| Level | Item |
| Ref No | GUA/9/4/1/4/1/8 |
| Title | Saul Zaentz |
| Date | 15 December 1998 |
| Extent | 1 audio cassette tape, 2 WAV files (673.2 MB and 119.5 MB) |
| Creator Name | British Film Institute (BFI), 1933- |
| Guardian News & Media Ltd, 1967- |
| Description | Audio recording of an interview with producer Saul Zaentz in front of a live audience undertaken as part of the Guardian sponsored National Film Theatre Guardian interview series.
The recording begins with an introduction by Sandra Hebron of the National Film Theatre followed by a series of film clips showcasing Zaentz's work. Questions are then put to Zaentz by host Nick Powell. 24:28 to 33:15 on track 1 includes questions from the audience about the clips, after which Powell continues with the format. The recording comprises a question and answer session with members of the audience from 46.38 on track 1.
A summary of key topics is included below.
Track 1:
00.00 Introductions and clips
05:55 The editing of The Unbearable Lightness of Being
08:56 Discussing The English Patient
11:40 Verisimilitude in Amadeus
14:27 What the 'F' in F. Murray Abraham stands for
14:17 Discussing Mozart's laugh in Amadeus
18:41 Casting and shooting One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
24:28 Problems with producing The English Patient
28:40 On casting Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
31:50 On casting Tom Hulce in Amadeus
32:35 Milo Forman's input on scripts
33:15 Zaentz's early career in Chicken Husbandry
36:00 Moving from music to films and their differences
37:51 Adapting One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
41:12 Working on Payday
42:25 Reception of Three Warriors
43:00 Adapting Amadeus from the play
44:20 The benefit of casting lesser-known actors
45:27 Issues with creating The Lord of the Rings
48:04 The relationship between director and producer
52:03 Early experiences with watching films
54:24 His favourite film out of the ones he has produced
55:08 The future of independent films and Hollywood studios
57:20 How to tell a script has potential
58:26 Projects he regrets turning down
59:23 Raising money for films
1:01:02 What he does with unsolicited screenplays
Track 2:
00:00 What he does with unsolicited screenplays (cont.)
00:30 Pressure to cast stars in films
05:10 Lessons he would impart to young filmmakers
07:00 Current projects
07:34 Common threads between his films
Films mentioned in the course of this interview; The Unbearable Lightness of Being; The English Patient; Amadeus; One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest; Last Detail; Payday; Three Warriors; The Lord of the Rings; The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and The Phantom of the Opera [1925 version]. |
| Access Status | Open |
| Access Conditions | Access to recording via GNM Digital Repository |
| Format | Electronic record |
| Tape recording |