Hollywood director, Ed Zwick, discusses his successful productions like Glory and The Last Samurai, as well as the challenges and lumps he took along the way. He also shares insights on mentorship in the industry and the importance of finding support outside of family. The podcast pays tribute to musician Mojo Nixon and touches on topics like the Occupy movement and film distribution.
Discovering passion for filmmaking through working with Woody Allen led Ed Zwick to pursue a successful career in film.
Overcoming challenges and learning from successes and failures are crucial in navigating the film industry.
Building a rapport and respecting the intelligence and intuition of actors, especially movie stars, are essential for successful on-screen performances.
Deep dives
Discovering a Passion for Filmmaking
The podcast guest, Ed Zwick, shares his journey of discovering his passion for filmmaking while working with director Woody Allen. This experience led him to pursue a career in film and eventually make successful movies like Glory and About Last Night. Ed also discusses the importance of learning patience and persistence in the film industry.
Making Special Bulletin: A Deeper Dive into Television
Ed Zwick recounts the making of Special Bulletin, a groundbreaking television movie that explored the fear of nuclear terrorism. Facing opposition from the news division of NBC, the project ultimately received critical acclaim and numerous awards. Ed reflects on the challenges of directing and producing as a young filmmaker and the role that Sidney Pollack played in his career.
Navigating the Challenges of Show Business
The podcast episode explores the ups and downs of Ed Zwick's career in show business, from struggling to find work as a TV writer to experiencing breakthrough successes like About Last Night. Ed discusses the pressure and anxiety that come with pursuing a career in the industry, as well as the importance of perseverance and learning from both successes and failures.
From TV to Film: The Transition
Ed Zwick talks about his transition from television to film, with projects like About Last Night and Glory. He describes the challenges of balancing artistic ambition and commercial demands, as well as navigating the expectations and pressures of the industry. Ed also discusses the importance of finding his own voice as a filmmaker and learning from other influential directors like Woody Allen and Sidney Pollack.
Navigating relationships in television
Television shows that focus on relationships among a group of people were revolutionary at the time as most shows centered around professionals. The show Friends was a pioneer in exploring the dynamics between friends and family members, setting a trend in television. It opened up the possibility of creating stories centered around various types of relationships without being confined to a specific profession or genre.
Working with movie stars
Working with actors, especially movie stars, requires a unique approach. As a director, building a rapport with actors is crucial. While they may have natural talent and presence, it is important to recognize their intelligence and respect their intuition. Movie stars bring their own unique perspective to a role and should not be underestimated or diminished. Finding a balance between collaboration and directing is essential for creating successful on-screen performances.
Ed Zwick’s career as a director, writer and producer in Hollywood lends itself to the full memoir treatment, complete with stories about stars behaving badly and development disasters. But Ed’s new book also serves as a guide to mentorship in a business where every bit of help counts. Ed and Marc discuss some of his most successful productions, like Glory, The Last Samurai and thirtysomething, as well as some of the lumps he took along the way. Plus, Marc pays tribute to the late Mojo Nixon.
