Sunday, April 29, 2012

Gary Ross, Interviewed on the Treatment


This interview with Gary Ross is from March 21, 2012.  Gary Ross is a writer, producer, actor and director and has most recently directed and co-written the screen play for The Hunger Games with the author of the book, Suzanne Collins.  The film premiered March 23, 2012 and has been a big success.  Aside from Hunger Games Gary Ross has directed such films “BIG” (1988), “Pleasantville” (1998), “Seabiscuit” (2003). 

 I never realized how multifaceted Gary Ross is in the entertainment industry. Since the 1980’s has been very involved in production, and writing along with acting parts. I was also not aware and surprised that his father, Arthur A. Ross had been so heavily involved in the movie and television industry.  He wrote many of the Alfred Hitchcock presents and movie screenplays like “The Great Race” one of my favorite movies, and “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” just to name a couple.  Along with his father seems Gary Ross was influenced by writers like Ray Bradbury and George Orwell.  Most of his works harnesses themes of the little guys fighting the system; there is a kind of rage against the machine or establishment to most of his work.

 “99 and the 1%” a quote from Gary Ross describes his take on a government system where so much power is given to a privileged few who try and hold a culture together without ethics.  In any society like that the government will eventually unravel.  This to me drove home his message of the films he has been involved in and in an underlying way how he feels about the last and current presidential administration of the United States.

 Gary Ross revisits the theme of social change and individuals who take a stand for change several times in his interview.  Referring to a character in the Hunger Games but also but also, I think relating his own opinion Gary made the statement, “what they will and will not tolerate.” In reference to social change, it can only come begin when one person or a group finally say that’s enough and make an overt move to fix it.

 He talks a lot about social change as I stated before.  How he has chosen work that best fits his ideals and views. How in “preserving your own humanity” one person can make changes that will be of benefit to society.  He speaks about this preservation in relation to a character in the Hunger Games but in his own way I believe he feels that the works he has been involved in and chose to bring to the screen also speaks of his efforts to maintain his own humanity and enlighten the viewer to look at oneself for the greater good of us all. 

 Although this interview was short, I found that Gary Ross is an intriguing man.  I truly believe that he feels that through his work his is sending a message that society needs to look at itself from time to time and when it has to change direction.  And in his own small way can make the world realize that anyone one man or woman can effect change.

No comments:

Post a Comment