The Hollywood Masters, moderated by The Hollywood Reporter executive features editor Stephen Galloway, returned to LMU this semester for Season 2. Galloway was recently named LMU School of Film and TV’s Cosgrove Family Distinguished Visiting Artist for 2014.
Once again, I was part of the production crew and it was awesome. This season our guests were: Michael Mann (Director, Last of the Mohicans, Heat, The Insider), James L. Brooks (Director, Broadcast News; Executive Producer, The Simpsons), Charles Roven (Producer, The Dark Knight, American Hustle), Billy Bob Thornton (Actor/Writer, Sling Blade, Monster’s Ball), Hans Zimmer (Composer, The Dark Knight, 12 Years a Slave), The Farrelly Bros (Directors, Dumb and Dumber, There’s Something About Mary), and Hilary Swank (Actress, Boys Don’t Cry, Million Dollar Baby).
The Masters consists of 90 minute discussions, including Q & A, with entertainment industry legends held in Mayer Theater at LMU. What makes these events different is that, rather than appearing simply to promote their current projects (the usual format for screenings around L.A.), these extraordinary talents shared thoughts and feelings about their entire bodies of work — a lifetime of filmmaking genius on display.
The programs are taped before a live audience of LMU students and also simulcast to the LMU community. Below are some clips from these fantastic interviews:
Michael Mann
Michael Mann talks about Blackhat
Michael Mann talks about The Insider
Charles Roven
Charles Roven talks about Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice
James L. Brooks
James L. Brooks talks about Broadcast News
James L. Brooks talks about The Simpsons
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton talks about Fargo
Billy Bob Thornton talks about Bad Santa
Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer talks about Interstellar
The Farrelly Brothers
The Farrelly Brothers talk about Dumb And Dumber To