Interview With "In The Land Of Saints And Sinners" Director Robert Lorenz

[00:00:00] You were listening to the Next Best Picture Podcast and this is my interview with

[00:00:04] Director, Gour in the Land of Saints and Sinners, Robert Lorenz.

[00:00:17] In our morphing.

[00:00:19] I've stopped announcing a week or so.

[00:00:22] I've been thinking in a lifetime of purge choices I've made.

[00:00:30] How many people have you killed all together?

[00:00:34] There's more to make than this.

[00:00:37] I'd like folks to see it.

[00:00:40] Hello Robert, thank you so much for joining me here on the Next Best Picture Podcast.

[00:00:44] Talk about your film in the Land of Saints and Sinners, a movie that I've been anxiously awaiting to watch since its world premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival last year.

[00:00:54] First of all, how are you?

[00:00:56] I'm doing well, thank you.

[00:00:57] What's it gonna be here?

[00:00:58] Good, awesome.

[00:00:59] So the first thing I noticed with this project is that it was your first feature directorial effort post pandemic.

[00:01:08] The marksman was shot prior to the world shutting down, so I'm imagining this had to have been shot during COVID.

[00:01:16] Am I correct in saying that?

[00:01:18] Yes, we were all wearing masks and which was made a little bit awkward and we were out in the middle of nowhere.

[00:01:28] We didn't have a normal catering, we all got brought these little lunches that we had to eat out of a bowl but we made it true.

[00:01:37] Well I'm glad to hear that.

[00:01:38] It kind of lends itself in a way too though because you're shooting on this beautiful vast scenic landscape of Ireland and it looks amazing the way you captured it here in this film.

[00:01:51] Can you tell me a little bit about just how that environment acts as its own character and how it informs the other characters in this film?

[00:02:01] Yeah, well actually that area of Ireland is Donnie Gaul as referred to in the script as Forgotten County and that's because historically it's a very remote area that novel out of people travel to in Ireland.

[00:02:14] And it's where people went to hide, you know criminals and anybody just wanted to get away from the rest of the world ended up in this space.

[00:02:26] In fact, I came across while I was shooting there.

[00:02:31] I had done some research and I read about this guy who was an IRA informant and he was hiding out there and he got murdered by his colleagues when they discovered that he was he had betrayed them and one day I came across this house and that guy that looks like that house that I read about.

[00:02:51] And sure enough that somebody at a local came up to me and said oh yeah, that's where I was still so this whole area was really where people went to hide out and so that's kind of.

[00:03:00] I think it inspired the writer for the story and it's where Liam's character goes to get away and it's where the IRA criminals go to hide out so it's kind of all work for the story.

[00:03:14] And you have an Irish cast you must have had I imagine also an Irish crew working on this as well.

[00:03:21] So I imagine for the cast that must have been really nice for them to have to interact on a day-to-day basis with the locals as the film crew on this project that must have been great.

[00:03:32] Yeah, it was I was very intent on casting only Irish actors because I wanted to show them the authentic as possible.

[00:03:42] I have Irish heritage but I'm not actually you know I haven't lived in Ireland.

[00:03:47] I have a wee little bit too like very very like it's like less than 40% but yeah, it's not the predominant.

[00:03:53] Yeah, I feel you so I never refer to myself as Irish because of that.

[00:03:58] I'm an old call and my mom is in a capo call and half of my heritage.

[00:04:04] But yeah, I know I wanted authentic Irish accents.

[00:04:10] I wasn't going to be able to learn in a short amount of time how to decide for discern a different accent so I wanted the real deal and yeah,

[00:04:22] I put together an Irish crew because I want their input in terms of the look and everything and just trying to make the whole picture seen as authentic as possible.

[00:04:34] And it has to be too because it's a very grounded story that was one of the things that I remember hearing about when it had its world premiere Venice was,

[00:04:42] well, this is not necessarily like Liam Deeson and Pure, like Hollywood, Blockbuster Action mode.

