Jason Reitman

Beasley Digital

Jason Reitman discusses his film The Frontrunner about tabloid journalism meeting political journalism.

Transcript

00:01The next guest's film is not premiering until November 21st,

00:05but if you had partaken upon all these movies that are available,

00:09you would have gotten to see his movie last night because there was a screening of it.

00:11Yes.

00:12And we are happy to have him back in our studio yet again.

00:15And he's brought you so many great films in one way, shape, or the other,

00:19over the years, up in the air.

00:20Thank you for smoking, Juno, Whiplash, just to name a few.

00:23And now, here to talk about the frontrunner, we have Mr. Jason Reitman!

00:28Good to see you again, man.

00:29Good to see you again, man.

00:30It's good to see you.

00:31I just really feel bad for your audience that, you know,

00:33they were listening to all these great stories about sex injuries,

00:36and then you're like, let's talk about art film, guys.

00:39Well, you know, this way we can say, hey, look, we're well-rounded,

00:42and this gives it credibility.

00:44Even if we're not well-rounded, we get the illusion of being well-rounded.

00:46I almost buy it.

00:48Congratulations on this.

00:50There's a lot of buzz over the movie, which is called Frontrunner.

00:53It's the story of Gary Hart's run towards the presidency

00:57and the beginning of a, I think, and as you rightly point out,

01:01and I've read interviews with you about the film,

01:03it was sort of a flashpoint for when news became tabloid

01:09and things that used to sort of like, you know, like in the Kennedy years,

01:13the press sort of said, you know, you got your personal thing.

01:16We got it.

01:17We'll cover it to some extent.

01:18And then, you know, or even before, there were some things that just were not,

01:21let's focus on the politics, and this is what we're here to talk about.

01:24But then it became something wholly other.

01:26And I remember as, you know, the Gary Hart story was unfolding,

01:30and it just, now, of course, we have a multitude of news sources,

01:35but the country was focused.

01:37And so like in one week, a guy who looked like he was it,

01:41he was going to be the next president, it just came crashing down.

01:45When I heard the story, I just thought, oh, here is a thread that leads us to 2018.

01:48When we try to imagine, all right, when does this moment start?

01:51When does tabloid journalism drive into the lane of political journalism?

01:55Here you have the story that is this kind of great pH test that reflects both sides of the audience.

02:01Politics always surfaces in movies if it's done right because it's compelling.

02:06It can be very compelling.

02:07And the candidate is a perfect example.

02:09I have a tattoo from another movie of the same director.

02:15What is it?

02:16It's from Downhill Racers, the poster from Downhill Racers.

02:19That's awesome.

02:20Yeah.

02:21Wow.

02:22I'm really nerdy.

02:23Yeah.

02:24That's very cool.

02:26But is that in fact the case?

02:28It's not cool, but I appreciate that.

02:31But anyhow, look, it became this way to kind of understand today,

02:36and it's this thriller of a movie that touches on gender politics,

02:40that touches on the relationship between journalists and candidates,

02:43and that line between where our public life becomes our private life.

02:47Right.

02:48Before we got on this conversation, we were talking off air.

02:52We're headed to London tomorrow.

02:54What should we do while we're in London?

02:55Are any of you guys Harry Potter fans?

02:57Oh, 100%.

02:58Yeah.

02:59Nick is a massive fan.

03:00We're all fans.

03:01They took the two stages where they shot the film at Leavesden in London,

03:04and they've turned it into this Harry Potter experience.

03:06And look, I'm a cynical guy.

03:08Right?

03:09Like, I may thank you for smoking.

03:10That's who I am.

03:12But I filled with positive glee walking through the Harry Potter experience.

03:17Really?

03:18They have everything.

03:19They've, like, broken it down to, like, every one that was built,

03:22every set that was built, how they did the characters.

03:24You have Butterbeer.

03:25It's sincerely magical.

03:29Is it one of those things you've got to get tickets way in advance for,

03:32do you think, or...?

03:33All right.

03:34I'm going to be a tool right now.

03:35You have cold drinks.

03:36I just called someone at Warner Brothers.

03:38Son of a bitch.

03:39So, first become a famous filmmaker,

03:41then call your connection at Warner Brothers.

03:43What if we're close friends with Jason Wright, man?

03:46My rule is always, first, be born the son of a famous director.

03:50Okay.

03:51And then everything will just line up perfectly.

03:53What if you're a producer on a radio show in Philadelphia

03:56and you have a guest who's been to this thing?

03:58Can you ask that person to ask somebody for something?

04:00Live on the air, of course you can ask.

04:02Okay.

04:03Yes.

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