because platforms are becoming there more of them and there,
oddly becoming agnostic sure, so it's the
notice that are driving what the value of the platform,
the story itself and its end. The story, connection to the consumer is becoming more direct because the
We changed yeah, we gave research and and there's a life changing yeah and even
Course on our show empire I mean that that
supposed to happen, but it changed the landscape of fox. You know I annoyed a lot of
because obviously empire trends every week that it's on and I just start. I will tweet facts about the empire, strikes back and tag. It
hire people like. Why are you do you know? Just for kids like oh well Empire is trending, so you know oh HANS frozen in carbonite. What are they going to do? Hashtag empire interested to see how much I picked up that one? I saw that one, I'm glad
it's good to and- and I think force awakens white might to give us some more of that feeling that empire gave I'm really excited about the trailers. Seven kids still can't check
watching football to watch the trailer tonight, I'll just see it online but run. How are you such
It's normal guy. I mean you
started in television for in the fifth
is when it seems like that was a period of time where they were like? Oh, we let the kids out of their cages a couple hours a day, and you know before people really started understanding what the effects on young people could be.
And the pressures, and particularly at that time, so how are you
such a nice normal. Having worked in for all this time in the business. Well, you know you can ask Brian
nice and normal that I really am
I said you know, I think it's it's
comes back to. I think my parents in a lot of ways, my dad's this and believe the grounded guys an actor yeah that was never dazzling, particularly to him as a character, actor rants Howard still at it
and he doesn't like me to say his age, but it's it's kind of fantastic. How much he's working at this point is life and
and- and I think, because growing up two things one I just liked it
just always liked it. I like being around it, I like being around the story telling the creative problem solving as a little kid. I found it fascinating,
sort of allowed to witness it and be a part of it? It was. It was a very cool
kinda of creative,
five on the Andy Griffith show. So I didn't
that when I would go be in a movie like the music man or something but around the Andy, Griffith show I could see this energy and all
laughter and all this hard work and it was adding up to a number one television show, and so I was just sort of learning a way to work that was really useful and then the.
Thing was that I would see my dad out there.
Open auditions
writing tv shows some
it's getting the job. You know
actually not an but loving it loving the process
and the combination of those two things I think, gave me as a sense of perspective that was pretty healthy and just allowed me to keep
in the dream and an understanding also that I was really fortunate to be there cash but you're so lucky that you didn't have the kind of
dad he was like. How much did you make this week?
I like, that it is really that wasn't competitive with you in anyway. There's a lot of luck in this I mean unbelievable about that, an you know, and even when I was,
my first cup, the first things that I directed he and I would
grand theft, auto grand theft, auto wrote that you know, and he was in a couple things tv
Pc wizard, he was involved, involves a producer. I wanted him in there and then, when I start,
we've evolve to another level and started partnering with people like Brian and stuff, like that, he would never once said
what's my role in that?
oh yes, he did
on television to be honest
at the end of this even happy days, there's nothing that.
We exist like it anymore, because of the way that entertainment is so fragmented and
to be on a show that literally like fifty six,
seventy million people would watch is? Is a staggering thought, yeah? Well, it is enhanced and that has changed and and yet the making of the show's hasn't changed much I mean it's, that's what
it's just still the same. The same set of challenges and
creative energy and, I think,
You know when you get into something like breakthrough, or I did
Jay Z documentary a couple of years ago and I'm starting to move into this documentary world Brian have been at it for awhile, with beyond the mat and deep throat. But but it's really exciting
I've learned that I can actually apply a lot, that I've learned that I
I have a lot of my experiences and as a storyteller to these documentaries, an
without distorting and without having a script ahead of time. You also saw Scorsese, do it, who someone that you like a lot and believing it is likely enjoyable to me yeah yeah. I mean because it's it's an
Incredibly brave move at seems like
credibly brave, move to leave a show like happy days to launch a directing Karere. I mean to leave the
legitimately for people. I am of an age where I watched it when it was first run was led the biggest sitcom
to leave the biggest show at the time to go. I'm just going to go. Try this other thing was
pretty amazing move. That was pretty crazy because I'm we met while he was still on on the show- and I didn't really even know he had these grand x
expectations or hopes of being masked direct or much less a mass.
Filmmaker winning Oscars and stuff? I had no idea, I just thought
really cool guy. He emanates this sort of sense of goodness, that
but gets to read you receive it when you're around images. This aura that I felt
but I didn't know he had this, this deep sense of commitment to doing this and when
he left it was really controversial. I mean it was kind of an explosive moment for happy days. For me, it was just uh.
You know I had this this this
belly. You know I mean it was just it was. I was learning to do it before I went to happy days. I left USC film School to do happy days. I thought it was
job and it went on and on and on and on
I will get married very young Sheryl and I married at twenty one- and I remember working very
the show in real
I think that I had done nothing about advancing my directing for about a year
an eye, so I bought a movie ola. Instead, it in our apartment right right right there, where you just couldn't miss it and
my my my thinking was every day that I walk in and out. I want to see the movie Ola with no film on it.
Just remind me- and so I was just committed
and when
and I was directing during the hiatus. But I also realize that if I was going to become a feature director, I couldn't
doing it in the three months that I had off- I needed to
to be available. You know it's so important for people to understand that, because particularly
Now I feel, like people are so people
so money obsessed about things like a well, if you have money, then it shouldn't matter and but you still
I do enjoy what you're doing at a certain point. There's no,
of money. That's going to make you any happier if you're not doing what we're doing, but in fact we all know a lot of people with plenty of money that are who who are who are miserable and it's trapped in their money.
