Zach Braff, actor/writer/director, shares his early experiences in the arts, casting choices in 'Garden State', empowering the crew during production, challenges of crowdfunding 'Wish I Was Here', marketing films today, and his love for flying and filmmaking.
Delegating and trusting the crew empowers them to contribute innovative solutions to creative challenges.
Crowdfunding presents unique challenges in terms of managing logistics and fulfilling commitments to backers while making a film.
The director's passion for exploring themes of grief and unlikely friendships motivated the writing of 'A Good Person'.
Deep dives
Zach Braff's journey to becoming an actor and director
Zach Braff shares the early influence of his parents' love for movies and theater on his own passion for acting. He recalls the impact of watching independent films as a child and how his father's involvement in community theater sparked his own interest. Attending a theater camp led to professional auditions as a young actor, and eventually, he landed a role in a Woody Allen movie. Balancing his desire to be a filmmaker and actor, Braff talks about his experiences waiting tables while waiting for a breakthrough, which ultimately came with his role in the TV series 'Scrubs'. He reflects on the value of observing different directors' styles and techniques while working on the show and how it influenced his own approach to directing. Additionally, he shares insights on the challenges and rewards of directing films like 'Garden State' and his most recent film 'A Good Person'.
Zach Braff's experience with casting and working with actors
Braff discusses his experiences with casting and working with actors, highlighting the importance of finding the right fit for each role. He shares his surprise and fortune in securing actors like Natalie Portman and Peter Sarsgaard for 'Garden State', and how their performances and chemistry elevated the film. Braff emphasizes the value of trust and collaboration between directors and actors, noting that even legendary actors appreciate directors who provide guidance and create a supportive on-set environment. He also discusses the challenges and joys of directing Morgan Freeman in 'A Good Person', mentioning the need to carefully navigate the directing process when working with experienced actors.
Challenges and insights on writing and directing 'A Good Person'
Braff describes the motivations behind his film 'A Good Person' and his intention to explore themes of grief and unlikely friendships. He talks about the process of writing the script during the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing from personal experiences of loss and resilience. Braff reflects on the challenges of financing an indie drama like 'A Good Person' and the shifting landscape of film distribution, particularly the importance of understanding audience consumption habits on streaming platforms. He also discusses the role of humor in balancing the film's dark themes and expresses his desire to continue directing both smaller-scale projects and potentially larger Hollywood movies in the future.
Importance of Delegating and Trusting Crew
One insight from the podcast is that the director has learned the importance of delegating and trusting their crew. Initially, the director felt the need to have all the answers and make all the decisions. However, over time, they realized the benefits of allowing other experts on the team to contribute their problem-solving skills and creativity. This shift in approach has empowered the crew and resulted in more innovative solutions to creative challenges.
Challenges of Crowdfunding a Film
Another main point discussed in the podcast is the director's experience with crowdfunding for one of their films. While the idea seemed innovative and exciting, it also presented numerous challenges. The director had to handle the demands and expectations of a large number of backers, which included fulfilling rewards and managing logistics. It became a balancing act between making the film and meeting the commitments made to the crowdfunding supporters. Despite the difficulties, the director acknowledges that it was a valuable learning experience and a unique way to finance a film.
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 70 - ZACH BRAFF - ACTOR / WRITER / DIRECTOR
Actor, writer, and director Zach Braff (A GOOD PERSON, GARDEN STATE, SCRUBS) joins us on this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. Zach fell in love with the arts at an early age, booking one of his first on-screen roles in Woody Allen’s MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY and later cutting his teeth in production while PA’ing on music videos in the late 90s. He shares how the stars aligned to cast his first choices in every role on GARDEN STATE and what the impetus was to write the script in the first place. We later learn how Zach storyboards his films in prep and how he’s improved his ability to delegate during production by empowering his crew to solve creative problems. Zach also reflects on his experience crowdfunding WISH I WAS HERE and the challenges of servicing 50,000 backers while actually making the film. Towards the end, Zach shares some advice for young filmmakers, and we debate releasing films directly through streamers versus in theaters and the difficulties of marketing films in today’s marketplace.
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This episode is sponsored by Aputure
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