"I Try Not To Think Of Actors When I'm Writing" - Christopher Nolan

While it may seem like he had them in mind all along, Robert Downey Jr. and Cillian Murphy were invited to star in 'Oppenheimer' only after writer and director Christopher Nolan had completed the script.
#Colbert #ChristopherNolan #Oppenheimer
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Stephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology and more. Featuring bandleader Louis Cato and ���THE LATE SHOW band,��� the Peabody Award-winning and Emmy Award-nominated show is broadcast from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater. Stephen Colbert took over as host, executive producer and writer of THE LATE SHOW on Sept. 8, 2015.

[@troyroude6469]

I love this version of interview rather than a guest in a seat and stephen behind a desk. This felt so much more real and personal. Please do more.

[@definitelynosebreather]

Especially for introvert guests, it allows them to express them fully!

[@theempire00]

No other guests deserve this type of format ☺️

[@THEBIGZED]

Nolan is one of those rare creative talents that always have me wondering "what will they do next". Whatever it is, it always ends up being completely fascinating.

[@Nathan-gd7xq]

Fast and the Furious 13

[@THEBIGZED]

@@Nathan-gd7xq You mean Fast And The Furr13s

[@mbadjaho4]

Some people rise early.

[@mbadjaho4]

I don't.

[@waynekent6239]

I would not say he is talented. He has made only two films from original source. Batman and all the others are from other sources. There is a huge difference between a craftsman and an artist. He is a crafts man with twenty writers and a big crew.

[@mandcbruce]

Grateful to you Stephen for inserting a little goofiness into this otherwise rather cerebral conversation. The Alaskan Malumut side by side with Cillian Murphy was damn funny.😂

[@gagelindell271]

No.

[@800Ms-k6n]

The fact that Christopher Nolan didn't go to film school and now ended up being one of the best filmmakers of the 21st century is freaking amazing

[@lar9299]

Just as Tarantino. Whenever they ask him of he studied cinema, he says "no, I went to the cinema"

[@TIG5574]

Steven Spielberg did but dropped out early.

[@brachema]

Stanley Kubrick didn't go to film school either.

[@MM-jc7uv]

Film school isn’t a necessity. If anything it’s mostly useful for networking. Just write a great script and have a vision

[@roquefortfiles]

Neither did Spielberg

[@Godhelpus803]

Very well done interview. Colbert patiently allowed Nolan to fully answer the questions (there were actually only a few) and the audience was given a rare insight into the mind of a creative genius.

[@StewChicken42]

Through his explanation of how he "runs movie sets" and directs actors, looks for traits in them and so on... Man, this guy truly is a genius of filmmaking... 🤯 Loved his praise of RDJ's casting as Iron Man too, of course. ♥

[@wolfgangdarkly]

Saw the film three times in the theater. Masterpiece! 0:30 Gaspar Noe wrote the screenplay to Enter the Void in the first person as well.

[@susanrosegale6646]

"It's like losing into an Alaskan Malamute or something". Totally, totally true - great interview Stephen!!! Love Christopher Nolan and his work. Amazing movie.

[@WIN3K322]

Chris Nolan mentioned 28 Days Later. I love that movie. It introduces me to Cillian Murphy. I still have a DVD copy of that movie.

[@karenrobinson5829]

You should watch Breakfast in Pluto. He's wonderfully sweet and cheeky as the lead.

[@MisterGaryCooper]

Mr. Nolan does things the hard way and it shows. I mean that as a most sincere compliment.

[@rjmacready9828]

Arguably the best filmmaker of the 21st century...

[@natefoldan]

Easy argument to win

[@jeremysears4263]

Chistopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve are the 2 blockbuster directors that I'm completely blown away by

[@michaelscot4816]

Two BRILLIANT humans in conversation. Makes me miss Christopher Hitchens. 😊🤯

[@janetkriegl6720]

RIP C. Hitchens. But he became an increasingly pompous blowhard. The antithesis of these two men.

[@tanirae]

Phenomenal interview! Thank you. Now I have to go watch all of his movies.

[@vinilima1227]

I love Christopher Nolan so much !!!!!! One of my fav directors top 5 easily!!!!!!! In my opinion he is one of the FEW directors who never made one bad movie, even the ones that are my least favorites they’re still good movies. I love this guy so much. A genius !!!! ❤❤❤

[@johhny711]

Stephen Colberrrrs way of interviewing is funnyintelligent .