Kinda. You know and George Lucas
who's always been a bit of a mentor and is made. You know fast vast sums, early,
early on like right. After I don't know, empire strikes back probably
I remember talking to him, and he said you know, money is really an interesting thing. It's great to feel secure it.
Great to know you can go on vacation, it's great to have a car that you like to drive
you know that if anybody in your family needs medical care, you can you can help facilitate that beyond that. The that
the the luxury tax you pay for the uh
stop is is is is almost debilitating, and- and so you know it's easy for for folks with fat back bank accounts to say I suppose, but
he's always had a kind of perspective and wisdom even on his own wealth, and I think there's just something to that. Well, yeah, and when you look back, I think it was the
decision for you to make, because you know
been stuck on the show for awhile longer and who knows what would happen is that when you really had to go to, and but I have to say, night shift is, I think is probably one of my.
Favorite and comedies of all, all all all
You know we shot night shift here. Are you there at Hollywood Center,
yeah no place to ski. You bet, oh come on. I have no idea
that's amazing feat mayonnaise- to tune if it was called okay, I mean that movie.
It was such a and the fact that you're only you played
saxophone player
Guy right to check, but but you you know you could
put yourself in the movie and you didn't so why the decision to pull your face off of camera.
I've been in the first movie that I did at the only way
get it going as Roger Corman Grand theft alright and I pretty much hated it, and I and- and I made a lot of money though it did well. I know I did hate the movie. I didn't like being in right right right and this
Brian's idea and his baby. We got this script going,
kind of a miracle- and I Didn'T- I don't think
like, I was the right guy for it and I don't think Brian never would have even as a produce
Want me to do it. Well, I two projects. One was I'd written, a really bad draft of
flash the man you know with a mermaid, the other was a call girl ring running out the New York City morgue, which was
r rated idea because it involves prostitution right. So I
wanted him to do the mermaid, but he absolutely
I want to do that. He said. Look I'm Andy Griffith
happy days I'm jammed, dilute I'm changing my image man, I'm not doing this I'll. Do the other one night. If I'm going to a comedy, I want to do an ra and especially when you look back at night shift now, it's really not that are rated all used to be a today standards. I feel like if it's it's kinda, like you, thirteen.
Maybe
behind the scenes. It certainly wasn't running for some of us I mean you know just Henry Winkler and Michael Keaton and Shelley Long and Richard Belzer I mean it's like
such an amazing cast Brian produced the hell out of that movie to get that movie going,
and it was really the beginning of our friendship because it was so exciting and so nerve wracking, but it was and was also course, the beginning of that. We didn't well that wasn't and imagine movie. It was the beginning of the
partnership that was going to wind. Up being imagine entertainment, don't go. It was really interesting that
you know there was a moment. I think I know RON thought he was going to get fired. He thought the studio is firing him and I think he felt like
I? I don't know if they were, they were it, but I think he felt like I was protecting him and that he wouldn't get fired and also Michael Keaton, definitely that he was getting fired because he was chewing gum in every scene and it got
in the studio. Yet this is all kind of notes anyway. So, but it was, it was a really fun event for a
I mean it was great. It was a really amazing journey because it was such an underdog, David and Goliath, type of experience to get that movie made and and and splashes even harder, even harder and
When we came through with those two experiences, I mean really that friendship and the partnership was galvanized by all of that and then I'll just
years later, we realized that we were both separately.
Very, very entrepreneurial gent with our own individual production companies,
and we just kind of merge them.
There might be a way to simplify focus, an be a lot more dynamic and look in a lot of ways through this excitement.
Now, as Brian was saying earlier, but broadening number of outlets and platforms and so forth, it's sort of feels like
another new moment of opportunity
fun in our executives. That imagine feel it an, and you know it's. You don't quite know where it's going, but you know we're.
We're back involved in Digital. We tried to get into that in ninety nine with pop com. We're always wanted to be in the digital world technology to earlier, and it wasn't there yet now we're back in
company it involves the company called new form and- and it's really fun day to
face with those digital content
creators and things things like
project and others I'm doing a Beatles documentary which is exciting and then they're still you know there.
Movies, if we get in the heart of the sea coming out and we just finished Inferno with Tom Hanks and an mean
now alright with Tom Cruise, an
the company is, is going going, gangbusters
of course tv is so exciting. Right now, oh yeah, I mean it's, you know
years ago
I used to hang out on the Newhart set as a friend of mine was,
show great show, and and- and I would have these conversations with these guys because I was such a comedy nerd I was just absorbing you know,
stay in a new hard and Dick Dick Martin. But Dick said one of the the most bummer
things to me, which I was like. So what is it? You know? You've achieved this thing, this like what is
feel like any goes? Well, you know it's
really only fun on the way up and then it just
my toes like he just seemed like
like it. Just wasn't the it's fun anymore, like you know what he was doing laughing and all that like that was the meteoric. But then now it's so it's very
comforting to me to hear you
excited. You know this after all, the stuff that you've done with
going. I mean you know whatever.
Neither of us are really constructed that way, I think, even on any I mean I think, we'd like challenges
and stories are challenges, their their little puzzles and they take they take all these different sort of sizes and shapes and forms like the second new form
which is. These are pieces that are three to five minutes, but television can be
two minutes now empires would ever late. That is, but it sure is
It's slightly longer content, because there is the way they are sponsored.
