Can you discuss your inspiration for writing this story?
Robert Machoian: It was really motivated, to some degree, my own life in the sense that I’ve been married for quite a while, and I have children, and coming to this period in life where many friends of ours were starting to separate.
You used classic filmmaking techniques, especially in the opening scene. Can you talk about shooting it?
Scott: These storms are absolutely disgustingly filthy, and we had real fifth in the air. You have a real mix of dust.
What did your writing process entail?
It kind of had the whiff of destiny, from the time I read the book.
Mr. Law, when you play a character like this, what does that do to you over the duration of the production?
Well, you pick up a lot of unhealthy habits! I was very ready to let him go, when we wrapped.
What were your first thoughts, after reading the script?
Simon Rex: I was just like… whoa. Whoa. WHOA!
You said that your biggest talent was in the casting of the film.
Linklater: I think the movie speaks for itself in that way.
This is a huge movie. What was it like to begin this process and how did your relationships to each other develop?
Linklater: It was just like setting sail for uncharted territory. There was a plan there. We were going to see this kid grow up from first to twelfth grade.
When did you first conceive of this film?
Rian Johnson: The idea for this film came very very early, even when we were still making the first one.
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.
Randall, what gripped you about this story and these characters?
Randall Park: I first read the graphic novel when it came out back in 2007, and I was just mesmerized by it. A lot of that has to do with Adrian’s writing, but also the style of the art.
How did you come to this story, and what was the writing process?
Bahrani: I was interested in this whole world-turned-upside-down issue during the economic crisis. The focus was housing.
There’s an incredible attention to detail throughout the film, from the dialog to the set decoration. Could you describe how you approached these aspects of the film?
Robert Eggers: New England was the most literate part of the Western World; you had to teach your children how to read– it was against the law if you didn’t, because you had to read the bible in English.
How did you balance wearing three hats as the writer, director, and lead actor at the same time?
The two people that were present on the set were the director and the actor.
The following questions and answers are excerpted from a conversation that followed the NBR screening of The Paper Tigers. This film is a heartfelt look at the Kung Fu genre as well as a story about growing up and fatherhood in various forms. What was the catalyst for the story? Bao Tran: I survived a death […]
The following questions and answers are excerpted from a conversation that followed the NBR screening of The Hateful Eight. Where did the idea for this film come from? Quentin Tarantino: It started because while I didn’t really want to write a sequel to Django, I did like the idea of maybe a series of paperback books like […]