[00:04:47] This is a very grounded, very real story about people going through emotions that are extremely relatable to resorting to acts of violence to get out of certain situations,

[00:04:59] both situations that they have put themselves in and also found themselves in.

[00:05:03] So I was wondering too just with regards to Liam, you guys worked together on the marksman.

[00:05:09] But your previous film before that trouble with the curve was I believe nine years or so prior to that collaboration has your work with him kind of like lit a bit of a spark that there was such a shorter gap then between the marksman and in the land of St. Sinners,

[00:05:25] or were you just keeping yourself busy with proper projects?

[00:05:28] Yeah, I was just busy. I love directing and I never intended to produce for as long as I did with Clint, but it was kind of such a fortunate opportunity that I couldn't really say no.

[00:05:45] Yeah, right. How do you say no to Clint Eastwood?

[00:05:48] So I did that and then it's kind of a long story, but I felt like I owed him another movie after what if you want to hear the whole story.

[00:05:59] I always said to produce the stars, born when Clint was going to direct it.

[00:06:03] And then that went away when Beyonce was going to start and she got ill or yeah, I'm sorry, she had children as she was pregnant so we couldn't shoot that movie.

[00:06:15] So he said, well, why don't we do this movie trouble with the curve and you directed.

[00:06:18] And so then I felt like I owed him another movie after that. So I ended up being with him to produce a few more movies and then I finally said after American sniper,

[00:06:25] that's it. I really need to go and direct my own movies because I'm getting old and I'm never going to do it if I don't do it now.

[00:06:32] So that's kind of how I ended up here.

[00:06:34] But you and Liam know working together again. I imagine that there must be some creative spark there.

[00:06:41] What is that working relationship like now two films back to back?

[00:06:44] Liam is terrific. I so enjoy working with him. He's such a pro and we had such a good time together on marksman that we when he finished that we both said, hey, let's find something else to do.

[00:06:59] He actually read in when the sense and centers before me. And he suggested me to the producers as the director.

[00:07:09] So that's how I got involved and I love the script. I thought it was terrific. So I said, yeah, absolutely.

[00:07:16] If it hadn't been for him, nobody I think would have thought of me to direct a movie that sold based in Ireland but I'm doing it because I love stories that really take you into another world and

[00:07:28] and you know, you can escape into this different place that you're unfamiliar with and we kind of soak it in.

[00:07:35] So I was really keen on doing that.

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[00:08:46] And you looked out too I think with just the surge that Carrie Condon had following the banshees of Inesheran as well.

[00:08:53] So her name being tied to this drew, I think some additional eyeballs as well.

[00:08:59] You know, it's funny, I've always noticed her in projects but she was never given a standout role to really show what she could do.

[00:09:08] And now she has done that with both banshees and I think with this film too, like she's just a force in this movie.

[00:09:15] Can you tell me just what she was able to bring to this character? Because I can tell that she just finds a way to really sink her teeth into, you know, any role that she's given when given this opportunity.

[00:09:28] Yeah, she's just a magnificent actor and actress.

[00:09:33] I was so thrilled to get her for the part when we started it banshees hadn't come out yet.

[00:09:43] And I got a lot of pushback from people that said who is this person? I said trust me.

[00:09:48] She's great.

[00:09:49] And so we kind of went down a path with other actors for a little while but finally we got back to her, which I was really thrilled to get back to.

[00:10:01] And she was keen to do it. But yeah, I think she's just a terrific actor. She I really wanted somebody with fire and energy and somebody that you could believe could be a real.

[00:10:15] Opposing force to Liam who's such a tall intimidating figure and so I had to be somebody that had some real power and she has that.

[00:10:34] Absolutely she does. I definitely agree with that. And Kirin Heinz and Liam Nees and I know go way, way back. So casting them as buddies with a history not much work needs to be done there necessarily.

