Great Film Producers Series
While the common adage suggests that every movie begins with its script, it is often the producers who represent the true genesis of a film’s journey. These relentless, visionary, and occasionally eccentric figures ignite the process that transforms a script into cinematic reality. It is the most tenacious of producers who—against formidable odds—shepherd remarkable films through years of development challenges and industry upheavals, leaving an indelible mark on the medium and on culture at large.
In this series, participants explored the financial, creative, and logistical struggles behind the making of several pioneering films. The discussions traced how individual producers and production teams shaped projects through taste, persistence, and sometimes sheer force of will.
We examined the work and legacy of:
• Hal B. Wallis — Casablanca and Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet
• Samuel Goldwyn — The Best Years of Our Lives and Dodsworth
• Megan Ellison — Her and Zero Dark Thirty
• Bert Schneider — Days of Heaven and The Last Picture Show
• Roger Corman — Pit and the Pendulum and The Intruder
• Sam Spiegel — The Bridge on the River Kwai and On the Waterfront
Across the sessions, the group dug into production histories, budgetary gambles, creative conflicts, and the unpredictable forces that shape how (and whether) films make it to the screen. Together, we looked beyond the finished works to understand the invisible labor—and the personalities—that made them possible.