Todd Garner (Producer) Shares Filmmaking Stories and More!
12/06/22 • 54 min
Kevin is joined by veteran producer and Hollywood creative executive, Todd Garner.
Todd Garner, Producer
Todd Garner, formerly the Disney co-head of production, emerged from one of the most turbulent periods in that studio's history and transitioned from executive to producer. He co-founded Revolution Studios and then started his own production company, Broken Road Productions. He has developed, overseen, executive produced, or produced more than 170 films for more than a dozen studios and streaming services, including 25 films & television shows under his banner.
The science and art of audience testing (4:51)
Todd and Kevin discuss some of the intricacies of audience testing. Kevin talks about what he calls the science and art of audience testing and moving the audience from simply liking a film to developing a love connection with it. Todd and Kevin both agree that it’s about more than just the numbers.
Todd’s journey (8:21)
Todd recounts his journey from doing sketch comedy in high school to studying art and economics in college to a job at a major bank, and how that led to working at the Arsenio Hall Show. He talks about how his combined business & art background provided the fertile ground for a career as a producer and creative executive.
Words of advice from Jerry Bruckheimer (21:57)
Kevin states how much he admires how Todd has both the creative and business sense to be such a prolific producer. Todd mentions one of the best pieces of advice he ever received from his mentor, Jerry Bruckheimer, who said “I just make movies for me.” Todd talks about how that has guided his decision making, and how he strives to be emotionally connected to his movies.
The business of movies (28:07)
Kevin and Todd discuss how movies are greenlit in the studio system and the economics of marketing and PR when dealing with a theatrical release versus a release on a streaming service. The pair discuss why comedies, particularly romantic comedies, are easier to produce on a streaming service. What follows is an insider’s perspective on the economic advantage the streaming services have over the Hollywood studios.
A wide range of mentors (36:44)
Kevin asks Todd about his mentors, and who he looks up to in the industry. Todd talks about filmmakers who influenced him like Howard Hawks and Mel Brooks. He then talks about mentors who he worked with like Jeffrey Katzenberg, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Adam Sandler.
Memorable audience screenings (45:16)
Kevin asks Todd about his most memorable audience screenings from the 500 or so they have worked on together. Todd talks about Kevin’s gift of analyzing what is going on behind the audience research numbers and improving the movie through the audience analysis. Todd relates a hilarious story from the Con Air test screening.
Host: Kevin Goetz
Guest: Todd Garner
Producer: Kari Campano
For more information about Todd Garner’s upcoming projects:
Website: https://www.brokenroadproductions.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/todd_garner
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-producers-guide-todd-garner-hollywoods-elite/id1363232295
For more information about Kevin Goetz:
Website: www.KevinGoetz360.com
Audienceology Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Audience-ology/Kevin-Goetz/9781982186678
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram:
Kevin is joined by veteran producer and Hollywood creative executive, Todd Garner.
Todd Garner, Producer
Todd Garner, formerly the Disney co-head of production, emerged from one of the most turbulent periods in that studio's history and transitioned from executive to producer. He co-founded Revolution Studios and then started his own production company, Broken Road Productions. He has developed, overseen, executive produced, or produced more than 170 films for more than a dozen studios and streaming services, including 25 films & television shows under his banner.
The science and art of audience testing (4:51)
Todd and Kevin discuss some of the intricacies of audience testing. Kevin talks about what he calls the science and art of audience testing and moving the audience from simply liking a film to developing a love connection with it. Todd and Kevin both agree that it’s about more than just the numbers.
Todd’s journey (8:21)
Todd recounts his journey from doing sketch comedy in high school to studying art and economics in college to a job at a major bank, and how that led to working at the Arsenio Hall Show. He talks about how his combined business & art background provided the fertile ground for a career as a producer and creative executive.
Words of advice from Jerry Bruckheimer (21:57)
Kevin states how much he admires how Todd has both the creative and business sense to be such a prolific producer. Todd mentions one of the best pieces of advice he ever received from his mentor, Jerry Bruckheimer, who said “I just make movies for me.” Todd talks about how that has guided his decision making, and how he strives to be emotionally connected to his movies.
The business of movies (28:07)
Kevin and Todd discuss how movies are greenlit in the studio system and the economics of marketing and PR when dealing with a theatrical release versus a release on a streaming service. The pair discuss why comedies, particularly romantic comedies, are easier to produce on a streaming service. What follows is an insider’s perspective on the economic advantage the streaming services have over the Hollywood studios.
A wide range of mentors (36:44)
Kevin asks Todd about his mentors, and who he looks up to in the industry. Todd talks about filmmakers who influenced him like Howard Hawks and Mel Brooks. He then talks about mentors who he worked with like Jeffrey Katzenberg, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Adam Sandler.
Memorable audience screenings (45:16)
Kevin asks Todd about his most memorable audience screenings from the 500 or so they have worked on together. Todd talks about Kevin’s gift of analyzing what is going on behind the audience research numbers and improving the movie through the audience analysis. Todd relates a hilarious story from the Con Air test screening.
Host: Kevin Goetz
Guest: Todd Garner
Producer: Kari Campano
For more information about Todd Garner’s upcoming projects:
Website: https://www.brokenroadproductions.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/todd_garner
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-producers-guide-todd-garner-hollywoods-elite/id1363232295
For more information about Kevin Goetz:
Website: www.KevinGoetz360.com
Audienceology Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Audience-ology/Kevin-Goetz/9781982186678
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram:
Previous Episode
Neal Moritz (Producer) Discusses the Film Industry, Filmmaking, and More!
Kevin is joined by one of the most prolific and successful film producers of all time, Neal Moritz.
