Captain America: Civil War | Anthony & Joe Russo | Talks at Google | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The Russo Brothers discuss their experience directing "Captain America: Civil War" and working within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Key Insights

• 😫 The Russo Brothers prioritize creating a collaborative and welcoming environment on set, allowing actors to contribute their ideas and talent.
• 🎥 Marvel Studios' approach to filmmaking focuses on one movie at a time, allowing each film to develop organically and be the best it can be.
• 👶 The success of streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube is changing the film industry, offering new opportunities for storytelling and content creation.
• ❓ The Russo Brothers see virtual reality as a technology that will revolutionize storytelling in the future.
• 🙏 The directors approach each film by focusing on storytelling that pleases themselves first and then hope the audience enjoys it as well.
• 🫠 They value the importance of character-driven storytelling and ensuring that characters have meaningful arcs and choices throughout the film.
• 😥 The directors argue and logically discuss each story point to ensure the highest quality and integrity in their work.

Transcript

MALE SPEAKER: Welcome to Talks at Google. I'm very pleased today to welcome Anthony and Joe Russo, directors of the new Marvel film "Captain America: Civil War." Please join me in a massive round of applause in welcoming Anthony and Joe Russo. [APPLAUSE] ANTHONY RUSSO: Thank you. [APPLAUSE] MALE SPEAKER: Have a seat. I spent Google's money yesterda... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Did the Russo Brothers bring any elements from their previous work on TV shows like "Community" and "Arrested Development" to "Captain America: Civil War"?

Yes, the Russo Brothers value ensemble storytelling and enjoy playing with genre expectations, which influenced their approach to "Civil War."

Q: How did the Russo Brothers ensure that each character in the film had their moment to shine?

Through a detailed storyboarding process, the directors spent time focusing on each character individually, ensuring they had a meaningful arc throughout the film.

Q: Did the success of "Batman v Superman" influence the Russo Brothers' approach to "Civil War"?

No, the Russo Brothers were focused on telling the story they wanted to tell and were not concerned with what other films were doing. There is no connection between the Marvel and DC universes.

Q: How much freedom do the directors have to change the plot of a comic book adaptation?

The directors have ultimate freedom to change the plot as they see fit. They take inspiration from the source material but aim to create a unique cinematic experience that surprises audiences.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Russo Brothers drew on their experience working on ensemble TV shows to approach directing a large ensemble film like "Captain America: Civil War."

• The process of bringing a movie to fruition at Marvel involves extensive collaboration, with input from Kevin Feige, the directors, and the writers.

• Each character in the film was given a moment to shine through a meticulous storyboarding process, ensuring they all had significant character arcs.