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.
Emma, what was your inspiration for the film?
I feel like a lot of film students heading into their senior year want to go out with a bang, like a huge dystopian sci-fi film or a period piece, and I was one of those kids.
How did the idea for script originate?
Emerald Fennell: I had a few friends over for dinner and something uncomfortable had happened to one of the girls at the table on the tube on her way over.
The opening shot of the ocean felt very lyrical. What made you decide to open your film with this particular shot?
Mike Mills: In the script, the first shot is of a car burning and of course that seems like such a good way to begin a movie.
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.
What motivated you to expand the short?
It first started before the short was even finished, in the editing room.
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.
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.
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?
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.
What was your initial response when you were approached to appear in this documentary?
Dr. Robinson: I said absolutely not. We were not interested in doing any movies or press of any sort. It’s not about us; it’s about the patients.
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.
When did Ip Man first come into your life?
Kar Wai: In 1998, I had a chance to meet with the family of the Grandmaster Ip Man. And they showed me a short film of him – which you can find on YouTube now. His son recorded it just a few days before Ip Man passed away. And you can see that it’s almost like a home movie; he’s very sick and quite thin.
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.
The following questions and answers are excerpted from a conversation that followed the NBR screening of The Miseducation of Cameron Post. How did this project start? Desiree Akhavan: I was sent the book and I loved it. I really loved it. I gave it to my girlfriend at the time, who read it and loved it. And, […]