Richard Linklater on His Indie Film Approach & New Projects

For Richard Linklater, speaking about awards and accolades is a lose-lose scenario. The filmmaker, who has 5 Oscar nominations and is about to obtain the Lifetime Achievement in Screenwriting Award on the SCAD Savannah Movie Pageant, likens the method to getting into a horse race you didn’t ask to be in (a former aggressive athlete, he loves a sports activities metaphor). “Should you say that awards and accolades imply all the things to you, it’s like, ‘Had been you not beloved by your dad and mom?’ And if you happen to say they imply nothing, you appear conceited and privileged,” he says. “So I take the lengthy view: Whenever you do one thing lengthy sufficient, they begin supplying you with awards.” 

Whose opinion of your work means probably the most to you?

There’s nobody particular person. Ethan Hawke stated just lately, “If there’s one factor I’ve by no means heard out of Rick’s mouth it’s, ‘Hey, what did you consider my movie?’ ” It’s most likely some neurodivergent high quality I’ve, however to me the sport is with your self and the way you are feeling about your personal stuff. 

You beforehand spoke to THR about all of the legacy studios passing on Hit Man. Whenever you mirror on its launch, how do you are feeling about it?

I made my peace with that when it was taking place. It’s like all relationship — if the studios don’t assume it could possibly do effectively sufficient theatrically to warrant their curiosity, and Netflix is probably the most enthusiastic about it, who’re you going to go together with? I haven’t questioned it since. We want we had been residing in some pure movie world the place all the things you preferred warranted a full theatrical launch after which did nice on the field workplace, however that’s a fantasy. 

Does the management you get whereas making an indie movie nonetheless outweigh the management it’s important to launch after you’ve made it and are ready for a purchaser?

It’s not so easy. The occasions I’ve made full-blown studio movies, I haven’t had management issues. There’s not a movie on the market that I am going, “Oh, that wasn’t my reduce.” My factor was that I all the time simply work actually laborious and I can keep forward of any hassle. After I made College of Rock with Scott Rudin, I knew getting in I’d higher work laborious or this might get away from me. Should you outwork everyone and make a superb movie, you gained’t have issues. 

Are you continue to within the midst of the 20-year-long growth of Merrily We Roll Alongside?

We shoot in a few months, however I’m in early prep on that. 

The Broadway present had an enormous yr, which wasn’t essentially a part of the present’s legacy once you signed on. Has that modified the best way you’re approaching the challenge?

I noticed that present earlier than it went to Broadway, too. I’ve been watching each model of Merrily. I began within the ’80s. I actually know the play and its varied incarnations. Once we began the film, it was the play that doesn’t fairly work. However now there’s a model of it that everybody says is a masterpiece. And I agree. So between us beginning our challenge and now, they’ve cracked it. It’s lastly achieved top-Sondheim standing after being mid- to lower- for the longest time. I’m all the time occupied with what is going to work for us. It’s an interpretive adaptation, that’s for positive. 

You’re employed with lots of repeat collaborators. Do you ever write roles for particular individuals?

Hit Man is an efficient instance, with the a part of Jasper, the dangerous man. Someplace within the writing course of I believed, “What about Austin Amelio?” — a man [co-writer and star] Glen Powell and I had each labored with on Everyone Needs Some. He’s about the correct age and he can be good. So as soon as that occurred, we wrote it with him in thoughts. However you possibly can’t all the time rely on the particular person being obtainable. Or desirous to do it, particularly if you happen to’re low finances. 

What’s supplying you with optimism about the way forward for Hollywood?

I’m optimistic by rote. It’s how I attempt to undergo the world. I’m slightly extra Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, you recognize? I feel we are able to all do nice issues collectively. After all there are issues looming that it’s important to hold an eye fixed out for — it’s sort of enjoyable to be pessimistic with AI and the best way tech has affected each business, ours particularly. There’s an upside, perhaps, however you simply roll with it. And our business is optimistic by definition. There’s nothing extra optimistic than a whole movie crew — individuals who consider in getting a narrative instructed. Then, later, when the pinnacle of promoting is available in and so they’ve simply examined your film — that’s the pessimist.

This story appeared within the Oct. 23 subject of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.