[@quesnelle200]

Colbert*

[@GodBlessOurIndpendence]

Exactly 😂😂😂😂

[@gagelindell271]

Hes not funny and hes a total puppet now.

[@loreespeechly8413]

He throws shade, mocks cillian murphy

[@fernandooliveiralino]

Cinema on entire episode of the TV! So nice. Thank you, Stephen.

[@celestialnubian]

Colbert is just the best. Trevor was up there too in my book but he left us. Jon is back next week so we have that to look forward to.

[@gagelindell271]

omg that was funny! nice one

[@brendaoneill1581]

Thank you for this interview Stephan ... this gave me so much information on how it's decided how great production of important films comes together. Great interview with Mr. Nolan .. loved his inhibition with your questions

[@thefilmginger]

One of the truly most wonderful things about Christopher Nolan is that he is able to sit down in interviews like this, where he might have been encouraged to depart from his usual self and be a little bit more relaxed & assured in what he says and does, yet here we are again with another classic example of Nolan literally being NOLAN: calm, decent-mannered, absolutely un-profane (Nolan's funny plea to Colbert to not "do him down on the blowing shit up" part of his movies/career back in the Interstellar days of Comedy Central was fantastic) and fully with the knowledge of speaking to his audience 100% intelligently about his cinematic profession. It's why he is my current favorite filmmaker to this day. The man earns and deserves his audience, and moreso, his full attention.

[@paulcooper1046]

He's next level, no question.

[@GodBlessOurIndpendence]

I love how Christopher Nolan is that very smart at casting, he knows that Cillian will fit with Oppie with those blue Alaskan dog eyes 😅, knows how well Downey is perfect for Strauss, Blunt is awesome as Kitty and he’s pick who ever to play who. He’s just knows who could be perfect playing who the heck they’re playing he’s just truly a genius and born to be a fantastic goated filmmaker and he’s definitely my most favorite of all time

[@jkstubbington]

Colbert is just truly EXCEPTIONAL at what he does. What a gift to get to travel the mind and perspective of a brilliant creative, Mr. Nolan, through the excellent questions and insights of Mr. Colbert.

[@sandrab2884]

Cilian Murphy is absolutely among the top tier of talent in acting this generation. I believe his only competition is Gary Oldman...not many can compete with his diversity and dedication. Love him.

[@danielbarrero2815]

This is a great interview!

[@DDR131]

Now I need Denis Villeneuve's interview before Dune Part Two.

[@hundredfireify]

YES, please

[@dallasbhowell8485]

Why? So he can explain why he left all the rich depth and intrigue out of the book and added big action set pieces that didn't need to be in it? I do love part one it's visually stunning, but it's seriously lacking in that heavily complicated intensity that makes DUNE so difficult and great.

[@Drummer1000George]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpakgWdnhpWHhKM

[@TricameralPerspective]

what are you yapping about? The first one is brilliant and commercial enough to merit its success. Obviously, you can't adapt a book 1 to 1 so he made appropriate changes.​@@dallasbhowell8485

[@FilmGamerCom]

Stephen is a Dune fanatic no doubt he'll get him interviewed.

[@twononcriticsandacat]

Cillian Murphy better get that Oscar if these awards still have the purpose of rewarding the best performance and not the narrative that most fits the year and the politics.

[@jackstraw4129]

Netflix: Peaky Blinders. Cillian Murphy at his finest.

[@oskarneftel3756]

I mean I wouldn't be mad if he did. His performance was really good but the best one this year was probably Paul Giamatti in the Holdovers.

[@user-gt6ye8cr4z]

watch the BAFTAs 02/18/2024. always a great show.

[@frankathl1]

@@oskarneftel3756 While I bear no ill-feeling towards Giamatti at all, I am quite surprised both by his nomination, and that of The Holdovers for Best Picture. Paul is a fine comedic actor who deserves to be recognised for his work, but here his performance feels just a bit like Paul Giamatti being Paul Giamatti, bringing to mind some of his earlier roles, such as in Sideways. The nomination seems to me a classic example of a desire to honour Giamatti’s body of work through the years - a worthy sentiment, but one which should really be acknowledged by means of the occasional Lifetime Achievement Oscars, and not used to deprive a singular performance in another film of the honour.

[@NewMessage]

Yep... that Robert Downey Jr gonna go places.

[@Dapryor]

He’ll be huge one day.

