About
“I like to explore ordinary people or the ordinary aspect of people, because I think that’s the most revealing.… It’s always character-driven for me.”
In his two-hour-and-fifteen-minute interview, Barry Levinson discusses growing up in Baltimore and attending American University, where he first became interested in pursuing a career in radio or television. He describes moving to Los Angeles, meeting Craig T. Nelson in an acting class, and how he and Nelson became writing partners, working on Lohman and Barkley and The Tim Conway Show. He tells stories of writing for The Carol Burnett Show, of working on Mel Brooks movies, and how Brooks encouraged him to write his film Diner. For Diner, he describes writing and directing the movie, the process of filming it, the use of improvisation, and how the movie was received. He goes on to describe working on his other successful movies including Rain Man and Good Morning, Vietnam. He then tells stories of his work in television, including how he came to executive produce Homicide: Life on the Street and Oz and working on HBO movies including You Don’t Know Jack and Phil Spector. He concludes by discussing the then-current state of the film and television industries, giving advice to aspiring writers, sharing what he loves about directing, and career highlights and regrets. Jenni Matz conducted the interview on September 20, 2016 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Barry Levinson on the influence that seeing "Marty" on Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse as a kid had on him as a director and writer - the importance of ordinary moments that show character
Barry Levinson on the production schedule on The Carol Burnett Show and the high bar that Carol Burnett set for the entire cast
Barry Levinson on pitching Oz at HBO to executive Chris Albrecht and what made the show different from previous prison dramas
Barry Levinson on how he came to be the executive producer of Homicide: Life on the Street
Barry Levinson on the genre of "Diner": "it is a drama and the reason that it's humorous is because that's the way we react at times"
Barry Levinson on the role of television in our lives, the danger of contemporary people's comfort in front of the camera, and the way in which television creates disillusionment
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on a television training program he took part in while a student at American University
On moving to Los Angeles; on signing up for an acting class in Hollywood; on early writing gigs on Lohman and Barkley, The Tim Conway Show, and The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine
On what he liked about sketch writing comedy; on writing for The Carol Burnett Show; on working with Mel Brooks
On moving into films; on writing and directing his movie "Diner"
On the response to "Diner" when it opened in theaters; on the "Diner" television pilot; on "Diner" being a drama with humorous moments
Chapter 2
On his writing process; on directing "Rain Man"; on using improvisation in his films
On directing Robin Williams; on how Homicide: Life on the Street came to be; on the casting of the show
On network input on Homicide: Life on the Street; on the show's legacy; on Oz
On films he directed in the 1990s; on the then-current political and media landscape
Chapter 3
On his work on HBO movies, including You Don't Know Jack and Phil Spector; on the then-current state of the film industry and the opportunities available in television rather than film
On new opportunities in the television over film; on his experiences and frustrations with the Writers Guild; on Killing Fields and Shades of Blue
On how he approaches directing for television and directing actors in general; on the best advice he's received about the business
On advice to aspiring writers and working with his son on HBO's The Wizard of Lies; on then-upcoming projects; on career highlights on regrets; on how he would like to be remembered
Shows
Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)
Barry Levinson on writing for The Carol Burnett Show
Barry Levinson on the cast of The Carol Burnett Show memorizing the script rather than reading off of cue cards
Barry Levinson on the writing process on The Carol Burnett Show
Barry Levinson on the production schedule on The Carol Burnett Show and the high bar that Carol Burnett set for the entire cast
Barry Levinson on winning two Emmys for his work on The Carol Burnett Show
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Barry Levinson on winning two Emmys for his work on The Carol Burnett Show
Homicide: Life on the Street
Barry Levinson on how he came to be the executive producer of Homicide: Life on the Street
Barry Levinson on directing the pilot of Homicide: Life on the Street
Barry Levinson on why he wanted to shoot Homicide: Life on the Street in Baltimore
Barry Levinson on the casting of Homicide: Life on the Street
Barry Levinson on the naturalistic manner of shooting Homicide: Life on the Street and his input into the editing style of the show
Barry Levinson on NBC's reaction to Homicide: Life on the Street and the one episode the network objected to
