Brian Koppelman talks to Quentin Tarantino about his unique writing style, impact of movie reviews, significance of well-crafted scripts, academic struggles with ADHD, early passion for writing scripts, Hollywood connections, and emotional impact of bringing characters to life on screen.
Casting pivotal actors like Christoph Waltz to bring characters authentically to life.
Balancing linguistic fluency and character depth in complex roles like Hans Landa.
Reflecting on actor influences like George C. Scott and career-changing roles like Bryan Cranston's in 'Breaking Bad'.
Deep dives
Casting the Right Role
The importance of finding the perfect actor for a role, like Christoph Waltz in his breakthrough roles, where casting can make or break a character, ensuring that the character is portrayed authentically and fully realized on screen, reflecting on the unique qualities of actors like William Smith and Richard Boone who perfectly embodied certain characters in the author's previous works.
Balancing Artistic Vision and Practicality
The challenge of creating characters like Hans Landa, who require specific linguistic and cultural fluency that not all actors possess, balancing the artistic vision of a character with the practical considerations of casting actors who can authentically represent the role's complexity and depth.
Character Development in the Creative Process
Exploring the evolution of characters like Rick, drawing parallels with real-life actors who faced career shifts, from typecasting to breakthrough roles like Bryan Cranston in 'Breaking Bad,' highlighting the fear of not finding the right fit for a character during the creative process.
Influence of Movies and Characters on the Author
Reflecting on the impact of movies, characters, and specific actors on the author's work, considering nuanced performances and characters like those portrayed by George C. Scott and William Smith, and how these influences shape the author's approach to character development.
Landing the Perfect Londa
The director recalls the challenging process of casting the lead role in a World War II movie, emphasizing the importance of finding the ideal actor to portray the character. Despite facing time constraints and pressure from the studio, the director remains adamant about not compromising on the casting choice. After considering pulling the plug on the production, Christoph Waltz auditions for the role and impresses the director, leading to the decision to move forward with the movie.
Overcoming Setbacks and Persistence
The director reflects on a pivotal moment early in his career where he spent three years working on a film project that ultimately did not meet his expectations. Despite the disappointment, he views this experience as a valuable film school that taught him important lessons in filmmaking. This setback did not deter him from pursuing his passion, as he continued to write scripts and eventually found success with 'True Romance' and 'Natural Born Killers'. The director's commitment to his artistic vision and resilience in the face of failure ultimately led to his breakthrough in the industry.
Brian talks to Quentin Tarantino. That's right. QUENTIN is on The Moment.
Extra - read Brian's Grantland article here
https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/me-qt-whats-behind-tarantino-ditching-his-leaked-hateful-eight-script/
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