[@j_k_rz]

​@@Dapryor hmm.. maybe I guess he will need to prove that he can build something in a cave... With a box of scraps

[@B.B-Ghost]

Christopher Nolan. Congratulations on your massive win on Oppenheimer. I watched it last year on cinema, it was splendid. Now if you get the talented British actor Nicholas Galitzine on your list of actors to choose for the next project you have in mind, you would be doing the planet a favor, he is exquisite. Thankyou. B.B

[@steffantherock]

I sometimes thought that Colbert may be a little out of his depth here but his playful style and simplistic questions often warrant the most honest and interesting answers.

[@luciferkkx1878]

Nolan is an such a great director of Hollywood's

[@RedRumble14]

Chris Nolan has always been 50 it seems! He looks exactly the way i would imagine a person with that name and creativity would look like. Also, he is rich as heck!

[@AVOWIRENEWS]

Christopher Nolan's approach to scriptwriting is fascinating! It's impressive how he focuses on the story and character development without being influenced by specific actors. This method must really help in creating unique and intriguing characters that can be brought to life by a wide range of talented actors. It's always exciting to see how different actors interpret and portray the characters that come from such a creative and open-ended writing process. Nolan's films are known for their depth and complexity, and this insight into his writing process sheds light on how these captivating narratives are crafted!

[@h7opolo]

he eloquently states our subconscious inklings.

[@leeraewi]

It was interesting seeing the contrast between the Oppenheimer head shot vs. Cillian Murphy promo pic here, because there is an important difference in the eyes. Cillian's is much more surrendered and shell-shocked. Oppenheimer still has some fight and query in those eyes. It's interesting to see them juxtaposed in this way.

[@leeraewi]

The real Oppenheimer looks like he would rip a barb into you - a lot of fight - whereas Cillian looks like he's just fully leaned in on self-destruct.

[@rehnumachowdhury3629]

​@leeraewi well yeah it's just a promotional shot, in the film there are scenes when Oppenheimer has that icy sharp stare, e.g. in scenes with strauss, or Fermi

[@shikharsav]

I thought it's April because it must be my birthday that I get so many Christopher Nolan interviews with Stephen Colbert!

[@noroyalbloodline3983]

What a great director

[@stephbreizh]

Any actor would say yes to Nolan before knowing what they will do.

[@leeaxon01]

3:02 the addition of the canned laughter from the 50's was a master stroke. An amazing movie. Everyone should watch it. Keep it up.

[@landonfolken03]

Canned? It's the audience. They're watching the interview in the studio.

[@sebastienrobit]

landonfolken, this is absolutely a lie. these laughs are not the real laughs of the watching audience. impossible to make the sound of laughter rise and fall in a natural way. it's completely artificial. and you know it very well.

[@mullen25]

great interview!

[@connorberry6377]

Those laugh tracks are so jarring

[@sebastienrobit]

🙏🙏 it's even unbearable

[@omegaswiper]

This was an amazing movie. It gets better and better.

[@TheDilligan]

I'm just waiting for the camera to back out and reveal they are both wearing the Ugg Boots that Emily Blunt gave them. That would be brilliant. Lol but I doubt Nolan would have agreed to it.

[@emily60156]

Great interview. Christopher Nolan is a fascinating individual, as is Cillian Murphy. But, Alaskan Malamutes have brown eyes. It's the Siberian Huskies that have blue eyes.

[@Nournour-lc2eu]

Imagine tom cruise as a villain as his old role in collateral with some inspiration from mads mikkelsen character in casino royal , who does his dirty villain work , and Christopher nolan directing it , what a movie would that be.

[@pgknippel]

My IQ just doubled watching these two in conversation

[@gagelindell271]

With Colbert killing brain cells I would say the math doesnt check out here. It was a cancellation of brain cells.

[@undrtdentertainment]

thanks to the editing team for showing us what a malamute looks like lol

[@loreespeechly8413]

Cillian Murphy carried this movie being in just about every frame.

[@tylersandusky]

I cant believe that they uploaded these parts out of order, but also they placed what part it is on the lower right hand side.... on mobile you cant see it because the time stamp is in the way. Either way still love you Colbert❤

[@Brickoliciousness]

I love that they labeled it. I've complained so much about that. But yeah, I can't see it either due to the timestamp.

[@clem9796]

But the segments stand alone, there's no cliffhanger between them, so why does it bother you guys? Just askin.

[@tylersandusky]

@@clem9796 When you see it in the feed you love to see how it starts and ends. Its like listening to an album on random. The way the intended for it to be viewed by the whole crew is scrambled.

