Blog Post #7 - "Greg Mottola Interviewed on The Treatment"

The guest that Elvis Mitchell had on March 23rd, 2011 was Greg Mottola. Greg has been a director in the industry for over a decade. He started out in the "indie" film scene and continues to bring that sort of style and storytelling to his bigger budget films. He has directed four feature films: The Daytrippers (1996), Superbad (2007), Adventureland (2009), and Paul (2011). He has also directed episodes for TV series as well including the Judd Apatow-produced "Undeclared" and Mitchell Hurwitz-produced "Arrested Development."

Overall, I learned how each character, even in a silly comedy, can be much more well-rounded and developed than initially noticed when watching the film. Mottola gets into this a whole lot while talking about both the character Paul and Kristen Wiig's character within the film. Mottola also carefully chooses his music in films as well and they all help push the story and a big surprise happened when he voiced about how music should not be explaining what is going on in the frame but adding to it and enhancing the scene. I've noticed firsthand how both of these things can help make a film so much better. I had an idea of these things but he explains it in great detail. I notice this a whole lot in Adventureland, one of my favorite films, where both of these aspects are present. He also explains what sorts of stories compel him and many regard just what all people must do in life in general and even though one of his films involve an alien they all are quite easy for the audience to relate to a character within the film.

"I'm very attracted to stories about people who are in denial or delusional about a relationship or their place in life or whatever and have to face reality, reality slaps them in the face. " This quote explains his style of story telling and what he is drawn to and looks for in a film when he comes on board. He is explaining his style of filmmaking and how he can mold stories about the people referenced in his quote and better the film with his presence and direction. He is explain the type of story that gets him going and gets him creative. The thing about this quote and the one below in the next paragraph is that he enjoys doing films that are about people and how people must adapt and face life. Everyone has to at some point so everyone can relate in certain ways,

Just like the paragraph and quote above, Mottola in the quote points out about no only his characters but people in general when something potentially big comes up in a person's life,"It's scary, it's scary to hit those kind of crossroads in life, where your own nature is telling you to do something and you are not listening to it." It is a great quote because it relates to film and the real world and that's what I strive to do when I make films or think about them which is to entertain but also teach and inspire. People can relate and/or learn from a film character's mistake. He seems to understand people and how to help them see the good things going on and things really are not that bad but they just need to go out and take a chance at that moment like in Superbad or Adventureland.

Another great quote is when Mottola explains some background about how he created some of the characters from Adventureland in this quote,"I was making fun of lots of people I actually knew from my youth in that movie but I think I made fun of no one more than I made fun of myself, I mean I was making fun of somebody who was, you know, feeling sorry for himself because he could not go on a backpacking trip to Europe and all these things that were, you know, theses are not real world problems, but when you are young and jealous of other people, you think they are and the point of this movie was this guy needs to grow up." Like pointed out above, he makes films about people and their current state of life. The characters are usually from the middle class and do relate to the average viewer and can truly help one respect where they are at in life and realize all the good they have even though he is directing movies with many comedic elements present. The quote can also be seen as proof that the average human life can be funny, entertaining, inspiring, and dramatic. A person can pull all aspects of life into a compelling idea and story to tell others. Adventureland has a great blend of a dramatic and comedic elements and moments including all the aspects of life that someone James's (main character in film) age would truly have.

Overall, I have gained a huge amount of respect for Greg Mottola and what he brings to his films. I was already a fan but I truly cannot wait for his next film and I most definitely try to see Paul as soon as possible. I think his insight and what he had to say were very valuable to people and it is even more valuable when you have seen at least one of his films. I believe he contributes a good amount to the film world as his films are great and he can also work certain situations in films to blend the film into a multi-genre film. He is still working with an indie film style and making films mainly about people (minus a CGI alien) even though the budgets to his films seem to rise more and more. He is a great director in Hollywood and I think contributes to the industry.