Barry Levinson on Richard Belzer's Homicide: Life on the Street character, "John Munch," being a crossover character with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Barry Levinson on Homicide: Life on the Street's web series: "Second Shift"
Barry Levinson on working with Tom Fontana on Homicide: Life on the Street
Barry Levinson on the end of Homicide: Life on the Street and the show's legacy
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Barry Levinson on Richard Belzer's Homicide: Life on the Street character, "John Munch," being a crossover character with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Marty Feldman Comedy Machine, The
Barry Levinson on writing for The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine with Rudy De Luca, and working with the head writer on the show, Larry Gelbart
Oz
Barry Levinson on pitching Oz at HBO to executive Chris Albrecht and what made the show different from previous prison dramas
Barry Levinson on the opening sequence of Oz, which featured show creator Tom Fontana getting a real tattoo of the title on his arm
Barry Levinson on his involvement on Oz as executive producer
Barry Levinson on HBO's input on Oz and the show's audience
Barry Levinson on the end of Oz and the show's legacy
Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse: "Marty"
Barry Levinson on the influence that seeing "Marty" on Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse as a kid had on him as a director and writer - the importance of ordinary moments that show character
Shades of Blue
Barry Levinson on what interested him in the show, Shades of Blue, which he executive produces
Barry Levinson on working with Jennifer Lopez on Shades of Blue
Tim Conway Show, The
Barry Levinson on writing for The Tim Conway Show with Craig T. Nelson
You Don't Know Jack
Barry Levinson on directing the HBO movie, You Don't Know Jack
Topics
Advice
Barry Levinson on the best advice he's received about the business
Barry Levinson on working with his son on HBO's The Wizard of Lies and advice he gave him
Bloopers
Barry Levinson on his (somewhat disastrous) first day on a live television set, which took place during a training program he took part in while a student at American University
Characters & Catchphrases
Barry Levinson on Richard Belzer's Homicide: Life on the Street character, "John Munch," being a crossover character with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Barry Levinson on radio and television classes he took in college, and a training program in television he took part in
Barry Levinson on his professor at American University who opened his eyes to opportunities in the entertainment industry
Emmy Awards
Barry Levinson on winning two Emmys for his work on The Carol Burnett Show
First Big Break
Barry Levinson on writing and performing with Craig T. Nelson on Lohman and Barkley
Historic Events and Social Change
Barry Levinson on the political climate in 2016 and how it related to the media climate of the time
Barry Levinson on directing HBO's You Don't Know Jack and the effect of the movie on the dialogue surrounding assisted suicide
New Media
Barry Levinson on Homicide: Life on the Street's web series: "Second Shift"
Barry Levinson on new opportunities in television and why talented actors are flocking to TV over movies
Pivotal Career Moments
Barry Levinson on radio and television classes he took in college, and a training program in television he took part in
Barry Levinson on signing up for an acting class when he first moved to Los Angeles
Barry Levinson on writing and performing with Craig T. Nelson on Lohman and Barkley
Barry Levinson on directing "Rain Man" and winning an Academy Award for it
Barry Levinson on his professor at American University who opened his eyes to opportunities in the entertainment industry
Pop Culture
Barry Levinson on Richard Belzer's Homicide: Life on the Street character, "John Munch," being a crossover character with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Television Industry
Barry Levinson on the "Diner" television pilot, which he wrote and directed
Barry Levinson on Homicide: Life on the Street's web series: "Second Shift"
Barry Levinson on the political climate in 2016 and how it related to the media climate of the time
Barry Levinson on the role of television in our lives, the danger of contemporary people's comfort in front of the camera, and the way in which television creates disillusionment
Barry Levinson on the experience of working with HBO on TV movies and how they make films that won't get made for theatrical release
Barry Levinson on the importance of characters in storytelling, and how there is now more room for strong, interesting characters in television than in movies
Barry Levinson on new opportunities in television and why talented actors are flocking to TV over movies
Barry Levinson on the best advice he's received about the business
Barry Levinson on working with his son on HBO's The Wizard of Lies and advice he gave him
Professions
Directors
Barry Levinson on directing his movie "Diner"
Barry Levinson on the audio in his movie "Diner," and how his desire to have the conversations sound real and messy led to him miking the actors who were off-camera
Barry Levinson on what he learned about scouting locations from his experience directing his movie "Diner"
