Christopher Nolan reveals how he gets his films in early — and under budget
Asked how he reliably beats both the clock and the accountants, Christopher Nolan gave a distinctly practical answer in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
There’s not many directors with a track record like Christopher Nolan when it comes to sticking to a schedule – and keeping the studio’s bean-counters happy. Fresh off The Odyssey smashing box office records, Nolan’s been chatting about why he always seems to wrap things up both early and under budget. Turns out, it’s all about keeping meddling hands at bay.
The film earned $264 million during its opening weekend.
Hands Off the Set
In a sit-down with The Hollywood Reporter, Nolan was quizzed on his no-fuss productions. He explained that the secret is simple: ‘If you stay on time and on budget, there’s a lot less interference’ – meaning studio execs aren’t hovering over your shoulder during every take. Apparently, he picked up this trick early in his directing days. The logic’s classic Nolan: if you don’t give anyone a reason to panic, they’ll leave you alone and you’re free to make your own creative compromises, instead of fighting off changes you never wanted in the first place.
Nolan was keen to stress that there’s no universal way to make a film: plenty of filmmakers push boundaries with timeframes and budgets, and that’s fine by him. But for his money, he’ll keep his compromises under his control – and frankly, if it keeps the films as sharp as they’ve been, who’s arguing?
Odyssey, Horror, and IMAX
That’s not all he covered. Nolan joked about his growing love for horror, quipping you no longer need to twist his arm for a scary story – ‘just buy a ticket’. And after making The Odyssey, he’s apparently ‘hungry for more’ of the same. On the technical front, Nolan sees improvements to IMAX cameras on the horizon (music to the ears of anyone who’s had to change film reels at 4am).
For fans of The Prestige, there’s a neat bit of nostalgia coming. It’s heading for a 20th anniversary re-release in crisp 70mm, so the rivalry can play out on the big screen one last time. Meanwhile, The Odyssey isn’t just critically lauded – it’s now Nolan’s single biggest global opening, pulling in that wild $264 million in the first weekend alone.