Sure, modern response, television, it's going to
we change a lot, but we, I think we feel like we're good at it, and we we like doing, and we like the partnerships. We like the
collaborations with whether you know, and it's it's been great for us to be able to
to be in the comedy world at an elite level and turn around and be able to work with the greatest dramatic. You know artists as well.
Or you know now, interfacing or doing research with scientists and so forth, which is you know, we've been doing that
for the last twenty years, sir, starting with the first movie that we did inspired by real events, which was a you know, APOLLO thirteen.
And over the years we've you know, we've we've been at both attracted to that.
Storytelling that genre and is it getting of.
NASA. Was that just a thing that you would always wanted to do or did the project spawn the relationship or was it the reverse project spawned the
and but we're executive working with his name, Michael Bostick, whose Father Jerry was a
controller, and so
brought us the story and said Jim levels about to publish this book. This is a pretty exciting chapter and people. It really forgotten about APOLLO thirteen, a vague you know I face.
Vaguely remembered it
and I said I I I will. I will cop to the fact that I said boy- I don't know it's kind of a
what do you think Brian, I'm not sure whether an audience is going to be into this look the right stuff as good as
movies you could make, and people didn't really show up
Brian. Read it and I gotta say said this is a great story, so thriller and just got it and we chased. It was really competitive.
To get the rights to it. We remember we were up in the middle of the night. I was only
those are on the West Coast and calling it went into one of those Hollywood bidding wars where every studio was bidding on it and
those are things that are sort of sometimes they're sort of
official momentum that generates it, but
it became one of these things that we had to like clothes in the middle of the night two o'clock in the morning, and you know get it all done, but that's the thing is is,
figuring out how to balance the creative process with
navigating the business process which navigating the business is, is literally like a death trap.
Creativity? It is almost you know, it's almost designed
Troy anything creative when things start getting into business affairs, mode and people and the business coming into you can do this. You can't do this sort of you know. I mean it. How do you navigate? How do you keep the creative vision hole while trying to get through all that process? Did we do,
Take rejection. Personally, I don't know if RON
but I don't take it personally
I just feel like I've had tons of it thrown on me. You know like,
the movie splash, probably five hundred projections. I mean rejection after rejection rejection, but then I just for some simple thing.
I watch that Steven Spielberg who's is a real, genuine artistic artist and prodigy. He may
closing encounters, the third kind he did raiders and the studio put a t end turn around
this is fucking ridiculous. I mean for me to start crying about someone not wanting to do. My next movie after splash should really been gigantically specified that this is just the game where, in
everyone is going to second guess the stuff. We really want to make and they're going to try to hire run for the stuff they want to make
he's going. There's he'll find the middle he'll find his balance and for myself
the the same thing: I've always flattered
want to meet with us, and,
for run movies, and you know I'm always able to get the best shot possible, but they still say no am I'm cool with it? I wish they didn't, but I'm cool that I just accept it like smog,
the business rolling back to two guys who grew up in the valley when the smog was like. You know completely scrapping it in yeah. It's ok to breathe right when you're landing in that gray clouds. Are you sure this is not it's probably fine? Who is live here, but wasn't fine right, guys, one more one more lap. So what about the smuggler? So, there's no way that we look back at the 1930s. You know when we're like those morons, where you know sleeping on it
fastest while they're waiting to go to work at the nail factory? You know now we're going back and they held their cellular phone,
to their faces. Are you serious and it's like so many of those things that I feel like so that's where science comes back in really
hopefully they'll figure this out and it's I, I guess it's okay, there is an.
The ball level of risk that we live with every day that I think, to sort of runs in the background. We'll look at the fast, it's a pretty fascinating time, because clearly there is it. You know this this. This revolution is have an seismic impact on people's psyches and
the way they live and where they think and and the globe is coming.
The other. On the one hand, on the other hand, you know in some way separating further because of the have have nots as related to technology, and so there are just
all kinds of dynamics that are that are in flux, and you know it ripple.
To the entertainment world. It certainly is.
Impacted the economy. It's fascinating to watch an. I think for a couple of people like us who
had some decades of work in and it's kind of came for us, I think it's sort of a perfect time, because it does present a new specific set of
of questions, and it's not about doing.
Something we did five years ago or ten years ago,
everything we learned about stories, that's relevant, but
What's exciting is what our audience.
And for now it's changing so quickly, there's
As Brian said talent has
the little more control now than they've had before and it's more about a direct relationship with their particular audience. That's
interesting, it's always been there to a degree, but but you know it's, as you said, the gate
and then in the middle men were a little more in in in the way of yeah I mean look. How well would never just do without you
it's like, we never find out Jon Stewart Jon Stewart. He created, he really made comedy central happen. Yeah I mean
it's individuals that are now defining the content yeah, because, ultimately people don't
necessarily care where they get their content. They just want good content, good content. Consumers were spoiled now because we can get it whenever we want. However, we want an there's
billion choices. There's an infant approaching infinite number of choices. You can dvr anything, you can get it on you to theirs, unlimited access to it and you can do it anytime. You have to.
That day, you do, and you know the numbers Numbers tv tv live plus three live plus seven, so it's
yeah. This wouldn't be anything without you. Keep telling him that, but this, but this idea of the way that you are
empire in the in in the relationship that you have the sponsors I mean this is that there
definitely a shift happening, because this this antiquated idea
way that television is measured. The metric is flawed
There is certainly a culture
penetration that exists. That is not represented by that one,
linear number of the Nielsen rating you know
you? You know when the conversations are more about something online. You know, wouldn't when there's an a general awareness of something beyond what that
one story will tell so you know how do you find how how how do people
start creating relationships with with sponsors that are sort of very old.