[@fademusic1980]

Since heath ledger was brought up, id like to take this moment to reassert his performance as the joker is the best live action performance of that character ever. Jack Nicholsons joker was impactful for its time, but its just jack nicholson in some makeup putting on a personality. I dont see heath ledger when i see his joker, i see the fucking joker.

[@RB-.-]

Heath absolutely has the best portrayal. Jack's was good for the tone of the movie. And Joaquin Phoenix is great showing the transition from human to character with a twist.

[@TheRockinBK]

Nolan appears intimidating but he’s quite affable and humble. It’s interesting he jokes that Oppie’s intellect is superior to his own yet it’s clearly untrue, the smartest filmmakers are right up there with the smartest physicists & the intersection if the 2 worlds on the big screen is just fascinating!

[@magicmike7198]

It's a good thing that an artist like him, a creator, an explorer, is breaking new ground. Like Kubrick before him. But I, who am only a wannabe screenwriter, would never be able, nor would I want to write a screenplay without thinking about actors and actresses in particular. That would take the fun out of it. Yes, of course, thinking about someone in particular can trap the character in a mold. But at the same time, as a creator, you don't have to tell anyone who you were thinking about. In addition, it allows you to give a particular color to a character. After all, the screenwriter must make all the characters speak, think and act. These characters are all a part of the screenwriter. How can that screenwriter succeed in distinguishing them, in separating them from each other? How to make them speak differently? For me, who is only a beginner and still have so much to learn, thinking about actors and actresses helps me in addition to being stimulating and pleasant. I have the impression that an actor who then reads the script will have an easier time perceiving the character since that character will have the same “color” from start to finish. This actor doesn't have to know that I was thinking, for example, of De Niro while writing. He will give it its own color. Maybe I will change with time. Who knows? But for now, the most important thing is to have fun when I write. And not thinking about a particular actor or actress wouldn't be fun. It's my secret garden.

[@b-dub6865]

“I think that RDK playing Iron Man was one of the most consequential casting decisions that’s ever been made in the history of the movie business.” Wow! That’s one helluva compliment!

[@mojimojo]

Well actually…Purebred Alaskan Malamutes do NOT have blue eyes. Huskies and mixed Malamutes maybe but not purebred. 😅

[@gojiplusone]

Bergman did the first-person screenplay thing for Wild Strawberries.

[@richardpisano1173]

That's Nassau Street in Princeton N.J. I always wanted to check it out but it was always closed..[was just cool,sorry folks]

[@muhammadkafiansyah9773]

Chris nolan = Oscar

[@famicomplicated]

Anyone else really put off by Stephen looking at his notes for the first five seconds of each question even after Christopher Nolan has started speaking? It feels very rude to not make eye contact with him. And you can see it in Nolan‘s face, he’s thinking “dude why are you looking at the paper when I’m talking“

[@polypeptide]

I noticed that too.

[@joshfactor1]

i think it must be a tall order to scare the scarecrow

[@carrrules85]

I'm not going to lie subconsciously I was drawing a lot of comparisons between Robert Downey Jr.'s character and Tony Stark still even though I knew it wasn't a movie about Tony Stark every time I see Robert in any movie now he always seems to take on the iconic role of Iron Man in my own mind😂

[@tykjenffs]

Ever since Batman Begins, Nolan was destined for great Ensemble Movies.

[@blipmachine]

2 5 3 1 4 is a terrific upload order tbh

[@Joydeep2000]

Damn I never knew americans would give Nolan this rock star treatment.

[@petermueller7407]

0:25 anybody knows what a watch he wears?

[@yurielcundangan9090]

RdJ really entertains

[@Malouco]

I just realized that was Celian in 28days later 😮

[@peoplewillallsmile]

I hope Nolan does Hot Ones too.

[@LV_SL]

Why doe this make me want Nolan on Hot Ones?

[@bojome3751]

Can you please upload those in the original order

[@jcgaming908]

I got this feeling that Oppenheimer regretted making that disgusting bomb.

[@spextrekid9410]

"...one of the most consequential casting decisions in movie history".... about Robert Downey Jr. as Ironman. Can't say I disagree.

