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Acadamy Award-winning director dishes on innovative new project with daughter and the filmmaking process
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-- nice to have you here I'll thank you thank you -- to be here.
Okay this new movie when you find me what's so intriguing about it not just the -- -- -- plot line a story it's how this movie was.
Created so.
I don't let's create at least a little bit but tell the viewers.
Well if it began.
As a as a concept from -- a thing called project imagination and and really -- a it was a contest of who it was related reach out to.
Photographers consumers.
And re inspire them to participate in something and so the idea was for me to sort of supervises.
Contest.
Break break this narrative into eight different categories like setting and theme and character and so forth and have people sending photographs.
They would be evaluated eventually I would select one per category and then would build a short film around it.
And when I say we -- -- including a -- -- -- no but my daughter.
Bright Howard who.
Who was gonna direct the film.
So it was just fantastic.
Creative experiment and exercise and then and also -- -- being is that.
-- in this great opportunity for bright tonight to work together and and she did a fantastic job with the film.
An out of this experiment.
Not only is that -- she made.
You know very visual you really kind of moved outside the box in unexpected ways.
But she also found a way make it very personal film.
Out of it as well so I think she she did what.
You know terrific work and also that the I think -- -- and people are pleasantly surprised by how well the experiment actually worked terms of using.
Folks -- make photographs actually inspire an area inspire real story with a beginning and one man.
Is the new generation.
Possibly.
Where moviemaking.
And have been interactive with the viewers and that fans.
And in and it could this be serve almost a new genre almost or sisters don't.
One shot it woody thanks.
Underwriting is a fantastic creative exercise and I would think that you know that film schools should should should look at this as far as.
As using it as a jumping off place for you know movies that you were you're gonna charge admission four and try to build big entertainment's around -- I don't know about that.
But on a sequence by sequence basis it's just another reminder.
That.
That creativity comes from a lot of different places and also.
Through technology.
There's just a growing sophistication.
In this sort of -- a kind of a large.
Aesthetic and and it's really interesting to see the photographs that people.
Submitted and they were truly inspiring so I think I -- interesting idea is.
Can come from a lot of places and I also think that people are.
Far more creative and they probably give themselves credit for I hope if nothing else that the that the contest in the project kind of underscores.
What's the distribution working people see it -- how can this.
Well we're we're we're having -- a premiere in New York -- gonna screen and again that's tomorrow this premier.
And it's gonna show up in a few select theaters.
Then it's gonna go online in December for a short period of time in and I think they're going to see what the future of the film mom might might hold after that.
And so I think I think that online window in December is going to be the best thing to look for.
I'm so curious and doesn't not a full length what's about twenty minutes a short films -- -- -- this 23 minutes yes but it's long enough to -- to really be a complete story.
And and it takes a lot of visual a lot of twists and turns and I think the people who submitted the photographs and had a -- selected.
Are going to be very pleased tomorrow night when they actually see the movie for the first time because they're -- they're gonna recognize.
-- work their idea is and the way they influenced the story -- him through some very.
Interest being.
Kind of cool way.
I I don't I mean I have absolute faith that he put him in Lovett because of your history your creativity your long track reckon I'm sure your daughter in the Ryder.
But I also like look at things from an economic viewpoint of these blockbuster movies costing millions and millions.
And -- the economy sort of have pinching everybody assumed Hollywood's -- I'm curious even even the cost of this compared to -- some of the other things any estimate of how much discussed.
Well I I never give quote some -- but this is this was you know much much closer to that this is very Indy will will will allow will put it that way and I think Chad.
Six days of shooting.
So you know there's nothing epic about it but it was professional people were paid and and and chair great a great crew to work with.
But you know to your point.
The one of the great things that technology is offering and a and and to be honest one of the reasons I wanna get involved is because.
You know Canon is really making this possible and I'm -- you know sort around -- Equipment most of my life but.
More recently in the last two years -- become more more pivotal in independent filmmakers actually being able to go out.
And make films that can compete really visually with -- anyone.
And that and sort of you know it's the software on the post production side is making it.
It's allowing.
Independent filmmakers to be unbelievably ambitious in a way that they couldn't just really a few years ago.
Leaving the -- cameras a single -- -- refund reflects cameras now shoot video so many of them and it's not -- not cost -- -- people can pick them up I mean it's extraordinary I have what it used to cost to shoot -- movie if you want to use this this equipment you can do something creative went much cheaper cameras -- much imminent -- they're good cameras but that -- deeper.
Well and get a great look and -- you know on -- he choose the right look for your story and and I don't know -- what the percentage was but you know I heard that.
You know -- know maybe 20% of the movies that were at Sundance last year.
We're actually shot on Canon and Canon five -- which is a still photo -- you know a still camera that.
If people have been using the video on and intent for great results and -- and is continuing to be more more ambitious.
About that they've just come out with a professional camera that's really exciting in fact price -- film.
-- -- With with that with this this latest iteration of -- moving into professional filmmaking.
