This year’s extensive talks with the actors, directors, cinematographers, writers, and even studio heads have given us an inside look at different aspects of production, and today we have insight on another area: producing. Peter Chernin (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Exodus: Gods and Kings), Eric Fellner (The Theory of Everything), John Lesher (Birdman, Fury), Marc Platt (Into the Woods), Cathleen Sutherland (Boyhood) and Emma Thomas (Interstellar) all gathered for THR‘s latest roundtable.
In the talk, Chernin discusses his experience producing and going way overbudget on Titanic and how he believes the movie business is healthier then the television business, while a number of them converse about the positives of getting fired and dealing with multiple companies for financing. Thomas, co-head of Syncopy about why The Dark Knight was never allowed to screen in China, and how she works with her husband, Christopher Nolan, particularly how they adjusted the pacing of Interstellar based friends and family screenings.
Lesher also talks about the toughest decision for Birdman, saying, “No one wanted us to cast Michael Keaton, who we absolutely thought was the only person with whom we could make the movie. He just had the authority and the ability to navigate between comedy and drama in a very unique way, and fortunately we cast a great ensemble.” For more insight on the process of producing, check out the full 45-minute conversation below.
What did you learn from the discussion?