*Sorry, there was a problem signing you up. In 2018, Soderbergh directed High Flying Bird, starring Andre Holland who played the role of a sports agent representing his rookie client with an intriguing and controversial business opportunity during an NBA lockout. Let Them All Talkis set to launch on HBO Max in December. It's improbable to think he COULDN'T produce this film in 12 days. There used to be more of it and then we backed off a little bit. This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. [28] Soderbergh co-wrote the script for the 1997 horror-thriller Nightwatch with Danish filmmaker Ole Bornedal. Why Steven Soderbergh shot Unsane with an iPhone and is already doing it again with NBA drama out later this year It was as close as having the camera be a pen as you can get, Steven Soderbergh . Channings great at playing someone whos not quite prepared for the thing theyre being asked to do. [96][97] The film was released on March 23, 2018[98] and was well received by critics, with Scott Meslow of GQ noting its relevance to the modern plight of women in patriarchal societies, and called it a "nerve-jangling modern-day Kafka story". The book, by Michael Lewis, tells of how Billy Beane, general manager of Oakland Athletics, used statistical analysis to make up for what he lacked in funds to beat the odds and lead his team to a series of notable wins in 2002. How long can I love what Im doing to the extent that I want to get up every day and keep doing it? I was not going for a kind of typical, classical composition or movement. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Or Marion Cotillard in Contagion when she realizes that the people she was spending time with have been given placebos and not real vaccines. Palmer, R. Barton, and Steven Sanders (2011). We didnt want to take a kind of ironic pose or get meta about it because I didnt want people stepping out of the movie. "This is the holy grail . [15][16] In 2006, the film was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and the American Film Institute nominated it as one of the greatest movies ever made. Sam Richardson Is Happy That the Kids Are Finding. [19][20] In 1991, he directed Kafka, a biopic of Franz Kafka written by Lem Dobbs and starring Jeremy Irons. Will I just at some point feel like Im out of ideas? Hes struggling to make a living thats his issue. In an excellent, probing interview with Esquire, Steven Soderbergh elaborates on why he backed away from movies.Promoting the new television series The Knick starring Clive Owen, Soderbergh simply . I dont come in with shots. deWaard, Andrew, and R. Colin Tait (2013). But it was terrifying every night, because you just had to get ready and think [of], you know, what youre gonna say., Streep toldEntertainment Weekly, I told [Soderbergh] he was gonna ruin everything for every director, and every production designer, and everything else, because he made the movie for 25 centsI know thats what I was paid. Ive asked myself that. [143] Richard Brody of The New Yorker stated that Soderbergh is focused on the process of presenting ideas through film rather than their actual realization. How do they pay rent? It was shot in 2019, primarily aboard the ocean liner Queen Mary 2, and also in New York and the UK, and premiered on December 10, 2020, on HBO Max. [164] He has a daughter with his first wife, actress Betsy Brantley. Oscars producer Steven Soderbergh has opened up about the decisions made to change the show order of this year's ceremony and whether he regrets not allowing Zoom acceptance speeches.. Youve gotta step up to her level. [126] He is known for tracking aesthetic transitions with a variety of colored washes, most notably yellow to symbolize open, socially acceptable situations while blue washes typically symbolize illegal or socially illicit endeavors. You will be redirected back to your article in, Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. [73] For his then-final feature film, he directed the psychological thriller Side Effects, which starred Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Channing Tatum and Catherine Zeta-Jones. I said to Chan that morning, Its Omaha Beach. Soderbergh nearly filmed a feature adaptation of the baseball book Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt and Demetri Martin. They cant just do this shit repeatedly all day. When I watch directors who are obsessed with doing every scene in one shot, I think, I see you trying to stuff things into this same little box, and half the time you cant even close the lid. Im aware that this stuff is gonna get judged and compared to other movies that have musical sequences. [132] His frequent collaborations with composers Cliff Martinez, David Holmes, and most recently Thomas Newman, provide his films with "the thematic and sonic landscapes into which he inserts his characters. . The film was released on September 18, 2009. I want to do all this other stuff! I thought, Okay! Steven Andrew Soderbergh (/ s o d r b r /; born January 14, 1963) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer and editor. His most prolific collaborators are considered to be George Clooney (who started Section Eight Productions with him and has appeared in six of his films), Matt Damon (his most frequent collaborator, who has appeared in nine of his films), Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Don Cheadle, and Channing Tatum. [9] Many of his films are noted for a milieu of suspense through the usage of third-person vantage points and a variety of over-the-shoulder shots. Despite their insistence, Soderbergh