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5 Things We Learned From Sam Mendes Interviewing Fellow A-List Directors

By Kristy Puchko | Celebrity | October 19, 2015 |

By Kristy Puchko | Celebrity | October 19, 2015 |


With Spectre coming up, director Sam Mendes has a lot of interview obligations coming his way. But before all that, he’s turned the tables, interviewing other big name directors like Steven Spielberg, Joe Wright, Joss Whedon, David Fincher, Christopher Nolan, and Sofia Coppola (to name a few).

You can read the piece in full over at Empire, and we recommend you do to see how differently helmers handle stress, their crews, and the suggestions they become accountants. But below we’re breaking down what we’ve learned about some of film’s most popular auteurs.

Christopher Nolan is a pouter.
Asked if he’d ever walked off set “in a temper,” Nolan huffed, “I once tried, but nobody
 seemed to notice, so I came back.” But don’t cry for Nolan. He then donned a Batman depression beard, and everyone got he had the sadz.

Neither Steven Spielberg nor Steven Soderbergh have ever drank coffee. Ever.
The question was how many cups of coffee a day? Spielberg’s answer broke my brain: “I never had a cup of coffee in my life, but I have at least a dozen cups of mint tea a day.”

As for Soderbergh, he’s a Pepper: “Never had a cup of coffee in my life. Dr Pepper is my caffeine delivery system of choice.”

Alexander Payne favors scatological humor over explosions.
Questioned about whether they prefer practical explosions to CGI ones, Payne answered, “Never done an explosion, but I have had explosive diarrhea, and that was very, very real. Good thing I have my trailer.” Oscar-winning wit, right there.

Ang Lee can’t quit Ennis either.
What was the director’s best day on set? “There were many days, but off the top of my head, one day on Brokeback Mountain, shooting the scene where Ennis visits Jack’s parents.”

Sofia Coppola gave the best answer.
Best day on set? “When Bill Murray is there.” Duh.

Kristy Puchko pours Starbucks over her cereal, because she knows how to class up corn flakes.