Hold, you know, there's still a lot of muscle running on the old system.
Convince them. No, no, that's not how people are consuming things anymore. You know, let's create
like a better ready, a holistic approach to viewing and cover all the platforms to deliver to sponsors well
it's running. Conversation and everybody's got the same couple of questions, and then
you know, and then you got a little group, that's kind of clinging to the old way, always an making an argument that it still holds up. But clearly
You know, there's an evolution happening, but this bizarre
about it. For me, is that
as a kid in the Andy Griffith show we had to do
goals for general foods.
Go on Youtube and watch old tv shows and see. You know all the characters. Turning to the camera, you know,
even like even at the beginning of the episode. This is before the Andy Griffith Show and doing it and doing a commercial about a product then launching into their show it used when the
Griffith, show sold it actually sold to general foods before it sold to CBS wow. So no odd way coming
kind of rotating back I'm. There wasn't like a
Taylor for Winston cigarettes good, for you need to grow up strong light up. Oh oh young, I look for Father Son Talk
I took almost folks again that was it just seemed like it was. Everything was fair game but yeah that dynamic of that that that seems
It's coming back. Why? Why? Wouldn't? Why wouldn't a sponsor you know in and essentially that's kind of what breakthrough is as well. Gee he came in and invested to make this thing and it's a it's about them, but not about them
and I think those are the
types of moves are the way that entertainment is that's where everything
going yeah for sure. Well, there's such a subtlety now with so many out of outlets, to gather gain information immediately that I mean this the authentic moment that people are able to detect immediately, and so you know,
with break. I think for GE feels like is they feel like they're in this space anyway? In other words, they are out there trying to solve problems on the planet and they feel, like I'm sure they feel
If the show is good, people will feel that were part of it sure 'cause it.
Say it doesn't really say it, but they'll feel it, and so it's a lot of these things.
Actionable, I mean, if you've seen the tech business. It's really that isn't it yeah I mean the guide travel.
Over by the way why I know he grew up
Granada Hills went to Granada Hills. High school I went to chats worth round was in Burbank, so it's all possible see, look glorious, downtown Burbank. Absolutely now I feel
I have a memory of you being on Saturday. Night live and Eddie Murphy
chastising you and calling you Opie Cunningham and you get- which I thought was such a
only way for you to publish
You say I know you think of me as these characters, but fuck you I'm not these characters well,
You can improvise that and it was it was. You know that was certainly the the the overall sort of spirit of that of that appearance on the show. But then he took
fucking razor it's hard trying to shave my mustache off on tv lol, so if with a friend of mine, want to shave rounds
these guys didn't like my mustache right. I don't know I'm just now. Just trying to any world that RON Howard is an american icon is like I want to see
both ways with and without
and he wanted to see both ways. So Jesus
keep going on your track. No, I just think I just like the idea of Andy Warhols shaving off your moustache is an art project is an interesting idea like you've done it. I should have done it. Brian is Brian floated it out to me, and I just kind of I don't know I wasn't paying attention, but you know what, though I think
does underscore run. It only would have meant about a hundred million dollars of our that's a fish story, but it is, but I think it was kind
underscore that idea of keeping your head down and continuing to do what you want in the face of people.
To put you in a box will know you're this guy. How can you do this? Well,
can I this is what I want to do. Yeah and, and- and you know what was it that kept you going at that time, was it
your passion. Was it the fact that you, you know you had a stable relationship for like what what types of things kept you going well well all of it, but as I
came a director. I knew that I'd spent twenty years. I'd buy entire childhood, you know, but basically being on one television series or another from from from nineteen
one thousand six hundred and nineteen. Eighty I was on a tv show whether it was the Andy Griffith Show, or the Smith family, with Henry Fonda or then happy days for
and a half out of those twenty years, and I love movies
stories. I love all kinds of stories and I did not want to be branded. I intend
only did not want to be the comedy guy or the fantasy guy and, and so that was just
my ambition and I and I followed that path by continually going back to the list of my favorite movie,
and I would sort of say which, which you know I want
movies that could be on that list? I want to
stories that could be on that list and because of my taste, it's a very eclectic list.
An so you know I recognize that it's
confusing for somebody to fall you to sort of follow my filmography, because, let's say you really
The Grinch are will or something is, is blast in a great fantasy movie years is something. How are you going to feel about how you going to feel about Frost Nixon?
Is that what you want to see me doing, or would you rather, I was doing more willows
and vice versa, but you have to, but you know it's funny in in as much as people want to put you in a box. If you allow yourself we put in a box, then you burn out faster because people get it, but you have you, would you have to make those wild
This I'd been in those boxes, and I just didn't want to live that way and and and I'm also not naturally a very adventurous.
But I began to realize that each of these movies could be kind of amazing life. It adventure, and so I just kept pushing it.
Just kept embracing it. I didn't want to be like pretend:
really shocking about it.
