The Business A “Smashing” chat with Benny Safdie
Oct 3, 2025
Benny Safdie, a filmmaker and actor known for his work with his brother in the Safdie brothers duo, discusses his solo directing venture, The Smashing Machine. He shares the serendipitous moment when Dwayne Johnson approached him about portraying UFC fighter Mark Kerr, a story that reflects his interest in flawed characters. Benny elaborates on lessons learned from directing giants like Paul Thomas Anderson and Christopher Nolan and dives into the evolution of the UFC from its bare-knuckle roots to a mainstream spectacle while also touching on his creative split with his brother.
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Near Career Change After Newborn
- Benny Safdie recounts nearly quitting filmmaking when his newborn son made him consider a stable career like physics or teaching.
- He describes hustling early films through festivals and personally promoting screenings to keep his work alive.
Use Dailies To Build Performance
- Benny learned watching dailies on Paul Thomas Anderson's set can enliven a performance and provide useful adjustments.
- He recommends using dailies to identify interesting choices and build upon them in subsequent takes.
Learning From Two Directing Styles
- Benny contrasts Paul Thomas Anderson's competitive, encouraging directing with Christopher Nolan's live, discovery-driven approach.
- Both styles felt generative and offered tactics Benny could adapt in his own directing.