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Jason Reitman on Hollywood’s grown-up comic dramas
Film director Jason Reitman.
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Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Sony Pictures
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Getty Images North America
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Topline:
As Jason Reitman’s new film "Saturday Night" arrives in theaters, the writer-director talks about his crusade to keep alive Hollywood’s grown-up comic dramas and experience-driven movie theaters.
Why it matters: Hollywood doesn’t make nearly as many adult comedies or dramas for theaters as it once did. And those theaters are promoted for their “great picture and great sound” to see superhero flicks, not as places to have a communal experience for all kinds of movies. Jason Reitman is bucking both those trends, hoping to keep alive the spirit of originality and showmanship that are in shorter supply in the industry these days.
Saturday Night lessons: Reitman’s new movie, Saturday Night, revolves around the 90 minutes leading up to the first episode of Saturday Night Live in 1975. The moment marked a turning point for television and mainstream comedy, as young, fresh voices became undeniable and the show has been one of their prime breeding grounds ever since. As Reitman celebrates that moment when the older gatekeepers let a new generation emerge, he sees a similar modern through-line with TikTok and how “the next great performers are going to be...kids telling a narrative in 6 to 10 seconds with a different kind of sense of humor.”
Westwood Theater revamp: Reitman assembled a star-studded coterie of directors to buy and restore the 1,400-seat Fox Westwood Village theater, which was “languishing” out in Westwood. His goal is to foster a place and a community where young directors can show their films to passionate audiences. “What we’re interested in is what we can do in Westwood that reminds you of the romance of going to see the movies,” he says, “and what lessons we can learn that can then extend to other movie theaters across the country.”
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