Neal Moritz, Producer
Neal Moritz has produced over 70 films that have grossed over $11 billion worldwide. Neal founded the production company Original Film and is responsible for projects such as Sonic the Hedgehog, The Escape Room, 21 Jump Street, Passengers, XXX, as well as the TV series Prison Break and The Boys. He started with movies like I Know What You Did Last Summer and Cruel Intentions and went on to produce the Fast and the Furious franchise.
The only opinion that really counts (1:53)
Kevin and Neal jump right into the importance of audience research as Kevin asks Neal which test screenings stand out for him. Neal discusses the process and how it could be the best night of his life, an okay night, or a terrible night as he awaits the results. They go on to discuss major changes that were made to Escape Room, and how the audience reacted to the highly publicized redrawing of the Sonic the Hedgehog character.
The most important question asked in an audience screening (8:21)
Neal to identifies the single most important question asked in an audience test screening. This leads to an interesting discussion about the types of questions that are asked, how to sift through the noise, & how the findings can lead to important changes in the films.
Screening Fast and the Furious 7 after the tragic passing of a star (13:59)
Neal recalls his most memorable screening. Neal describes the decision to continue filming Fast and the Furious 7 after Paul Walker’s tragic passing. Neal shares the fear and nervousness he felt while finishing the movie. Kevin & Neal discuss the iconic final scene and how the audience’s emotional reaction at the test screening proved that Moritz and the studio made the right decision.
Neal’s favorite genre (17:29)
Neal talks about the challenges he enjoys when producing action movies. He discusses 21 Jump Street and how the combined use of action and comedy makes this his favorite type of movie to produce.
How a canvas backpack led to a Hollywood career (29:43)
Neal tells the story of how he got started in Hollywood. He talks about his childhood of growing up in a family-owned movie theater, then becoming an entrepreneur selling canvas backpacks that he saw in China, and his decision to sell his company to become a producer.
The future of the film industry (33:59)
Kevin and Neal discuss the moviegoing experience in the face of the rise of streaming companies like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu. Neal talks about the value of seeing a movie in the theater, and how he decides which of his projects should be released theatrically versus streaming. The conversation turns to the economics of moviemaking and the value of having a proven producer attached to a film project.
Host: Kevin Goetz
Guest: Neal Moritz
Producer: Kari Campano
For more information about Neal Moritz’s upcoming projects:
Website: https://www.originalfilm.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OriginalFilm/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhmoritz/
For more information about Kevin Goetz:
Website: www.KevinGoetz360.com
Audienceology Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Audience-ology/Kevin-Goetz/9781982186678
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram:
Next Episode
William Goldenberg (Film Editor) on Film Editing, Inspirations, Working with Directors, & More
Kevin is joined by Academy Award-winning film editor, William Goldenberg.
William Goldenberg, Editor
William (Billy) Goldenberg is an award-winning editor who has worked on over 20 films and television shows. His numerous awards include the BAFTA and the Academy Award for Best Film Editing for Argo. Goldenberg also received Oscar nominations for his editing work on Seabiscuit, The Insider, Zero Dark Thirty, and The Imitation Game. He has worked closely with award-winning directors Michael Mann, Ben Affleck, and Kathryn Bigelow.
And the Oscar goes to... (2:25)
Billy talks about what it was like being nominated for the Academy Award for Editing for two films in the same year, Zero Dark Thirty and Argo. Goldenberg recounts how it was the most nerve-wracking thing that has ever happened to him. He talks about winning for Argo and his acceptance speech, focusing on the microphone to blur out the stars in the front row and how he has not been able to re-watch the speech.
Learning to take criticism (8:19)
Kevin asks Billy to talk about his mentor, Michael Kahn. Billy tells the story about how he took over for Kahn on the film Alive and the process of editing and re-editing on film. Kahn taught Billy a valuable lesson on how to take criticism and react positively.
Working with directors (16:16)
Billy and Kevin discuss what it takes to be a successful editor in Hollywood, and they delve into the process of what it is like to be in the editing room with such award-winning directors as Michael Mann and Ben Affleck. Goldenberg relates a story about going back and forth with Michael Mann while working on the film Ali.
Length vs. Pace (19:30)
Kevin brings up a vital concept in film editing, pace. The pair discuss the difference between the length of a film and the pace of the film and how it relates to how the audience reacts to a movie. Billy talks about being in the editing room with Ben Affleck for Gone Baby Gone and working on the pace and length of the film.
Film school and early work (31:22)
Billy talks about switching from medical school to film school and how he wanted to be an editor from early on. He talks about his first job as a PA and one of his first jobs as an assistant editor on Steven Spielberg’s film Always.
How Bradley Cooper changed Argo (40:10)
Kevin asks Billy to talk about his most memorable audience testing experience. Billy recounts multiple test screenings for Argo and how feedback from Bradley Cooper led to a significant change in the film that resulted in fantastic testing results.
Host: Kevin Goetz
Guest: William Goldenberg
Producer: Kari Campano
For more information about William Goldenberg:
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0325549/
For more information about Kevin Goetz:
Website: www.KevinGoetz360.com
Audienceology Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Audience-ology/Kevin-Goetz/9781982186678
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @KevinGoetz360
Linked In @Kevin Goetz
Screen Engine/ASI Website: www.ScreenEngineASI.com
Don't Kill the Messenger with Movie Research Expert Kevin Goetz - Todd Garner (Producer) Shares Filmmaking Stories and More!
Transcript
Podcast: Don't Kill the Messenger with Movie Research Expert Kevin Goetz
Guest: Veteran Producer & Hollywood Creative Executive Todd Garner
Interview Transcript:
Announcer (00:02):
There's a little-known part of Hollywood that most people are not aware of known as the a
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