Green Room Director Jeremy Saulnier Gives Advice
Filmmaker Jeremy Saulnier, director of Blue Ruin, discusses the process of making the Patrick Stewart-starrer
Host Jeff Goldsmith recently sat down with writer-director Jeremy Saulnier to interview him about the upcoming film, Green Room. Their conversation brought about insightful information, regarding his creative process and other interesting topics.
On how being in a punk band influenced this film: “I just pulled stuff from real-life and put it together into this film.”
When asked about the creation of this film is a trial: “This film was shot in the same amount of days as my first film, Blue Ruin, but it had 10 times the budget.”
Describing how the idea of Green Room came about: “Being in a band around that world and always wanting to somehow put it on screen.”
When asked about the importance of outlining: “I don’t do a lot of outlining but I do a lot of thinking. Most of my writing is while I’m jogging or taking a shower, procrastinating…I try to remember stuff and then forget some of it too.”
Explaining the notes in his notebook: “It’s scattered notes, cool scenes…I take the written notes, and cut and paste them, and then arrange them.”
Green Room director Jeremy Saulnier with Jeff Goldsmith
Challenges of shooting in the cramped space of the green room: “I’d done something similar in my first film…I had learned my lesson don’t try too hard to make it kinetic. Visually and technically if your performance is not there with your actors, then it’s all worthless.”
Things Saulnier learned in editing: “This movie was so built-in editorial…The editing room is where you have time and can think.”
On incorporating animals in the film: “Relatively easy, you have to give them tasks that are doable.”
The toughest scene as a director: “I know how to make movies, the physical production is easy…Patrick (Stewart) shot his opening scene at the very end so he waited a twelve-hour day…I felt like I had failed.”
When asked if there was anything from his research that changed the story: “It was a lot of getting details right. The story details (red laces, insider dialogue, etc.).”
On something missing from Green Room: “Just a few more days to do better work.”
Advice for someone up and coming today and still being able to pay the bills: “I knew I wanted to make films when I was 8 years old…Day jobs are awesome because they can sustain you and propel you…Knowing when to make a movie, and when not to make a movie. Provide yourself with an opportunity to do your best work.”
Thank you to Jeff Goldsmith and Jeremy Saulnier for an enlightening Q&A. You can listen to the interview here