Tom Hanks on What Makes a Great Movie Director

Tom Hanks talks to Guy Raz about collaborating with legendary film directors like Ron Howard, Robert Zemeckis, and Stephen Spielberg.
Watch the full conversation here: • Tom Hanks Opens Up Abo...
Listen to the full episode on the go:
🟣 Apple Podcasts podcasts.apple...
🟢 Spotify open.spotify.c...

[@michaelhenricks4856]

One of the greatest parts of shooting a movie is the surprises the actors bring. I've shot with an Emmy winner and, oh my, what a treat. I wrote, directed and shot the film and I didn't know what it would be until they all left their mark on it.

[@bernicequigley4629]

One of my favorite collaborations was when Zemeckis says to Tom that he will have to get the boy who played young Forrest (Michael) to talk like him and Tom says why don't I talk like Michael? Genius and it worked beautifully.

[@steveneardley7541]

I remember Bruce Dern asked HItchcock why he was chosen for Family Plot, "Well, you always do interesting things." Another time Hitchcock didn't audition the person at all. They asked "When's my audition?" Hitchcock said, "I've seen you on stage. I know you can act."

[@acousticarchivefortwayne930]

Collaborative art takes a lot of trust, honesty, and secure egos. And like Tom said if you can get it cooking, "That's the Sauce."

[@GereDJ2]

Sort of like, "What can you bring to the party?". In fact some actors are so good at it, they become directors e.g. Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford, et al. This is something I was always good at in my radio career, I always had productive and creative input which most times was included.

[@MrVasmikey]

I think that 50% is the acting and collaboration but the rest is the individual attraction of the actor himself/herself. In many cases we watch a movie because we enjoy being around them.

[@rpervinking]

A guy once gave a talk that I sat in on about how to succeed, and he had reduced it to what a barely conscious audience could remember: show up, on time, dressed to play. That was about 30 years ago, and I still remember that. And here's Tom saying almost exactly the same things. "Dressed to play" is just code for ready to go, in whatever sense is relevant to the activity, but you know what I mean.

[@GnocchiTV]

That elevator bit in Splash always makes me laugh. I love that one elevator wasn’t even functional.

[@Ernoburger]

All this gold in these clips. So many simple, but inspiring lessons. I love it!!

[@garrybaldy327]

Just to warn people, it takes this guy over a minute to ask his first question.

[@Liam_Maddog]

Good grief, I thought Hanks was never going to get a word in edgewise.

[@sadjaxx]

Thanks! Time suck just starts to describe this interviewer.

[@paulsantamaria2605]

He's talking about what the great Buster Keaton called "Business".

[@jimfesta8981]

It seems you can always tell a good director by the quality of the production. Even if the written plot isn't all that good, the production itself is always first class.

[@Mrtellitlikeitis]

Ask the question. Christ, it’s a speech

[@sadjaxx]

He was trying to say that he knew more about movies than TOM HANKS!

[@edscott4729]

Michael Curtiz directed Casa Blanca.

[@Liam_Maddog]

You mean Casablanca?

[@stephenmcqually2983]

The 1st question - tell me what working with Ron Howard was like - took 65 seconds to ask

[@sickheadache9903]

Michael Curtiz Directed Casablanca!

[@uuclmusic2711]

How soon are the great ones forgotten…

[@In-N-Out333]

His Ron Howard impression is always the same as his Robert Zemeckis impression 😂

[@stflaw]

I hate it when an interviewer just keeps prattling on, effectively asking three separate questions before giving the interviewee a chance to speak. Throw in the interviewer's own opinions and observations intermixed into the question, and it's just a mess.

[@scottyk200]

80% of success is turning up on time.

[@thomastimlin1724]

His voice of caricature of Ron Howard is hilarious.

[@kennethcamilleri4678]

I was in a flower shop during my lunch hour….all of a sudden a crazed Ron Howard comes into the shop and tells everyone not to move because they were shooting the military sequence down Pine Street in the Financial District in NYC

[@JanitorIsBack]

when it takes a whole min to get to the question it is time to get a new host

[@PapaEli-pz8ff]

Sometimes it's just a matter of gaining experience.

[@Liam_Maddog]

@@PapaEli-pz8ff aaaaand sometimes it’s not.

[@MrGrouchofan]

Just ask a question. Please.

[@Opipop]

That’s a freakily accurate mimicry of Ron Howard. Go back and listen as he says ‘Is there anything else we can bring to this?’

[@luvslogistics1725]

Gervais opened my eyes to this guy and all his ilk

[@Lee-vb4vh]

Adding spices to the soup 🤔

[@film79]

I think Michael Curtiz directed Casablanca and I believe he also directed an Elvis movie, Jailhouse Rock or maybe King Creole?

[@yuckyool]

Cohen bros. are not particularly collaborative, but they make great films as well. I might guess that many Directors present as collaborative, but stand firm on certain issues.

[@lgerback34]

Made. Past tense. They don't work together anymore, alas.

[@ditlaboratory]

Ya'll messed up the spelling on Stevens name, lol

[@wrlord]

He's starting to look like James Carville.

[@chrisleblanc581]

I see Mr carville down the street all the time. Nope. Nope. Nope. Very different, unless thin and less hair is the only characteristics you are paying attention to. And every wit my that, hanks has quite a bit more heft and hair. They also sound and move completely differently.

[@paddyofurniture4681]

Do wah do wah do wah Diddy Tom skulked off to Greece, got caught doin the shiddy

[@skippy1813]

He lives in LA and has nothing to do with Diddy whatsoever 🤦‍♂️

[@dmlevitt]

tom hanks on being over exposed. tom hanks on tom hanks. tom hanks plugs his new.. . . . . .blah blah blah.

[@saifonlawrence2044]

Hanks was a regular on Epstein Island.

[@joeman7547]

(URGENT WARNING) Elvis Presley's twin brother Jessie Presley the "First Born Male Child" is"NOT" buried at Graceland with the Presley family members, the reason being they cannot find the body or the Grave of Jessie Presley, Jessie Presley will be one of the Great Signs from heaven spoken of in the book of (St.luke 21;11)"And Great Signs shall there be from Heaven", These Great Biblical signs will take place in the city of San Luis Obispo, California. The Whole world will be Watching, all media's will focus on this Great Biblical event, Woe !

[@tamhederson]

Does us all a very big favor....and politely Piss off

[@tamhederson]

do us all a really big favor and politely piss off....

[@Factsarefreedom]

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

[@johngibson6758]

Lay off the mushrooms mate! 😂😂

[@merickful]

Someone call Dexter Morgan. It's Doomsday Duo all over again.