JRE 1375 · October 31, 2019

Edward Norton

filmbusinesshistorypsychology

Who is Edward Norton?

Edward Norton is an actor, writer, producer, director, and filmmaker. His new film "Motherless Brooklyn" opens in theaters on November 1 .

Topics and Timestamps

01Edward Norton discusses his creative process for writing, directing, and starring in Motherless Brooklyn
02Norton explains the challenges of adapting Jonathan Lethem's novel into a film screenplay
03Conversation covers Norton's approach to method acting and character development
04Discussion about the film industry, studio politics, and creative control in Hollywood
05Norton shares insights on his directorial vision and working with actors on set
06Talk about the noir genre, 1950s New York City setting, and visual storytelling techniques
▶Norton explains why he took on writer, director, producer, and acting roles0:05:00
▶Discussion of adapting Jonathan Lethem's Motherless Brooklyn novel to screen0:15:30
▶Norton breaks down his character development and acting process0:35:00
▶Conversation about creative control and studio politics in Hollywood0:55:00
▶Norton discusses the noir genre, 1950s NYC setting, and visual cinematography1:15:00

The Show

Edward Norton sits down with Joe on JRE 1375 to talk about his latest film Motherless Brooklyn, which hits theaters November 1st. Norton wears multiple hats on this project as writer, director, producer, and star, which means he's got a ton to unpack about the creative process from every angle.

The conversation dives deep into how Norton adapted Jonathan Lethem's beloved novel for the screen. He explains that the book is dense and intricate, so condensing it into a screenplay that maintains the essence while working as a film required serious thought. Norton talks about the challenge of preserving the voice of the protagonist while making it cinematic enough to work on screen.

Norton gets into his acting approach for the role, discussing how he builds characters and stays in the mindset throughout production. He's clearly someone who thinks deeply about motivation and psychology, which comes through in how he breaks down his process. The conversation touches on method acting and whether it's necessary, with Norton being thoughtful rather than dogmatic about his own techniques.

They discuss the realities of filmmaking in Hollywood, including studio interference, the fight for creative control, and how being a recognizable actor gives you certain leverage that newer filmmakers don't have. Norton's pretty candid about the politics of getting films made, the compromises involved, and how he navigates those conversations.

The noir genre and the 1950s New York City setting become a major topic. Norton talks about the visual language of the film, the cinematography, and how he wanted to capture a specific era and mood. There's clearly a lot of visual storytelling happening in Motherless Brooklyn, and Norton is passionate about those details.

Overall, it's a conversation with someone who genuinely cares about craft, whether that's acting, writing, or directing. Norton comes across as intelligent and articulate without being pretentious, which is refreshing when talking to someone this accomplished.

Best Quotes

“I wanted to make sure the film had the voice of the character, but in a way that works cinematically”

— Edward Norton