#EDWIN NEAL INTERVIEW SERIAL#
#EDWIN NEAL INTERVIEW SERIES#

The British producer Jeremy Thomas has made a host of amazing films working with great directors like David Cronenberg, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Terry Gilliam. He operated primarily outside the studio system, based in San Francisco, and was able to make truly significant work – movies like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), The English Patient (1996), Amadeus (1984), The Mosquito Coast (1986 ), and The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988). NW: Saul Zaentz was an incredible producer. From Martin Scorsese to Spike Lee, everyone and everything is here! NYFA: Who do you believe have been some of the most significant individuals in producing? There is a fiercely independent and entrepreneurial spirit in New York so many motivated people making everything from low-budget indies to amazing documentaries to huge Marvel movies. It is so exciting to create work in the Big Apple. NW: New York City is the greatest backlot in the world! Think of all the fantastic films that have been set here. NYFA: What are your favorite aspects of the film community in New York? I encourage as much participation, discussion, and interaction as possible.Įxecutive Producer John Giura with NYFA Producing Co-Chair Neal Weisman at a NYFA Q&A Session As we are very hands-on, students apply what they are learning in lectures to their own individual case studies, which are shared in class. NW: I have a lot of information to give to our students, so I do a lot of talking! The students, in turn, ask a lot of questions, so there is a good give and take. NYFA: How would your students describe your teaching style/methods? It is a very comprehensive overview of producing. We explore the entire producing process, from identifying ideas to working with writers in the development of scripts, assembling commercially viable packages, raising finance, and looking at all aspects of pre-production, filming/shooting, post-production, as well as marketing, and distribution. NW: Producer’s Craft because this is where I get to answer, “What Does a Producer Do?”. NYFA: What are your favorite courses to teach? It not only enriches the students’ experiences but those of the faculty as well. It is invigorating to meet and work with students of all ages and ethnic and gender identities who come to study at NYFA from all over the world.

One of the great strengths of the New York Film Academy is the diversity of the student population. I am on a mission to spread the answer to the important question, “What Does a Producer Do?”. It is very gratifying to mentor the next generation of content creators. NW: I love sharing my experience and knowledge in the education of new producers.

#EDWIN NEAL INTERVIEW SERIES#

READ MORE: Q&A-List Series Welcomes Iconic Horror Film & TV Producer, Roy Lee NYFA: Tell us about your time at NYFA. The cinematography is by Ed Lachman, a true master. It has become a true cult hit, was recently remastered, and is available on Criterion. NW: This is like asking a parent which is your favorite child! I have a special affection for “my first child in the film industry,” True Stories (1986), co-written and directed by David Byrne, with music by Talking Heads. NYFA: What have been your favorite projects/productions to work on to date? I worked out my directorial aspirations early in life! I wanted to keep making films, so it was a natural transition to producing. While earning my Master of Fine Arts degree in Cinema, I wrote and directed so many films that I realized I did not want to direct as a career. Neal Weisman (NW): I initially wanted to become a writer-director. New York Film Academy (NYFA): How (and when) did you first get interested in producing?

In addition to his producing career, Neal is also the Vice President of Edward Pressman Film Corporation, which is responsible for producing films like David Byrne’s True Stories (1986), Wall Street (1987), Talk Radio (1988), Kathryn Bigelow’s Blue Steel (1989), and Barbet Schroeder’s Reversal of Fortune (1990), to name a few.Īn award-winning film and television producer with over 20 years of international experience, we spoke to Neal about his favorite projects, his time at NYFA, and what advice he’d give to those looking to get started in producing. He also produced Let’s Talk About Sex (2009), a documentary that was broadcast on TLC.

#EDWIN NEAL INTERVIEW SERIAL#

Neal’s producing credits include The Politician’s Wife (1995 ), which won a BAFTA and Peabody Award, as well as an International Emmy Award for Best Drama Serial Seeing Red (2000), which won a Christopher Award and My Kingdom (2001), starring Richard Harris in his last leading role.

Edwin neal interview