Q&A with Eliza Hittman, Sidney Flanigan and Talia Ryder

Eliza, when did you first start to think about making this remarkable film?
Eliza Hittman: I first began thinking about this film in 2012. I read a newspaper article that was all about the death of Savita Halappanavar, this woman in Ireland who died after being denied a life-saving abortion.

Q&A with Edward Berger

Your DP said that his collaboration with you is one of the most unique he’s had with a director.
Edward Berger: We’re both obsessed with precision and architecture in the film. It’s not haphazard and we don’t try to find the shot on set. It gives me true pleasure to set up a shot and in that shot, have every department create the illusion that this is reality.

Q&A with Edgar Wright

How did you translate the stage direction into the performance?
Edgar Wright: When I gave the script to the actors, they had all of the music as well, so they could read the script with the right music playing.

Q&A with E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin

This story is incredibly dramatic on its face. What were the underlying themes that most resonated with you?
E. Chai Vasarhelyi: I think it’s important to remember how divided the world was in 2018.

Q&A with Don Cheadle and Emayatzy Corinealdi

This is not a typical biopic in that you mainly focus on the darkest period of his life. Why did you choose that window?
Don Cheadle: He just shut down his music for five years. I thought, what’s happening there?

Q&A with Dominic Cooke

What was your approach to developing the look of the film?
Dominic Cook: The early ’60’s — especially in the UK — you might as well have been in the Edwardian era.

Q&A with Director Steve McQueen and Chiwetel Ejiofor

Your character experiences some of the darkest things a person can experience. During your preparation and filming, was there anything in particular that helped you connect with him?
Ejiofor: I think I wanted to find out about who he was. I thought there was something about him that was too remarkable.

Q&A with director Shane Salerno

Let’s start by talking about the unique backstory to making this film.
Salerno: I grew up in a house where Salinger was a church. My mom was a huge fan and turned me onto his work, but like everyone, I had no idea about the man, I just knew the work. I started researching this project and found out that J.D. Salinger landed on D-Day, that Salinger participated in these horrible battles, that he lost the love of his life, Oona O’Neill, to Charlie Chaplin.

Q&A with Director Denis Villeneuve, Hugh Jackman, and Jake Gyllenhaal

The different reactions of each character to a horrible situation seem remarkably realistic: No one knows quite what to do, but they all feel they have to do something.
Jackman: One thing I think Denis is really drawn to is the moral ambiguity – the gray areas – of characters and life. And I think that’s what really attracted us both to this material.

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Q&A with Director Danny Boyle and Producer Christian Colson

Director Danny Boyle established himself as one of the most versatile filmmakers in the world long ago, finding critical and commercial success with thematically disparate stories such as Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, and Slumdog Millionaire.