Ron Howard was recently honored by the Museum of the Moving Image (Astoria NY), primarily at a gala at the Waldorf-Astoria on 12/04.  In connection with that, a screening and discussion of A Beautiful Mind was held at the Museum on Saturday 12/03.  This was made possible by the Sloan Science and Film Initiative.  (They also screened Apollo 13.)

     
Brian Grazer and Ron Howard appeared in person for an interview prior to the screening of ABM, moderated by the Chief Curator David Schwartz, which lasted about an hour.  The Sloan Foundation is dedicated to exploring the image of science and scientists in film, which is why these two films were highlighted.

     
Asked about the principal casting, Mr Grazer replied that he had just seen "The Insider" and he "loved that Russell Crowe had so much vulnerability and still had such strong screen impact.  He was inescapable."

     
According to Mr Grazer and Mr Howard, thematically ABM offers insight into the disease of schizophrenia (more than it tries to specifically portray only the life of  mathematician John Nash).  In trying to clearly introduce the audience to the idea of the alternate reality of schizophrenia, Mr Grazer began with the concept of talking to invisible people, portrayable as charcters on screen. 

     
Mr Nash did not have an actual Paul Bettany character or an Ed Harris character in his life, but it was a way to clearly communicate to the audience what the schizophrenia was like.  Then Mr Grazer discussed this concept with Akiva Goldman, himself an actual therapist, who then wrote the script.  Ron Howard was not involved in the film for the first couple of years, while this work was underway. 

     
They said that Nash felt there was an inspirational side and a real exhilaration to the delusiion, in the impact of schizophrenia.  Mr Grazer said that he did not believe that people with the condition actually made great creative leaps while in the throes of an episode, but that people who are wired to be more creative are also more vulnerable. 

    
They briefly touched on Cinderella Man, noting that it was also a true story, and that the circumstances of protagonist's Jim Braddock's life also had a real point.

    
Mr Grazer said that he looks for a subject and theme that are exciting, that have pull.  He's not in it to recreate the wheel, but rather to take on subjects that are unusual within the structure of the wheel.  Mr Howard said that it is hard to make a film, any film -- it is very difficult.  So he would much prefer to make an interesting one the he wants to tell people about.  In order to roll out of bed at 4:30 in the morning, the project needs to be an interesting one. 

     
Mr Grazer added that if he can already envision the rough cut, if it's that predictable, then he won't do the movie.  The film needs to be challenging enough to hold his interest.  When looking at what an audience can get out of a film, he is interested in the perspective of redemption, as well as originality.  Once he sees that that is in place, then he "casts things up" from there.

    
Asked about the disappearance of (physical) film from the film industry, Mr Howard said that it won't happen immediately, but within a few years it is inevitable, because digital provides so much more quality control over the image long term.   He said it is disheartening to work hard on a production only to find the quality deteriorating soon after.  Digital prevents all that.

--- Betty B. Bandy