You know, but I, but I I wanted to I wanted to evolve, and I wanted to broaden my
my ability as a collaborator. So I wanted the elite writers to want to work with
I of the lead actors to believe that that that
flourish under my direction and in my partnership with Brian and similar,
similar ambitions, you know and so we're very different guys. We approach things from slightly different perspectives
but the thing that we always have in common is just kind of goal to find something that can cut through. You know find
sing fresh frying, something that has a point of view. Tell it well, you know,
and it doesn't always work, but we've got a good batting average as a reason,
What do you like on a on a set? What is your when you know when the first day of shooting-
I received a lot of work getting up to that first issue, but what's your
It's when you know when all the actors there, the crew, was there you're ready to start. I mean like a is it do you feel? Do you feel
like. Okay, this has to be controlled environment. Or do you let things breed the way that they're gonna happen like wow? How? How are you on the? I think that he's he's done so much preparation that when
gets to the set he's amazingly comfortable and relaxed and confident all of those things, and in fact he likes little distractions like
Brian talk about something other than movie. Let's talk about whether anything other
on the other. You know, let's hear about this tv show, whatever he's lakes, the he's so confident, and it's like it's for it's it really,
you should go on as one of his sets
he will talk to? You
I mean and really connect with you like, be really focused. Then
minutes. Action is like uh.
Other superpower of level of focus. It's really fun to watch actually yeah. I mean because
when you have a collection-
and I mean the list. You know, as I can
we uh slobber, all over you
I think it's also not only one of the best comedies, but also one of the most human.
Touching film that you know I as a kid I watched
Movie thirty times. You know I got
I didn't buy the Rick Moranis in the Steve Martin of it and but then this the story of it. It's such a beautiful story, never once a wonderful in it. So how do you, when you have that many brilliant people
in one area. What is it that you do to make them come from because
obviously they're all experienced
need to see you as their captain. So how do you establish that with well by then I'm Chris? I was dancing Mandel, who also did night shift right last Gung HO about Luganda yeah in the lobby, went down again and again, and
and so they were right at the at the height of their their powers, and we
also related to that story. We already contributed to that to to that Brian. We had these great pitch
during the writers strike now, there's a statue of limitations, but it was during the right
where nobody was allowed to write- and we just got a bundle it with the bevel, the Bel AIR Hotel in kinda hashed it out in a guest orders against orders, but
fewer defiant to so? But by that time I alright? I will
I was very confident, and I an one of the things that I love to do is connect with the cast and
stand the way they work. And it's all it's not exactly perfect process, but I can, I can you know,
I can see what Keanu Reeves it what's, making him tick and and how he's connecting with his character
Steve, Martin, Rick Moranis to a you know: different animals all die in weeks to so ours, gravy yeah, so so that that's fun for me to work with the group like that and help create an environment where they can flourish, and I suppose that's what I've I've I I sort of feel that I'm
I'm kind of the editor in chief of the movie sure I'm trying to I'm trying to lead these people
to do their best work, whether that's the cinematographer in the production designer
is it composer, or certainly the the actors, but when I was younger, really young, two thousand three hundred and twenty four I felt like I
had to control everything and I had to be decisive, and I had already have the answers and I had to be tough and my work.
A lot better. When I learned how to be more collaborate,
and now I really flourish in in. In that I love it. I love the excitement of a of of a of a of a problem
salt and I don't don't have to be my solution. I mean I'm even more excited when it's not like a gift. I didn't have to think of that yeah. Somebody else came over the bridge
an idea, yeah 'cause. I think it's one thing to be able to get an amazing performance out of you know
a newer actor, but when you can take
one who's been. You know, like that's been their profession for two thousand and thirty years, and you guys can
each other I mean that to me seems like those are. Those are the moments that gems. Well, let's talk about pairing for one. Second, on that count, so you got Keanu Reeves,
young man eager hadn't really done a is before Bill and TED's at anchor bill and TED's. Maybe his hadn't been seen yet, but he really
with this. You audition for it. He wanted. He was really great to work with lot, but but um not a comic
now an and had a lot of comedy moments, an very authentic
in attacking it with a lot of energy and I really enjoyed it, but it was. It was an even and you had to capture it in a way. It was a little bit loose it and then all of a sudden it was kind of fantastic. I loved then
I Jason Robards and out one of the
first days of shooting, with Jason Robard's
doing this scene with Tom Hulce, where he supposed to be tragic. It's kind of it's one of the most dramatic moments where he realizes his son is just a disappointment and that's the way. It goes an
It wasn't very emotional in his reaction,
went to him and I and I didn't know how to talk to me- to senior actor great Actor award winner in every category to Amy's Tony's
oscars- and I said you know-
here we need. This is a moment where your son is he's
you down, I sort of talking into the moment he just
got in touch me and he said RON. Do you want to
your face,
I thought. Okay, now here's the veteran with the young now the next take you can make a big said, stays and then I'll have to come in and say maybe somewhere in the middle and and
we're old cameras- and it was the take that's in the movie that was so elegant and so true and I realized here's somebody who is reached
we have such access to those gears has such access to himself that
can be as simple as Satyr face and that's not going to come.
Has brought in fake, but it's going to be entirely organic, and so this journey
working with actors is always really fascinating, but I learned a lot on that. Well, I think you know one of the things that I that I think that I've noticed is that you are masterful at sort of breaking into the humanity of something you know what what what was the human experience like for APOLLO thirteen, what is the
human experience for that family and parenthood, or even cocoon? What is the? What is the human experience for that of the human experience of running
You know a a call girl ring out of the out of the board. But but you know the moment: where can
Reeves, where you see him for a second, you know where he talks.
