I spoke with director Tate Taylor when his film “The Help” was heading into theaters in August 2011. He was excited to see how the movie would be accepted by audiences. I was asked to do a follow-up interview with him about the release of the film on Blu-ray and took the opportunity to find out what it was like for him to go from a struggling filmmaker to award-winning director in the span of a few months.
Tell us how it feels to have ceremonies and events like the Golden Globes singing praises about your film.
I’m having this weird sensation. What we did was so special, unique, and intimate. We were all so proud of it. [This is] the first time in the big leagues. I have to keep reminding myself that when [announcers] say “The Help” on the Golden Globes that it’s the same movie. I have to say, “Tate, that’s your movie.” It’s really weird but so exciting.
Octavia [Spencer] is my best friend. We were roommates. [We] went down to make “The Help” together. To see her face up there with Viola [Davis] and Jessica Chastain [is wonderful]. Then there’s the Best Picture thing. I just get excited that it’s possibly going to make the town and the business say, “This is two years in a row where these character driven pieces have been nominated [and won]. People want to see them.”
It gets me excited that I could have a bigger future because these are the movies I want to make. I’m not going to be able to be the director for hire that’s putting out what makes the most economic sense on paper. [I’m filled with] hope, pride, and disbelief.
Do you feel “The Help” plays as well at home on Blu-ray as it does in the theater?
I’m so proud. I was so pleased to watch it at home. It played just beautifully and as intimately. There were those moments that I love in the film when I saw it on the big screen. They’re where you feel voyeuristic watching it. I still have that feeling.
Looking back, is there anything you would change about how “The Help” turned out as a movie?
I haven’t had time to [play] Monday morning quarterback. It’s my movie. I just have to applaud the studio. They let me make my movie. DreamWorks had a keen awareness that it was a special and unique thing. I’m from there and knew it so well they just threw caution to the wind and trusted me. I’ve already prepared myself that this will probably never happen again. I wouldn’t change a thing.
I’m a genre guy. I watch a lot of horror, sci-fi, and superhero movies. What would you say to a close-minded guy like me to get him to watch “The Help”?
This is a movie about superheroes. This is a movie about villains. You don’t get more villainous than Hilly. She’s a monster. What I love about the superheroes in this movie [is] they’re accessible, attainable, and relatable. Aibileen and Minny aren’t in capes and they don’t already have powers. That’s what I love about it in many ways. It has all those elements that make the stories great.
That’s what makes the genre films that you love [so] great. It’s when they have good characters and stories in them. Those guys [need to] approach it like, “I’m going to a good versus evil movie about superheroes with villains.” There’s just no CGI and it’s real.
For more articles by Eric Shirey, check out:
‘The Divide’ Splits Critics, Moviegoers
‘Contagion’ a Movie to Catch on DVD
Editor Leslie Klinger Talks About ‘New Annotated Sherlock Holmes,’ Other Works
Eric Shirey is the founder and former editor of Rondo Award nominated movie news websites MovieGeekFeed.com and TheSpectralRealm.com. His work has been featured on Yahoo!, DC Comics, StarWars.com, and other entertainment websites. Eric has interviewed and worked with actors like Harrison Ford, Brooke Shields, Gerard Butler, Brendan Fraser, Selena Gomez, and many more.
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