wanted to use the film as a transitory project for up-and-coming director Christopher Nolan. Catherine Zeta-Jones received a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Helena in Traffic and reteamed with him for Ocean's Twelve and Side Effects. What goes into deciding how to shoot one of your dance scenes? Their revue opened at the Sahara Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 2017 and was an instant sensation; in 2018, a revised version debuted in Londons Leicester Square. The line that really, really hit me was Theres absolutely nothing sexier than a body in motion. That statement applies, to some extent, to every movie youve done. That sounds like an awesome collaborationreally freeing for everyone involved. Why dont you make it more expansive? She completely destroys what he just did. It was really interesting. He has a specific kind of panic and incredulity at whats being asked of him that is very funny. [45], Soderbergh directed Ocean's Twelve, a sequel to Ocean's Eleven, in 2004. Starting in 2000 with his film Traffic, Soderbergh has used various pseudonyms when directing films in order to hide the fact that he edits, writes, and arranges in opening and closing credits. One of my favorite moments in any of your movies is the close-up of Andie MacDowell in Sex, Lies, and Videotape where she figures out who her husband is sleeping with. "[53] Soderbergh's response to such criticism: "I don't think it's going to destroy the movie-going experience any more than the ability to get takeout has destroyed the restaurant business. The movie is based on a Deborah Eisenberg short story, and she actually got screenwriting credit here as well. You should just service the viewer, make your point, and move on. Though the dialogue was mostly improv, Eisenberg was there to help them work out specific scenes. [48] His film Out of Sight was listed as one of the best movies of the 1990s by Rolling Stone. The film opened to critical acclaim and widespread commercial success. During this time, he directed the concert video 9012Live for the rock band Yes in 1985, for which he received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Music Video, Long Form. Industry heads were reportedly watching how the film performed, as its unusual release schedule could have implications for future feature films. As far as Im concerned, the scene had better prove to me that it needs to be here. Using his MacBook Pro, Soderbergh could even edit on the train. Discovery Files Lawsuit Against Paramount Over 'South Park' Streaming Rights IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. So I always knew both of those were going to be done handheld. [150] Soderbergh also cites the Swiss-French director Jean-Luc Godard as "a constant source of inspiration. [163], Soderbergh is married to Jules Asner, whom he often credits for influencing his female characters. Steven Soderbergh would go on to explain that there was a "great parallel" between Alan Krumwiede's method of spreading information and the way the MEV-1 virus infected the world throughout . [81], In May 2013only months into his retirementSoderbergh announced that he would direct a 10-part miniseries for Cinemax called The Knick. 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. Certainly, I feel that American movies have gotten a little weird about sex. It was a very rich kind of bible from which to draw. It was also, in a very naked way, an opportunity to articulate some things that I really wanted the movie to articulate, like the line Dance speaks no meaning as to its desire. I wanted somebody to say that out loud. Candice Bergen "Steven would sit in a wheelchair, and we would shoot," said Wiest. November 6, 2020 at 2:47AM, Edited November 6, 2:48AM. [68][69] In September and October 2011, he shot Magic Mike, a film starring Channing Tatum, about the actor's experiences working as a male stripper in his youth. Soderbergh has always been a creature of role models, a guy who emulates from the outside more than he obsesses from the inside, and that may be one of the reasons that he's such a chameleon as . [141], When working with actors, Soderbergh prefers to pursue a non-intrusive directorial style. [99] His usage of an iPhone in 4K to film the movie was considered "inspirational to aspiring filmmakers" for breaking down the perceived costs associated with producing a feature film in the United States.[100]. Having Your Way With Hollywood, or the Further Adventures of Steven Soderbergh", "Soderbergh's Choice The director hits homers with Erin Brockovich and Traffic, thus facing off against himself in the Oscar race", "Dual nominations for director Soderbergh", "5 Things You Didn't Know About the 'Ocean's Eleven' Movies", "Steven Soderbergh Movie Box Office Results", "Distributors hold firm against day-and-date", "Challenges Seen for Film Biz After 2005 Slide", "Sasha Grey Stars in Steven Soderbergh Feature", "An exceedingly peculiar case of whistle-blowing", "Script Details Leak Out for Steven Soderbergh's Contagion", "Contagion Movie Review & Film Summary (2011) | Roger Ebert", "Steven Soderbergh is Directing Second Unit on The Hunger Games", "Review: 'Magic Mike,' by Steven Soderbergh, With Channing Tatum", National Film Festival for Talented Youth, "Steven Soderbergh Confirms Plans to Leave Hollywood and Become a Painter", "Exclusive: Rooney Mara, Jude Law & Channing Tatum Will Lead Steven Soderbergh's 'The Side Effects', "Berlinale Competition 2013: Another Nine Films Confirmed", "Steven Soderbergh: Restless Behind the Camera", "Steven Soderbergh's State of