Interview with David Fincher: "The Movie Really Only Has Two Seasons: 'Summer of Spandex' and 'Winter of Distress'"

Era 2022-04-19 09:02:22

Total Film Exclusive: David Fincher Discusses State of Hollywood

By Matt Maytum, Jack Shepherd

David Fincher has wanted to make Mank for a long time. The director has been trying to drum up interest in Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz since 1997 — when his screenwriter father Jack Finch (who was also a journalist and writer) writer) just finished the script.

"Unless you're making a blockbuster movie with a Happy Meal quality, nobody's interested," says Finch in Total Film's latest issue (which headlines the cover of "Mank"). . Yet after years of fighting for "Mank," the perfect opportunity arose when Netflix asked Fincher what he wanted to do next (the filmmaker , who has worked with the streaming giant on "House of Cards," "Love, Death and Robots and Psycho Hunter).

One of the great things about working with Netflix, Finch said, is that opening weekends aren't as stressful as releasing a movie through theatrical lines, and it's always there in the streaming platform's repertoire. "Writing a love letter to another movie on HBO Max is not a particularly smart business plan (Warner's streaming platform, and Citizen Kane is currently copyrighted on HBO Max)," he joked . But listen, if We only do things that seem smart, maybe only Marvel, Star Wars and Jurassic Park."

With "Mank" finally coming to Netflix this December, the film seems primed for awards season. The whole awards season PR, however, has been anathema to Finch, throwing cold water on his signature sarcasm and wit: "Look, the only reason we have this kind of PR is for people who like to change audience expectations in their behavior. People lack imagination," he said.

Behind the scenes of "Mank"

"There are really only two seasons of movies: 'Summer of Spandex' and 'Winter of Distress'. You're going to make a movie in one of the two seasons. If you miss it, you're in one of the other two seasons , but these two seasons are nominally a dump. Does that make sense?"

Of course, no director is at work these days with a more savvy grasp of the industry's intrigue, after all Fincher endured ordealed in his debut Alien 3, but has since relied on The Social Network, Fight Club and Gone Lover, he has received rave reviews - both from critics and from the film awards agencies.

"I'm not just a jerk who's tired of it all," he concluded. "I'm a jerk who's been through it firsthand and is sick of it all."

Cover of this issue of Total Film regular edition

Cover of this issue of Total Film subscription

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Extended Reading
  • Dwight 2022-04-21 09:02:46

    I really struggled to see the information density of this dialogue. / Mank, who was deeply involved in alcoholism, gambling and self-righteousness, finally held on to his authorship and earned due credit, because he knew that he had bet on this creation and gave all the social resources he had. /7.6

  • Mollie 2022-03-27 09:01:12

    In memory, the myth of Orson Wilson behind "Citizen Kane" was smashed, and by the way, let's commemorate Mr. Finch's own "rosebud", the movie will eventually fade, the rosebud will eventually wither, but entertainment will last forever

Mank quotes

  • Irving Thalberg: When I come to work, I don't consider it slumming. I don't use humor to keep myself above the fray. And I go to the mat for what I believe in. I haven't the time to do otherwise. But you, sir, how formidable people like you might be if they actually gave at the office.

  • Herman Mankiewicz: As Pascal once said, "If only I'd had more time, I would have written a shorter letter."