The people you speak with are so engaging, and so sincere. How well did you know them before you started shooting?
Clive Oppenheimer: I only knew Simon Schaffer, who is a historian of science in Cambridge.


The people you speak with are so engaging, and so sincere. How well did you know them before you started shooting?
Clive Oppenheimer: I only knew Simon Schaffer, who is a historian of science in Cambridge.

Were you the one who conceived of this tour in the first place?
Tim Seelig: We were coming out of the 40th anniversary of the gay men’s chorus. San Fransisco Gay Men’s Chorus birthed the movement.

What made the story right for a modern day interpretation?
Nicholls: I think if you pitch the story – an independent woman has to choose between three different contrasting men while maintaining her independence – I think that would feel very modern and contemporary.

How did you find the book this film is based on, and what attracted you to adapting it?
Thomas Bezucha: The novel “Let Him Go” was written by Larry Watson, who I’ve been a fan of for well over twenty years.

What drew you to the role of Gladys?
Anjana Vasan: My agent sent me the script and said Thea Sharrock wants to meet you, have a read, and Olivia Colman’s attached and before she could finish saying Olivia Colman I went, yes!

Can you talk about the germination of this idea, for you?
Jeymes Samuel: The film has been in my head since I was a kid.

Around 2004, you were doing research about curry during Queen Victoria’s time, and it seems you ended up finding much more than expected?
Shrabani Basu: I knew that that Queen Victoria loved her curry and she had so many Indian servants that cooked for her.

Can you describe your approach to adapting the novel, and to making the story so cinematic?
Sarah Polley: I think I always thought of the story as somewhat of an epic.

Can you describe the origins of the story as it is portrayed on the screen?
Regina King: I would say that none of us were there that night.

What inspired you with this film and why did you set it in the world of 1950’s London fashion?
Paul Thomas Anderson: I had a thin story for a romance about a man, woman, and maybe third party.

You were shooting in environmental conditions that were extremely difficult. Can you talk about those challenges?
Greengrass: The first day we shot in the lifeboat was really intense.

Can you talk about genesis of the film?
Kazuo Ishiguro: I can tell you about the origin story of this film, before the real work started. I can take credit for having the original idea, because it was kind of an obsession of mine for years. It was partly because I was a Japanese kid growing up in England and I was always very interested in any Japanese film that was shown in England.

What was your experience working with the author of the memoir on which the film is based?
Oliver Hermanus: The first thing I did, when I was certain I would tackle it, was I met with [author Andre Carl van der Merwe] a few times.

The film is visually stunning. Can you talk about your approach, and how you worked with your collaborators?
Nicole Riegel: I knew the color palette I wanted to use before I began collaborating with my production designer and cinematographer.

This film has a different editorial pace and perspective than you usually portray in your films. Would you be able to talk about your approach with these older men in the film?
Martin Scorsese: This is not a film we could have created or made as effectively if we had tried to make it ten years ago.