A significant moment in contemporary cinema history occurred at the Sands International Film Festival in St Andrews, Scotland where Steven Soderbergh sat down with Joe and Anthony Russo to discuss their 2002 film Welcome to Collinwood. The movie, produced by Soderbergh and George Clooney, featured a stellar cast including William H. Macy, Isaiah Washington, Sam Rockwell, Luis Guzmán, and Patricia Clarkson. This collaboration came after the Russos’ debut feature Pieces, which failed to make an impact at Slamdance in 1997. Soderbergh, who had attended the doomed screening of Pieces, reached out to the directing duo to offer guidance.
Despite the lack of interest in Pieces, Soderbergh recognized the Russos’ talent and ambition, which led to the production of Welcome to Collinwood. The film, produced by Soderbergh and Clooney through their Section Eight production company for Warner Bros., was a personal, wacky project influenced by 30’s serial comedies like The Bowery Boys. While Collinwood did not perform well at the box office, Warner Bros. encouraged the filmmakers to create the unique crime caper about small-time thieves from Cleveland.
At the time of Collinwood’s production, Soderbergh was exploring experimental titles like Kafka, The Underneath, and Schizopolis following the success of sex, lies and videotape. He reflected on the dangers of being frozen in a moment of early success and the need to continue evolving and trying new things as a filmmaker. Soderbergh also discussed his struggles to get backing from Universal for his film Out of Sight after his experimental phase.
The conversation about the Russos’ transition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with Captain America: The Winter Soldier and culminating in Avengers: Endgame, revealed their passion for comic books and their dream job working on these blockbuster films. Soderbergh played a role in advocating for the Russos to Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, ultimately supporting their move into the superhero genre. The Q&A at the festival provided insights into the film industry and the collaborative efforts between filmmakers.
Soderbergh shared his creative process with the audience, emphasizing the importance of staying focused on the vision and putting in the effort to achieve the desired results. He encouraged aspiring filmmakers to prioritize their artistic vision over commercial considerations and to approach filmmaking with dedication and passion. The event in St Andrews drew a large crowd of cinema enthusiasts and university students who engaged with the filmmakers on various topics related to the industry and technology.
In conclusion, Joe Russo expressed optimism about the future of the film business, highlighting the potential of technology and advancements like AI to make filmmaking more accessible and cost-effective. He emphasized the importance of human control in utilizing technology for creative purposes and expressed confidence in the ability of filmmakers to adapt to changing trends. The discussion at the festival provided valuable insights into the collaborative efforts of filmmakers and the evolving landscape of the film industry, offering hope for the creative possibilities that lie ahead.