About how you need a license for everything, but to be a dad and his dad woke him up by clicking cigarettes,
such an amazing moment that you just oh whoa. You know this character
That was a time when that kind of like well on this server guide. Isn't that burnout? It was that was being done
a lot, and that was the first time that I've ever seen someone humanize that type of a character. What was it was? It was great writing. What you're talking about is that that perspective is
another thing that Brian and I share just in terms of sensibility, whether it's the subjects whatever subject, it's sort of. What's it like to be there, what's it like to be that person Brian talks about it, a lot in terms of like
power, but- and I look at it more like the test, the way the characters being tested but
shot is kind of the same? It's it is to try to give the audience a sense
of what the world is like and what it's like from this character's perspective and is in debt into you, know to experience the the story. Did you was there ever and you you? You
I assume you met. Probably all of your heroes. Were you able to be the ones that were alive? Did you
have dig around for advice, or was there like what what were some of the most valuable advice you got from people that you respected? It's often advice for me
great question John Wayne, John Wayne John Wayne, told me that John Ford always said. Take the take the emotional moment. Up to a
eighty percent, and let the audience finish it that's good. I mean never let it go all the way. A hundred percent to the emotional conclusion always hold back something to let the audience.
That is a layered John Wayne told me that
on Ford told me yeah going to be later yeah, and did you really understand what he meant at the time yeah? I did, and I haven't always followed- sometimes I regret it, but with comedy it's very hard and because you will be
how many is a relationship to your audience, and sometimes they will tell you what's two
What's not too much, you know, and what do you think the comedy doesn't get as much respect from
I just feel like, should more comedies be operated for us, as a company is really hard like. Why? Why? Why? Because they don't
that, may mean, do I mean it was sort of like would cause. This is at the card of the horse, but up with
doesn't get respect because it doesn't get awards. Now
I remember, Unsplash of his was nominated for as to be
as part of the writers, though, and
First, we didn't win like a place in the heart win.
Places in the heart Robert Benton, I mean it just seems so obvious
amazing, even get a nomination on a comedy, show
that was sort of so why doesn't comedy? I don't I guess it. I guess it's just
the
delivery system itself is not
feel is serious, like people like serious stuff feels like gaping comedy: authentic has its roots more an interval garrity in the center, not like dirty but just boulder this level, the common people like vaudeville, I have a. I have a thought now that that I hadn't ever said or thought about, even but here's the thing people.
Consumers, people to watch movies first of all,
like to believe that they themselves are good people. So
We always score movies higher if they can
to a person. That is doing a good thing sure. So, when APOLLO,
gain. Even it was like five hours long. It got really high rating because everybody wants to think of themselves as being having the power of the strength. The ability to selfless is to be an astronaut, of course,
get really high, but some
comedian like Jim Carrey catching his butt catching up
gunfire, no matter how funny that was, it's just not going to be
he is just not gonna reach goals to exactly so. I think I think it's about that
I think it's about self imaging yeah, whatever
is: is there anything that you've that you've seen as a through line for I think I asked you this
because you've talked to somebody, but you work with everyone.
There are through line that you think that defines what what what
the person- yes, what they do, how they, how they maintain. I landed on this early because early there's a period in my life from like around not at all
seventeen to twenty five, where I
working with Henry Fonda Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne
did Betty Davis and we've
suddenly dawned on me that very different personalities, but here's what they had in common they're, all people in their 70s and all they want to do- is fulfill the possibility
I have such respect for the medium. They have their willing to just kill themselves at that point in their lives,
they don't know any other way, but to work the shit out of it and understand it
Not let not miss the opportunity that each of these scenes offers up and it's working
it over and over and over again it just comes back to work ethic. How much do you care? How much do you care about what it says, how much '
care about how the with the way the audience responds. How much you care about you.
To be a look yourself in the mirror and say I worked hard today I did I lived up to
possibility of the scene at the moment and the medium. And so what do you
was it as the captain of the ship as a director. Obviously not. I don't know I didn't with some of
Betty Davis or even with I don't even know what
when you, when you have, when you have to make your calls that day and you have to get your shots done. If someone is ever
the like all combined. Can you just please
on this, like how do you? How do you get around when? Well, I'm not the boys vice principal, my
is not make everybody get along and feel good. My job is to get the scene to
and so whatever you know what
whatever that entails, it could be cajoling
could be confronting, it could be sympathizing, it could be looking the other way, but at the end of the day, it's just if the logic of the
objectives of the scenes, always always trumps, everything sure. So you talk to an artist. However, they might feel about the objectives of the scene
and you're going to, you got a good chance of getting there.
You know. When you have a group of actors
we like having a group of kids and if they feel like they can walk all over you, they probably will and and a lot of cases. So how do you set the two
like, hey, were nice, but don't fuck with us, because we have
if it's done well, first of all,
Directors themselves have to create these imaginary walls or lines that were the
It doesn't jump over the wall and create beam
miss you know where they or they don't disrespect you so
on is very good at because of well certain.
Because of his track record. Artists will respect them. They were smart, they respect his choices, but they do really respect and they can feel
work ethic, so they don't want to just do anything that could disrespect him. So therefore they don't jump the wall.
Now there are some directores that you've read about in history where they
the wall, but for the most part I mean
That definitely doesn't happen with run. The other thing is, and Tom Hanks likes to
is run like
'cause you never ever see RON Howard Angry, except when people.
