Identifying a Great Story
- I always bet on my own curiosity. I test the idea with other people.
- I have to believe that I have something to contribute. Audiences sense it when something is a bit more personal.
- I love finding stories where people are being tested in extraordinary circumstances.
- Most stories end up being more than just an event, but about relationships.
- I look for what’s relatable.
Secrets for Sustained Partnerships
- It’s compatibility. It’s the ability to grow.
- It’s thinking about the other person and believing that the other person is thinking about you.
- I don’t think it should be thought of as a burden.
- My wife is tremendous on so many levels. It has been an honor to watch her grow and evolve.
- Culture is changing. We’re not immune to that in the Howard family. It’s amazing that we found each other so young. That’s why you tell true stories. It’s proof that these remarkable outcomes can be achieved, not just fiction.
The Art of Communication
- I have a team mentality and a teammate mentality.
- I enjoy trying to create an environment that brings out the best in people.
- If we can share and agree on the outcome goals, we can achieve great results.
- When you’re making a film or television show, it’s much more like an expedition.
Culture of Genius
- When I was just a kid, I got a chance to direct Bette Davis. She did not like that I was directing because I was so young. I talked to my dad. He said, “She knows she needs to be directed. Do your job.”
- The very best, the elite, might be quirky. But they play to win. They don’t get their way all the time, but if you make yourself available, worthy collaborator, it’s amazing. They are the hardest workers. They go further. They work harder. The ones that excel are the ones that really want it.
Imposter Syndrome
- I was far more controlling, dictatorial than I am now. I have more confidence to be collaborative today.
- I was the problem. I was the limiting factor.
- The more confidence I gained, the easier it was to let go.
- When you open the door, it invites conversation and you’ll have to edit ideas.
- Their suggestions become more and more valuable.
- If people know that you are willing to listen and say yes, they’re much more willing to hear a No. They understand that it’s not driven by ego.
- I’m postured to say yes, and when I say no I can almost explain it.
Culture Where People Thrive
- It’s clarity. If you can create an environment where people have the ability to contribute, it creates an environment where people are really invested.
New Film: Thirteen Lives
- I think it has to do with technological shifts, economic shifts. There is a tremendous amount of insecurity. With it comes divisiveness.
- It’s the story of the rescue of the boys in the caves in Thailand.
- Intense situations – put the best people in the room and let the best ideas win.
- “We Feed People” – chefs are deputized to feed people in disasters.
- It’s about the difference people can make.
- TRAILER
- It’s a possibility that we all share. Sometimes it takes a crisis to remind us. It was a case study in different people coming together to make something happen.
Faith in the Movie
- The Golden Rule was a guiding rule.
- I had to treat it with respect. I recognized immediately that it was not something that was quaint. It was powerful and profound and moving. Their spirituality mattered.
- I wanted to honor and acknowledge it in the film in a profound way.