But so -- the Hatfield McCoy some and I kind person and so and I assume that I seven the end that the beer -- prisoner nightcap but I know that both did great one last question got a new movie coming on is soon formula -- Formula One moving.
Well I'm getting reissued a movie called rush.
Which I won't even start -- next year come out probably about a year from now.
And it's it's -- takes place in 1976 there was a famous if your Formula One fan of the famous rivalry that your between James Hunt and -- loud.
Peter Morgan who wrote the queen and FROST/NIXON which -- Which I directed has found another great a couple of characters to build a drama around but were also you know is expecting to get.
Fantastic Formula One race action out of it as well meanwhile imagine films.
You know my partner -- -- now.
Producing the Oscars that just happened this last week.
We have two films in the theaters right now.
Tower heist and.
When you when you the script and it looked to pick an actor can you do know exactly you know right away when -- a perfect actor that's that having been an actor -- -- -- casting process to be the most agonizing and every once in -- sure you read a role do you think about an actor or new and it's is just an absolute consensus.
And you -- in your own mind and heart that you know this this man or woman has had -- -- for his role that's all too rare and more often there's is agonizing process because.
It really is vitally important you can work on your story you prepare -- you -- it.
You do all of that but.
You know.
-- acting.
Is the one way to really reach.
An audience to create that human connection and when -- that when something cast perfectly.
It makes all the difference in the world and so it's it's it's tricky and then to get that.
The chemistry so the short answer is no you don't always known in fact it's one of the one of the periods of the filmmaking process right toss and turn the most is trying to go through that.
They're building building the -- I would imagine that there be a bit risk is that you read a script -- telling -- also is perfect for that you have -- for -- -- out.
This he had seven your mind -- -- I guess we sent typecast least you know the the viewers do of the fans just are -- people.
Well sometimes it's that's the question -- you on a plane the type -- being -- you -- surprised people.
But use the word perfect and we all use it and the fact of the matter is the process is so utterly imperfect.
That maybe that's what's exciting about it it's always its own kind of high wire act and -- -- -- a lot of films I've spent my entire life around it and you can never be.
Certain.
How audiences are gonna respond to a film how critics are -- to respond to a film with them with the movies even gonna.
Say and and and so it's you know it's it's it's it's always it's endlessly fascinating.
For that reason I also love it because you get to explore so much.
I mean -- you had a non delving into Formula One you know with -- of the Apollo thirteen it's it's all about that.
-- the space program and and -- if you're doing a fantasy like splash.
Or willow or how the grinch stole Christmas you're also unleashing -- that part of Europe you're you're -- creativity your imagination and you're working with others.
That inspire that and it's.
You know it's -- it's it's a great it's a great way of life from I'm honestly really thrilled I am very proud of bright she's a fantastic accomplished actress she wants to keep acting.
But I must say I'm I'm pleased that -- interest in getting behind the camera -- I think I think you final -- A lot of joy there and I think she can -- come up with some stories that.
There -- will all be happy to see.
Let me describe your -- in your own career and that -- in an act as little bit like you know we're lucky in our business we get to meet all sorts of people travel all around the world see.
-- isn't even Leo music camera to try to tell a story when -- differently we're trying to you know make it straight -- but you know it's it's much the same sort of exploration.
And exciting part the good part about my business.
I've always felt that you know and and when I when I was in high school course I've been -- child actor and you know starting with the Andy Griffith Show and things like that and but even even at when I was in film school before happy days started and I thought well on -- be able to make this transition I'd like to be a filmmaker.
If it doesn't work out what -- what else what I do and I was wrestling with two other areas one was BN high school basketball coach because I thought that would be fun.
But the other really was journalism and I I've long felt that.
It's sort of it's I'm very grateful for the kinds the range of experiences that I get -- films.
But -- always felt that.
You know a journalist puts in his or her years doing that and it's you know it's it's a rich it's a rich life experience because.
You know everything year exposed to everything if you you must consider and think about understand.
And in try to share with people you know it's it's I think we're lucky.
But -- -- sick of the opinion is but -- -- of the same age and I tell you that when I was a kid.
Tuesday night's watching Andy Griffith there was nothing better positive that my -- -- was -- for another week which I hate it would just.
In -- but -- got a lot.
I loved Andy Griffith and dad loved watching you and that your big part of my childhood and as I've grown older I've watched -- -- stuff the thank you thank you very much glad I was able provide a little a little blocking to get you out of the piano lessons.
There have been -- could stand that couldn't stand -- any -- am I helping combat when -- -- movie comes up remnants of the Formula One we'll be be fun and I'm sure -- -- the watch.
It's fascinating and there's going to be -- there's going to be a race in Austin in November.
And you know it's where if everything goes perfectly for us and and and and we're ready we'll will be probably ready -- into the movie then and be -- part of that.
I well when you find is the new one with your daughter and it was another writer and ability forcing that to you that thing and thank you write about thank.
