Where this was said
From Music Videos to Booksmart: Finding a Directorial Voice
At 1:11:07 · chapter starts 1:08:48
The path to directing runs through an HBO show called Vinyl, where director Mark Romanek — the man behind the most expensive music video ever made (Michael and Janet Jackson's 'Scream') — heard Olivia talking about wanting to direct and handed her his Red Hot Chili Peppers video gig. She calls it the moment she took herself seriously. From there she directed a short film through a Glamour grant, then got the Booksmart script. She credits the film's success to the same lesson she learned as a casting intern: make a bold specific choice. Tarantino's dictum — make the movie only you can make — became her operating principle. Booksmart was deeply personal, pulling from her own high school friendships and her intense creative bond with writer Katie Silberman. Made for $6 million, it earned over $25 million and a 90+ Rotten Tomatoes score.
Working as a casting intern for Malie Finn, Olivia Wilde watched hundreds of auditions and noticed one constant: the actor who made a choice — even a risky, possibly wrong choice — always got the job. That lesson became the foundation of her directing philosophy.
Booksmart was made for $6 million, grossed $25 million at the box office, and earned over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes — a remarkable debut for Olivia Wilde as a feature director.
