Guillermo del Toro loves cinema, and cinema loves him back. He also knows the value of listening to his collaborators and fellow filmmakers to get the best possible result when making a feature film, especially a passion project. “We don’t run a monarchy,” he says VarietyAwards Circuit Podcast. “We are doing a great collaborative effort. The facilitators have the floor. What is impossible is that a monarchy is not a desirable state for a storyteller. It is important to have the last word. This is not important to have the only word.”
In this episode of the award-winning series Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, we chat with the visionary filmmaker about his new film, the process of bringing the film to the big screen which took over 1,000 days to shoot, and the 22 scripts he has yet to complete. Listen below:
‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ has won critical acclaim and is one of the leading animated feature contenders in this year’s Oscar race. Additionally, Netflix is also making a substantial push for the film to be recognized for Best Picture, a category that has only seen three anime nominees in history – “Beauty and the Beast” (1991), “Up” (2009) and “Toy Histoire 3” (2010). Del Toro, who produces, directs and co-writes, also offers his talents as a songwriter, with the beautiful number “Ciao Papa”, written with his co-author composer Alexandre Desplat and Roeban Katz.
Netflix’s previous awards campaigns have secured four animated feature names over the past four years: ‘I Lost My Body’ (2020), ‘Klaus’ (2020), ‘Over the Moon’ (2021 ) and “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” (2022). However, “Pinocchio” might be the streamer’s best move to win the statuette.
Working in the business for more than 30 years, del Toro has written 34 screenplays but only directed 12. One of those unfinished is the long-rumored “Mountains of Madness,” which he believes could be made. – but which should be rewritten as he thinks it can be done with stop-motion animation.
Del Toro has received five Oscar nominations throughout his career, including two for directing and co-producing “The Shape of Water” (2017). His other names also include writing Best Picture winner, another for “Pan’s Labyrinth” (2006), and most recently as producer for “Nightmare Alley” (2021).
Also featured in this episode of the Awards Circuit Podcast is actor Charmaine Bingwa, who plays Will Smith’s wife Peter in Apple Original Films’ “Emancipation.” She talks about the difficulty of portraying such a prolific character and being able to portray the LGBTQ community in such a positive light.
Finally, the roundtable meets to discuss Gotham Award winners, ‘Emancipation’ reviews and anticipation for James Cameron’s ‘Avatar: The Way of the Water,’ which will screen for reporters this week. next.
Variety’s “Awards Circuit” podcast, produced by Michael Schneider, who also co-hosts with Clayton Davis, is your one-stop-shop for lively conversations about the best in film and TV. Each week, “Awards Circuit” features interviews with top film and TV talent and creatives; discussions and debates about awards races and industry headlines; And much more. Subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you download podcasts. New episodes released every week.