Waste or lazy and waste time. If they're lazy and waste time that's dumb and things got damn
you know to watch? I know I have my group of friends might be actor comedian, friends and it's been fun to sort of
watch all of us kind of make our own
roads and all you got to do that. Oh that's, really, amazing others, you know, but when you look back oh Tom Hanks
Michael Keaton, and all these all these amazing people, you guys really all got
each other. It was the second part of your
but in a sense you didn't have to start over. So you guys have all really started together and you know so
experience like looking around and seeing your friends and going
like. I was on to something and we're all still doing this and that's amazing. It really
yeah, it's really rewarding. I mean we yeah, we Tom Hanks. Of course, we've done anything. I've worked with him five or six.
So. I was so glad to see Keaton come roaring back and everybody offers mantle every my credit man yeah and I haven't seen the movie- that's coming out, yeah he's on fire it's a great day. It is great to see our friends
Do you know that we for part of their early part of their career Brian, especially with Eddie Murphy, done a lot of great movies and and and he was a big star yeah, but you know I just kind of skip yeah
seven, seven movies with him in a television show. I just I read a
fantastic article with him, because it seems like he's
nosing around to start doing stuff again, and we made this really interesting point where he said: yeah
I'll, just assume that if you're taking some time,
often relaxing- that you've hit the skids. I I'm just you know. I've written
four things you know- and it seems like he might dabble in
up again or something, but
I don't know so he and I have something we're going to figure out together. Eddie and I okay it'll, be really amazing. I think he's I've
so when I talk about comedy not being recognized by his performance in both
number to me is one of the best comedy.
Performances of all time. What an amazing yeah he's the most under way
there's some people who play comedy and you're like oh, they know they're doing comedy. He is
Much of here disappears into those characters
that is a genius. Let me tell you going back to when I did Saturday night live and he was on it and
He was already
he was super hot. I mean we sort of tried to get him interested in night shift and he wasn't he wasn't at eighteen or nineteen. He was very hot. Everybody knew that. But
I came on to do the show he couldn't be there for the first couple of days. He was doing some press on one of you know
forty eight hours or something he came in first day. He was kind of low key
three through kind of mumbled. It wasn't much going on and I witnessed this guy click in a way.
By show night, he was
rewriting on his feet. It was perfect
from all the line he save me save me and then, and then and then I kind of came back with an okay line. It kind of gave me a wink. This nineteen
the guy was on another plane on a level
and- and you know, and he he he can do,
Is there anything he said he decides he wants to do. Are there who is there anyone out there that you still
I really want to work with that guy or this or this lady or this or who who's out. There are so many I mean there's just there's you know, there's so much, there's so much talent,
You know I mean I think I think fat. You know fast
Jerry J, John Hall, suddenly turning you know, he's just doing one interesting performance after another. I've always wanted to connect with Meryl Streep yeah. I know, but
But there are you know there.
Are just so many people Bryce. My daughter had such a great experience with Chris Pratt. You know I really like to try to find something to do with Chris and and my daughter, one of these yeah, of course,
The other thing too, is that how do you 'cause, I think sometimes people go wider.
It- will make a thing. Why? Don't you just make a thing? We think? Well, it's not really that easy. You know like there are a lot of steps like how many
do you guys have for everything.
People have seen are their ten in that people haven't seen yeah more than ten yeah there's more the yeah I will. We have a lot of television, shows
and more to come that are going to be out next season. There's a lot. We have a lot we were interested in.
Many things, you know and your son Seth Gabel,
son in law, son in law set, cable is on and he spent on Salem Salem he's great on sale, he's a really good actor.
I mean. It's you know, you're, so surrounded by creativity.
At all times- and you know I I hope you- I hope you feel
GM, the you know this.
The shadow of that outside of just exactly what you're making
just all the people around you that are sort of caught up in it too. Thanks
That feels good and again there is something
at this moment. I don't know if it's 'cause, all my kids are grown. I don't, I think it's uh,
it's a combination of where our company is our interests. What the business is offering
and sort of sort of our moment by moment kind
in terms of how available I can be to these various projects. But I feel
What you're saying more now than then then
guy ever have, because I'm just can be a
slightly. Less myopic
a little more at the at the big
of all the different things that were getting to work on because it's you know, I think it would probably melt your brain if you really thought about it, but when you, when you, when you think about all the people that you probably put up here in your life, these to you know like big directors, you look up to me. I mean you guys, you've done more
then you think of the great directors, though you know like maybe
for movies, big movies and a but to see how much television and how many? How many films? I mean your your I m d,
pages like oh, that one, oh fuck, that one that one too yeah I mean that is uh. Maybe it's best that you don't think about.
Too much. I think it's best, but you know, even if even if you were to even if you would just made arrested development, even if you just made arrests element, I mean that the
move that show was so heartbreaking for me
Susan so happy to see it come back to Netflix
What was it that made you feel like? I need to be direct.
Are. I need to be that directly involved. Well, I was a big papa
of the of of a narrator and and
and and sort of this style that I thought was kind of the represented. What was then a kind of
grammar and tv which which,
which was you, know, sort of faux documentary sort of look, a kind of sociological look at this up family and Mitch really embraced it
Mitch had the family, and I had this sort of style in mind of how we might go out, and I thought we could be. You know they,
Klay, we could be more dense and I used to reference the Simpsons a little bit as well. You know, and and so they we tried that narration and I did it as a temp and then,
We tested it. An Mitch called me up, I was shooting the missing. You know up in Santa FE freezing somewhere Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones on horses somewhere an
which called and said that I will RON. I got good news and bad,
who is for you,
an I said. Well, what is he said? The good news is, it looks
gonna to get on the air and the show tested great, and I said more than what's the bad news, the bad news for you
that the highest testing element was the narrator. So we were, you got to do it and I said okay, so I I so I and I and I'm so, I'm so glad it worked out that way. Although I keep getting me, I get twenty five one.
