Collider recently got the opportunity to chat in-depth about the project with Ball and Bettany.
Watch the video and/or read the transcript below.
COLLIDER: Alan, what was it that made you wait so long to direct another movie?
Image via Amazon Studios
ALAN BALL: Yes, I was busy withTrue Blood.
I did one season of a series for HBO that ended up not going, after the first season.
So, I was pretty busy.
Image via Amazon Studios
But also, its difficult to get a little movie like this made.
And I think probably the answer to a lot of people who read this script was, No.
So, thank you.
Image via Amazon Studios
So, thats what took so long.
Paul, was the script your first impression of this project?
Or did you talk to Alan Ball first?
Image via Amazon Studios
Im always slightly suspicious when someone does that, like whats wrong with the script?
Alans note was really, really short.
It was, Id love for you to be in my movie.
Image via Amazon Studios
I was incredibly flattered, being a big Alan Ball fan.
I got the good one.
And then, we got on the phone and we had an amazing conversation.
BALL: We laughed a lot.
Alan, what was it that made you see Paul in this role?
And Paul, what was it that made you see yourself in the role?
The phone conversation that he just referenced, it was very clear to me that he got the script.
Why did I do it?
Its a really good question.
I was just genuinely asking that question.
Its like going to a therapist at 50.
It gets a bit more embarrassing, the older you are.
They said, “How do you bring that energy, and what about your mental health?”
So, there I was with my brothers t-shirt at a grave again.
Alan is a master when it comes to these intimate family ensemble stories.
BETTANY: First of all, Im resistant to calling myself a director.
I think youve gotta get two under your belt.
One is a mistake or something.
Two, you really mean it, and I havent done two yet.
Maybe Ill start calling myself a director if I direct a second one.
But “yes” is the answer.
A good actor is not protecting you, as the director or the producer.
He or she is not trying to help you make your day.
But Alan had all of the good ideas.
Alan, do you feel that all of your extensive TV experience helps when youre directing films?
Are there any ways that the experience youve had doing television changes or affects how you approach film?
BETTANY: I think thats true.
Paul, we now know thatWandaVisionwill be available to stream at Disney+ on January 15, 2021.
How did making that compare to the movies that you made in the MCU?
Did it feel different in any noticeable way?
BETTANY: No, not really.
If you think about it, what Kevin Feige has done is like a grand TV experiment anyway.
We basically ran it twice with the three cameras, running between sets.
That allows you to bank all of that time for the action.
Usually, you have two episodes with a director.
All of the bonkers stuff will be about something.
You mentioned exploring different eras.
Is it paying homage to a lot of different eras, or is it mostly 50s and 60s?
BETTANY: Its the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and all of it.
And then, we end up in the MCU, in the real world.
Alan, do you feel like you have another TV show in you?
Is that the next thing you might do, or are you looking more at film?
BETTANY: Yes, Im in it.
Its calledUncle Frank on Ice.
BALL: Yes, absolutely.
But Im working right now on a pitch for a limited series television show.
Im working on a pilot for a TV show that Im just writing for myself.
Its a show I would like to see.
Whether anybody wants to do it or not, well see.
Maybe one of those will go.
I think I had some anger to work out.
BETTANY: You think?
BALL: Well see.
Its not up to me.
Now I desperately want to and need to see this slasher movie.
BALL: Well, well see.
Several people have passed on it already.
Maybe well find somebody that wants to make it.
Is the limited series that you mentioned another ensemble family story, or is it something very different?
BALL: Its about the family that created the Zankou Chicken restaurant chain.
Its a family of immigrants.
Its a family of Armenians who came to America and created this restaurant franchise.
It ends in insane tragedy.
There was a double murder and a suicide.
Its very light fare.
Were just at the pitching stage.
BETTANY: Oh, gosh, I dont know.
I wrote something during quarantine with my friend that I really like, thats a comedy about his life.
BALL: That sounds great.
BETTANY: Ill send it to you, Alan.
Id love you to read it.
The truth is that nobody wants to make a movie about quarantine.
They wanna forget about it.
But its got lots of jokes in it, and theyre pretty good jokes.
I thought itd be really nice to do something that was funny this time.
BALL: Thats a great idea.
BETTANY: Ill send it to you, Alan.
BALL: Id love to read it.
BETTANY: Im really proud of it and Id like to hear your thoughts.
So, if somebody wanted to give me the money to make that, Id love to do that.
Its very contained and can be shot during a lockdown.
Uncle Frankis now available to stream at Amazon Prime Video.