Cinema Talk", George Clooney back injury forced 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.' The film grossed $41million on a $22million budget and received generally favorable reviews from critics. [31] The film was widely praised, though only a moderate box-office success. [115][116], Magic Mike's Last Dance, was filmed in London in early 2022. Outside of Let Them All Talk, Oscar winner Soderbergh most recently served as executive producer on the Quibi series Wireless as well as Bill and Ted Face the Music. Soderbergh is meanwhile at work on another film for HBO Max and Warner Bros., No Sudden Move, starring Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, David Harbour, Jon Hamm, Ray Liotta, and more. Privacy Policy and [88] It was announced in June 2014 that Soderbergh would be executive producing a series based on his earlier film The Girlfriend Experience for the Starz network, to premiere sometime in 2016. Im excited about people watching this sequence between Channing and Salma which involves activity that you dont see movie stars engage in very often. "[47][48] Also in 2004, Soderbergh produced and co-wrote the adapted screenplay for the film Criminala remake of the Argentine film Nine Queenswith his longtime assistant director Gregory Jacobs, who made his directorial debut with the film. Chief among the things Rolling Stone writer Marlow Stern wanted to know, why does this Oscar and . "The fact that I'm not an identifiable brand is very freeing," says Soderbergh, "because people get tired of brands and they switch brands. Many of Soderbergh's films are anchored by multi-dimensional storylines with plot twists, nonlinear storytelling, experimental sequencing, suspenseful soundscapes and third-person vantage points. There was Steven and this new . In 2009, Soderbergh appeared before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, and "cited the French initiative in asking lawmakers to deputize the American film industry to pursue copyright pirates," indicating he supports anti-piracy laws and Internet regulation. In the third installment of the franchise, Magic Mikes Last Dance, hes back in the limelight after dramatically leaving it, this time in London, where hes choreographing and starring in a theatrical revue financed by his beautiful patron-slash-lover (played by Salma Hayek, who, yes, dances with Tatum in two numbers). Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, youll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. [90][91], In February 2016, Soderbergh officially came out of his retirement to direct a NASCAR heist film, Logan Lucky, starring Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, and Daniel Craig, among others. Youve joked that the physicality of your filmmaking style is directorial CrossFit. Ive seen you doing what look like yoga poses in order to get the shot you wanted. But its also, for me, my favorite thing a process film. [101] The film began production in February 2018[102] and was released on February 8, 2019, by Netflix. I mean, they would give us the outlines of a situation, and then we knew where we had to end up. I want to lock and fold him! For Traffic, he won the Academy Award for Best Director. "[71] Soderbergh later said that he would retire from filmmaking and begin to explore painting. [60][61], Soderbergh's first film of 2009 was The Informant!, a black comedy starring Matt Damon as corporate whistleblower Mark Whitacre. [14][15] In 2002, he was elected first Vice President of the Directors Guild of America. But I really resist determining anything before Ive even seen where people are gonna stand. ", Soderbergh's introduction to Schizopolis (1996). [143] In line with this actual realization, he presents themes to critically evaluate political and corporate institutions such as money and capitalism. The next line I want to get your reaction to is Max stating, This show is not about getting dick. It's a dialogue-driven movie that relies heavily on improvisation. They center on themes of shifting personal identities, vengeance, sexuality, morality and the human condition. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. "[84], After his work with The Knick, Soderbergh began working on a variety of personal projects starting with directing an Off-Broadway play titled The Library, starring Chlo Grace Moretz in January 2014. But before Mike hits the stage for one final hip thrust, Mr. Soderbergh has some explaining to do. Apart from his first nomination (Erin Brockovich), he won the award for Traffic. That sounds like an awesome collaboration, I think [Soderbergh]s the most fearless filmmaker, and his intellect is so piercing," she said. [143] He claims that he no longer reads reviews of his movies. Around the time Soderbergh was being vetted for a Bond film, he had decided to take a brief hiatus from filmmaking due to the current Hollywood system. How much shooting did you personally do on this movie?The only time I wouldnt be operating the camera was if we had a shot that was so elaborate that it required a remote head, which would mean a geared head with wheels, which I cant do well. As of 2018, Soderbergh's entire feature filmography has grossed over US$2.2billion worldwide in sales. From which to draw everyone involved I always knew both of those were going to be more of and... 8, 2019, by Netflix shit repeatedly all day first wife, Betsy! Palmer, R. Barton, and Steven Sanders ( 2011 ) and compared other... Be used to sign into all New York sites realizes that the people she spending! 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