Barry Levinson on how he directs actors and the atmosphere he hopes to create on a movie: "controlled freedom"
Barry Levinson on moments that were improvised in his movie "Diner"
Barry Levinson on the critical, studio, and audience response to "Diner," and how the movie ended up never being released nationally
Barry Levinson on directing "Rain Man"
Barry Levinson on using improvisation in his films: "you have to know what you want to get to"
Barry Levinson on directing Robin Williams in "Good Morning, Vietnam"
Barry Levinson in directing the pilot of Homicide: Life on the Street
Barry Levinson on films he directed in the 1990s and how they predicted certain cultural and political movements that happened after
Barry Levinson on how he approaches directing for television
Barry Levinson on directing actors
Barry Levinson on what he enjoys about directing and the importance of ordinary moments in movies and television shows that reveal character
Writers
Barry Levinson on what he liked about writing sketch comedy
Barry Levinson on his writing process
Genres
Comedy Series
Barry Levinson on writing for The Tim Conway Show with Craig T. Nelson
Barry Levinson on writing for The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Barry Levinson on Shades of Blue
Drama Series
Barry Levinson on Homicide: Life on the Street
Barry Levinson on Oz
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Barry Levinson on writing for The Carol Burnett Show
News and Documentary
Barry Levinson on his true-crime series Killing Fields and the resurgence of true-crime in popular culture
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Barry Levinson on directing the HBO movie You Don't Know Jack
Barry Levinson on executive producing the HBO movie Phil Spector
Barry Levinson on the experience of working with HBO on TV movies
People
Chris Albrecht
Barry Levinson on pitching Oz at HBO to executive Chris Albrecht and what made the show different from previous prison dramas
Richard Belzer
Barry Levinson on casting Andre Braugher and Richard Belzer on Homicide: Life on the Street
Barry Levinson on Richard Belzer's Homicide: Life on the Street character, "John Munch," being a crossover character with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Andre Braugher
Barry Levinson on casting Andre Braugher and Richard Belzer on Homicide: Life on the Street
Mel Brooks
Barry Levinson on leaving The Carol Burnett Show to work with Mel Brooks on his films "Silent Movie" and "High Anxiety"
Barry Levinson on how Mel Brooks encouraged him to write a movie about "the diner guys" Levinson often told him about, and how that led to him writing his movie, "Diner"
Carol Burnett
Barry Levinson on the production schedule on The Carol Burnett Show and the high bar that Carol Burnett set for the entire cast
Ron Clark
Barry Levinson on how Ron Clark asked he and Rudy De Luca to work on a movie with Mel Brooks, which ended up being "Silent Movie"
Tim Conway
Barry Levinson on writing for The Tim Conway Show with Craig T. Nelson and Rudy De Luca
Tom Cruise
Barry Levinson on directing Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise in "Rain Man"
Rudy De Luca
Barry Levinson on writing for The Tim Conway Show with Craig T. Nelson and Rudy De Luca
Barry Levinson on writing for The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine with Rudy De Luca, and working with the head writer on the show, Larry Gelbart
Barry Levinson on how Ron Clark asked he and Rudy De Luca to work on a movie with Mel Brooks, which ended up being "Silent Movie"
Tom Fontana
Barry Levinson on working with Tom Fontana on Homicide: Life on the Street
Barry Levinson on the opening sequence of Oz, which featured show creator Tom Fontana getting a real tattoo of the title on his arm
Larry Gelbart
Barry Levinson on what he learned from Larry Gelbart when he worked with him on The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine
Dustin Hoffman
Barry Levinson on directing Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise in "Rain Man"
Jennifer Lopez
Barry Levinson on working with Jennifer Lopez on Shades of Blue
David Mamet
Barry Levinson on executive producing the HBO movie, Phil Spector, written and directed by David Mamet
Barry Levinson on his experiences with the Writers Guild and his dissatisfaction with how David Mamet was credited on "Wag the Dog"
Craig T. Nelson
Barry Levinson on writing and performing with Craig T. Nelson on Lohman and Barkley
Barry Levinson on writing for The Tim Conway Show with Craig T. Nelson and Rudy De Luca
Michael Ovitz
Barry Levinson on directing "Rain Man," and how he first got involved on the project at the urging of Michael Ovitz, who asked him to give his thoughts to Sydney Pollack, who was the original director of the film
Al Pacino
Barry Levinson on directing HBO's You Don't Know Jack and working with Al Pacino
Sydney Pollack
Barry Levinson on directing "Rain Man," and how he first got involved on the project at the urging of Michael Ovitz, who asked him to give his thoughts to Sydney Pollack, who was the original director of the film
Paul Reiser
Barry Levinson on an improvised scene with Paul Reiser in his movie "Diner"
Robin Williams
Barry Levinson on directing Robin Williams in "Good Morning, Vietnam"