Dollars a week and I've never gotten a raise, and I'm going to anyone ever has the experience to hang out with Jim Valley and Mitch Hurwitz together Valley.
Legitimately one of the funny one of the funniest people you can hang out with I'm glad you mentioned Jim amazing unsung hero and they're at it,
you know I mean they're they're, trying to tackle new episodes in new, and so and it's really it's just that the cast has become such a group of all stars. That's how
didn't know if you can get into our sound, but and by the way, just you mentioned the the mint working with Tommy Lee Jones. He seems like the
kind of guy that you could just walk up through every day and just pinches cheese and go ahead and no Tommy Lee Jones. Who look at this sad face yourself. If you didn't care about
teeth in your mouth or the more your nose. I think you could do that what a great guy amazing guy, because he can turn around again have he can have that it. You know he's highly educated, guy sure and, and so
could be having this area dight conversation with an academic who might be visiting in that day.
Turn around and without
in down in any way shape or form have the the most connected conversation with the wranglers
about you know what they're doing with the horses that day and how they're managing it and she's an amazing intellect. So how do you tackle?
personality that's a very strong personality and get them to do what you need. We don't have to tackle him
as you, your your you're, applying his energy and his tell
an once. He sees that there's that kind of give and take. You know director actors want to be directed
I want to be guided, they want to be supported.
Really want to be bossed around and you can
who is Nate, navigating negotiate any creative differences with people
who are in that elite caliber. You know that a leisure caliber I found I and I, and so you know you you might find.
Prickly and annoying, or you know, in some sort of reaction that they're having at some point but not creatively- and this is the
I always only of sorry kill him. I think in your whole career. He you've only fired one actor right, the guys you
Even if I I mean my whole career, 'cause, there's a little firing before you and I partnered up, maybe three well,
I think in the end that tracker that's not bad. I get, I look, people respect the process or they wouldn't be at that level sure and they also get they know how to get through
v e and they want and they they want to deliver, they want to score and that's what I want. So we have a hell of a lot in common going in and it may not say things
the same way. We do not approach
the same way again, I don't count myself as the one who has to guide etiquette
yeah on the SAT as long as long as the breakdown
ticket is not limiting what we can achieve that day and so that kinda. Let let last question here is: if what for you is the most difficult genre to tackle.
Or is it all the same comedy
comedies are missing, binary you're, either hilarious and and people are laughing or it big disappointment. I mean how do you even
so when you're in the edit.
I've seen the same jokes fifty times and
even know what words are anymore like? How do you? How are you able to
so you have to be with audiences. You have to keep showing it to audiences 'cause when you're living through other people.
No just the laughter that you here, which is completely visceral
living it through
someone else's psyche? Sike, that's that makes it a fresh perspective for you,
but I did have one 'cause. I also produced a lot of comedies all these Eddie Murphy Nutty
officers and life
as you said, liar liar then yeah with Jim Carrey.
You know the
one one moment know, and we did a lot of successful companies together around I and- and I don't
for these moments go God go really. That's really funny. You super funny, you know was a moment in a
well I'll, say in the nutty professor one with Eddie Murphy that I was, I didn't think anything
where was just pure like into the bloodstream like connection, and I thought well, then that's when it's really funny
when there's no thought or even the even the thought after thought, of
now that was funny. It's just like
watching you on some really deep level. That's that immediate
The only thing that I would say is
there are moments that make
drama is so much about the story and in the casting an creating the environment where the moments can come to life.
There are moments where actor
really baring their souls and
and and that's uncomfortable to be around 'cause you're. It's it's thrilling and
often really gratifying. Afterward and sometimes the actor feels it too. But being
it kind of has to cokes and guide
create the environment for this thing that we all know has to happen, but
also all know it's it's painful. It's not easy
Those are moments. I I don't wake up in the morning thrilled that we're tackling that seems like a lot of emotional level. Your base, walking in going take your pants off and spread your legs now like animals, the most and I think most people would rather do that than have to bear. You know I I
always ask actors like how do you mop off the emotional residue, because your brain doesn't entirely know the difference. You still have to feel those things. Well, I tell you right, you know, like Russell Crowe on beautiful mind, who's, a really an artist, but he put himself through some.
Much to understand what was the journey that that guy was on and to live in those moments that you know. I don't know if
at the night, the whole movie- I I mean I am he he was. It was just all the elect the the creative charge. Electricity
was just kind of amazing. Any wasn't showy about. He didn't talk a lot about it, but just the range of performance options that he was creating was
yeah, you know amazing, and then you have a guy like Tom Hanks, who
Joe Dimaggio in center field just makes it look like nothing's happening, and then you you're in that you're in the editing room and- and you know, you're shooting on the dance, and I was good at all. I was funny how that was good. I was just about what it was supposed to be you get there, you put it all together into Tom, Hanks performance and, and you
you kind of don't know how it even happened,
eighty percent well, thank you. So much
they're so good, it's just fun. Oh my god. Yes, he run we in the podcast by telling people to enjoy their burrito. It's sort of our trip, I feel like your voice, would be tackled.
Better than I could you just tell people enjoy? Your burrito
enjoy your burrito perfect. Thank you now, leaving Nerdist Duck
enjoy, your burrito,
Transcript generated on 2019-11-05.