The scope of the film is massive. How did you approach this subject?
I should say that I’m kind of obsessed with hidden histories and forgotten biographies.
Features: Q&A
March 7, 2014
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Q&A with Wes Anderson, Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori
by The National Board of Review
Talk about the inspiration for this piece.
Anderson: There’s this writer Stefan Zweig, who I had never heard of up until six or seven years ago. I read “Beware of Pity” – which I loved – and I thought about trying to adapt this book. But then I read more of his fiction and I kind of liked many of the pieces, and then his memoir, “The World of Yesterday,” ended up inspiring the whole setting of the movie. So I ultimately decided to do something Zweig-like, instead of adapting only one of them.
December 20, 2013
Wolf of Wall Street – Q&A with Thelma Schoonmaker, Terence Winter, and Leonardo DiCaprio
by The National Board of Review
What was the process of you discovering the source material and trying to get it produced?
DeCaprio: As soon as I read the novel I thought, “This is like a modern day Caligula.”
December 16, 2013
Saving Mr. Banks – Q&A with Emma Thompson
by The National Board of Review
How much fun was it to play someone that rude?
It was bliss, of course, because I think we were all far too well brought up. From very early on we’re encouraged to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to everyone for no good reason, and of course for things we don’t actually want.
December 12, 2013
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom – Q&A with Justin Chadwick, Anant Singh, Idris Elba, and Naomie Harris
by The National Board of Review
Would you have made the film any other way, looking back?
Having been in this industry for a long time, trying to get movies made is very challenging under any circumstances.