[@naylas3908]

Part 2

[@yurielcundangan9090]

RDJ always entertain

[@phantomfire8228]

4:24

[@captainscarletxbox3912]

Oh please just load the whole interview, or are least tag the parts. Its like memento.....oh wait, now I get it

[@sahabrandon1]

Because of Robert Downey Jr , i was inspired to take mechanical engineering and now my life is doomed as there is no scope or good job in it 😮‍💨

[@scbtripwire]

Man I wish Late Show KZbin clips were published in chronological order. The only videos in which it's obvious which is first and last in this interview is how Stephen introduces the clips. Drives me nuts to fail at something so basic.

[@joewas2225]

"I try not to think about actors when I'm writing" & We all know that's not always true

[@thatguywillt]

"You're welcome, America" - Jon Favreau, probably.

[@johnsonenglishstudio9279]

6 movie stars, multiple Oscar winners and Matt Damon.

[@ASSamiYT]

Both of these were actually Daniel Day-Lewis.

[@gestaltenflicker]

Well, that shows.

[@peravatar]

Learn from Jimmy Kimmel’s channel, whoever running this page. You’re uploading in many parts and so late.

[@DARWINZOO]

Mmmm. Really? Late? That's because of watching on KZbin. Seth is the same way.

[@MasterSandman]

And the interview parts are uploaded out of order, so you never know where to start and which part comes next! Please, either put them in order or add part-numbers. Edit: Never mind, I watched it on my phone, didn't see the part numbers in the corner there... the video duration indicator was in the way. Please, do this from now on with all the segmented interviews! 👍

[@Laura-b2t9v]

Learn from Stephen Colbert's channel. Colbert is better

[@janetkriegl6720]

Well, part numbers were added this time.@@MasterSandman

[@MasterSandman]

@@janetkriegl6720 I realised, that's why I edited my comment. In my defence, when you watch these on your phone the part numbers hide behind the timer... and this was also the first time they've done something like this!

[@fernandomargueirat6454]

How many layers of clothing is Nolan wearing? 😂

[@jujitsujew23]

so cool that you labeled these so we could keep them in order. Incredibly annoying you hid the number behind the one place you can't see it...the bottom right corner behind where it say how long the video is. Seriously, how hard is it just to label a series of clips so we can watch them in order??

[@samuelchepkwony4895]

'None taken.' 🤚

[@nav689]

What watch is he wearing here?

[@Adriana-rf1lp]

We know he doesn't think.

[@peterfazari4765]

Anyone know the type of watch Nolan is wearing?

[@asynchronicity]

Non-linear

[@claudiazambrano5689]

Alaskan Malamutes will never have blue eyes…. If they do they are Huskies, not Malamutes

[@entoptik]

A first person script was written for the film "Enter the void." Dir: Gaspar Noé in 2009

[@SUBCITIZEN666]

Oof what a movie!!! 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

[@belatar]

this could have been a great interview if you had let him finish a sentence or two.

[@bratis99]

interesting, I'm a writer, and yet curious...

[@TheConstructiveCritic888]

What’s up with the canned laughter

[@tonybravodon]

Stephen.....yes you may need a new uploading team...... I try to watch you but have to wait until the next day😮

[@AToEachHisOwnCinema]

Gasper Noe had written the script of Enter the Void (2010) in First-Person, 13 years before Christopher Nolan did it…

[@Jabberstax]

He should fire his barber.

[@StefanPolomsky]

If you have more than one part, would you please number it. It's annoying that the default order on KZbin doesn't reflect the order one should watch it (well... watching one part that refers to another that wasn't watched yet, due to this).

[@RB-.-]

Why the laugh tracks for an off studio interview? So cringe

[@EamonKelly]

They're not laugh tracks. It's a pre-recorded interview that they're airing during the live show to the live audience.

[@sebastienrobit]

Eamonkelly Fake !! This is absolutely a lie. these laughs are not the real laughs of the watching audience. impossible to make the sound of laughter rise and fall in a natural way. it's completely artificial. and you know it very well.

[@EamonKelly]

@@sebastienrobit Whatever you say. Hope you’re doing ok.

[@sebastienrobit]

@@EamonKelly Thank you for your concern, I am very well. it's just that this way of artificializing people's presence in an interview makes me angry. Especially when it is to question one of the best directors of the moment who does the best in the perfection of image and sound. So yes, it's just an interview, yes that's how the show has been doing it for years but still, what a charade.

[@Mgh-r]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@21972012145525]

Im surprised and sad neither nolan or Colbert mentioned anything about the current bombing of Palestine when discussing Oppenheimer. Real life implications deserve to be discussed and criticized, not just in art form

[@MariikhoNingshen]

Lame