Government agents and other sinister forces pursuing the boy and his family across America.
Science fiction can sometimes be an exposition-heavy genre, but your movie tells so much of its story visually.
Was that a challenge you set yourself from the beginning?
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It was, actually.
Its a style thats an acquired taste for sure.
Its a bit of a puzzle that is working itself out right in front of you.
It involves the audience.
It suited the story not necessarily the genre, but the story, specifically.
I think its an interesting mode of storytelling.
Its important in storytelling at large.
I think its good for an audience to be challenged.
The more they like it.Yeah.
Thats a great point.
Thats a great point.
Its kind of like, Yeah, I wonder what Han Solo was like as a kid.
And its like, Here you go!
And sure, I want to know that, I want to have that information.
Yeah, I think its really difficult to start out, particularly on my current trajectory.
Where is the place for original storytelling?
Its hard to get people to invest in something new and something original.
Its a conundrum Im trying to sort out on my own!
I dont know if that makes me feel better or worse!
[Chuckles] Its like, Everybodys putting up with it, you know?
So theres obviously ways to do it.
Where you say, This is it.
Just likeStarmanwas it wasnt a big hit, but its lived on as a cult movie.
But the emails and calls Ive been getting since its been release have been really positive.
I mean, it might sound like arrogance or bravado, but Im very proud of the film.
And Ive been there, in a major way.
Ive talked to some people whove seen that in it, too.
Thats something that you have to accept as a parent.
I dont know if you really get better at it or not.
Its more in the background I think.The film definitely communicates a sense of that.
I thought that was an interesting phrase; how do you know when youve found the right place?
Gee, thats a bit of an arrogant statement.
Ive been in a million of these.
Theyd cut a big hole in that living area to open up to the front of the house.
It was really nice and modern.
Theyre only divided by a wall, but we needed that wall there to make all that make sense.
A lot of scenes are just from Altons perspective.
But the scene is dictated by the point of view that was written in the script.
That really tells me, Well, the camera really needs to be right here.
Thats the next piece in my mind, where the camera has to go.
So I have to put it all together like a jigsaw puzzle.
Sometimes it ends up looking that way, but its not built that way.
Sorry, thats a technical answer.
No, thats great.
Its interesting, because thats an intimate, specific kind of filmmaking.
Would you retain the same approach?
It depends on what youre doing.
I worked with our stunt coordinator, whod been on theBournefilms.
I think he was a little surprised at how much I micro-managed the shots within the stunt sequences.
Its very helpful to listen to these people.
Theres a great chemistry between the actors inMidnight Special.So whats the key to perfect casting?
I asked around and he was a pretty cool guy.
With Adam Driver, I wasnt really familiar with his past work.
But several people had told me about him.
This is the guy.
If this guy says yes, just go.
I said, Well, I dont know… She went, Trust me, this is the guy.
We got on the phone, and part of it was flattery hed actually seen my earlier films.
We immediately hit it off; there was this sense that we were making the same movie.
So those are three different examples of how it goes.
And then there are actors who blow you away, who surprise you.
A big part is locals casting.
We had a tremendous locals casting director on Midnight Special in New Orleans.
They had a tremendous pool of actors, local actors, to choose from.
David Jensen played Elden, the creepy old guy they visit, and hes great a strange kooky guy.
I dont really care.
I was struck by David Jensen we got him from Virginia to play the part.
And there were several parts inMidnight Specialthat were like that.
Hed just put his cans on and listen.
I think theres a lot to be said for that.
And some people get it and some people dont.
Its making sure theres that sense of family between the main players as well.
A lot of that came from Jaeden [Lieberher], the boy.
He was such an astute young man.
He had this other-worldly maturity that he came to us with.
Its rare to find that coupled with… you just like him.
Hes little and you want to take care of him and help him.
And so when the camera started rolling, it was easy to emote with him, I think.
He was this kind of glue that really made the film come together.
It is a great performance.Lovingisnt actually out in the UK yet, but thats your latest film.
So where can you see things going next?
Do you think youll do more science fiction, more contemporary drama?
I think I will do more science fiction.
And I think it will have drama in it!
And so it was pretty muchbop, bop, bop, bop, bop!You know?
The way they accept it or reject it.
Does it make money, does it not make money?
Was it reviewed or not well reviewed?
I feel really great when it makes money, I feel really bad when it doesnt.
Im tremendously affected by these things.
Not necessarily to make bigger and bigger films Lovingcost about half of whatMidnight Specialcost.
So the nitty-gritty part is, okay, here I am now.
For better or worse, Ive established myself as a filmmaker.
Now what do I do with that?
Ive got a lot of actors who want to work with me, which is a really valuable gift.
Ive got a lot of companies that want to work with me.
But I havent made a movie that has completely blown the box office away.
So now, is that something Im going to venture to pursue?
Is it something I even need to pursue?
Am I going to be granted the same amount of freedom creatively if I dont check that box?
Im kind of over not that I really had it, but questions of whether Im a sell out.
That doesnt really affect me [Chuckles].
Because Ive made bigger movies, Ive made smaller movies.
Its all really exciting, and its all stuff I want to do.
God knows if anyones going to care.
But it doesnt have to be like that, does it?
Not necessarily, no.
At some point I dont know when the financials kick in.
And maybe thats what I need to do.
I have a bit of a competitive spirit, but also I just want to see…
I want to make a big movie.
I want to see what its like.
And maybe itll just rip me to shreds, you know, emotionally?
And maybe critically, who knows.
But I also know Ive made five films in a very specific way.
I think maybe Ive earned that Im not sure.
People get weird when you start talking about $80m or more.
But theres something in me that wants to try, and it might destroy a lot.
Or it might be awesome, I dont know.
But Im thinking about it!.
Id love to see what a big movie from you would look like!
Jeff Nichols, thank you very much.
Midnight Specialis out on DVD & Blu-ray from August 8th.