[00:10:45] No, no, that was terrific. Liam had shared it with him and he wanted to do it.

[00:10:51] I was so fortunate. I mean, the whole cast I was feel very, very fortunate to have gotten for the movie.

[00:11:02] But Kirin was a such a wonderful guy and you can kind of feel their real relationship in the movie and how they really do like friends.

[00:11:14] There's a real like warmth in humanity that he brings to it. I think like for Liam Neeson's character, Finn Bar, you know, you're really trying to sift through this moral decay.

[00:11:26] I mean, it's not even so much. It's already decayed. I think at this point but there is still a man who cares about the people who he cares about and that's something that in any crime film a lot of times we empathize and latch on to these.

[00:11:40] We want to say morally gray, but let's face it these are bad guys who have done terrible things. But there's still humanity there.

[00:11:47] Yeah, I was inspired by unforgiven because I remembered that you know, there's definitely Western theme in this movie as well.

[00:11:57] And that character and unforgiven William Money that Clint plays. He's pretty despicable guys. There's no one is a killer of women and children.

[00:12:07] But he's doing it because he needs to provide for his kids and he's failed as a farmer.

[00:12:14] And the only thing he knows how to do is kill people. And so he's going to go do that to make money to support his children.

[00:12:21] So they're just sort of a moral code that he's living by there. You know, it's very unique to him.

[00:12:29] And that's what I really embraced for this movie. Each of the people in this movie has their own, you know, justification for what they're doing.

[00:12:40] Carrie Connid's character is she believes in free Ireland and so she even if some people get killed along the way.

[00:12:46] That's what she's set out to do and Liam he wants to protect his grand. And so everybody has their own reason for doing what they do.

[00:12:56] Sure. He talked about some Western influences. I mean, you know, you got the final shootout that takes place in a saloon if you will.

[00:13:03] And so I'm curious when it comes to a scene like that. Obviously there's so many elements that one has to consider from safety, practical effects, stunt people, the sound work.

[00:13:15] You know, there's so much at play. What would you say is the single most important element to getting a shootout scene right?

[00:13:23] For me personally, I have to see it all in my head beforehand. I really sort of blocking the blocking every every angle and you know normally when you shoot if you have the luxury you can set up cameras and do, you know, a master here and then a reverse master here and then going for coverage.

[00:13:44] I didn't really have that lecture because we had to shoot so fast and I so I basically was shooting shot by shot by shot in my head. I knew OK, next I need this cut next and this cut next and this cut. So I just kind of shot the whole sequence.

[00:13:59] But I had it all pre-planned in my head. I could see it all before I did it. So that's just being prepared. I mean, if you go into a shootout sequence and you're just going to kind of put up some cameras and hope to catch it.

[00:14:13] I don't think it's going to be as effective as if you really plan where the shots are going to be prior planning prevents poor performance. Am I right?

[00:14:21] Yes. One member of the cast who I cannot believe I failed to mention him before but I think I was just segueing Jack OK, as a massive Game of Thrones fan watching this kid on screen all those years ago he doesn't says he's retiring from acting. He's pursuing over interests good for him.

[00:14:41] When did you catch him? How did you catch him? Was he interested in coming back? Like how did he come aboard this?

[00:14:48] He came in and read. I mean, that particular role. There were so many young actors that wanted that part. A lot of really great auditions that I saw but his just popped it just stood out amongst all the others.

[00:15:05] I just said that is the guy he's got that loveable craziness you know, you kind of you believe that he could be so crazy as to do the things he has to do in this movie and yet you still like him.

[00:15:20] And that's what I wanted for this part because you have to you have to believe that Liam's character wants to help this guy see another path and so forth.

[00:15:30] I remember he had the reputation on Thrones as being the nicest guy on set despite the despicable character he was playing and I assume age has not changed that he's still the same as he was when he was a kid in that regard.

[00:15:43] Super nice guy. Yeah, just everybody on the crew was just terrific crewy cast just a real pleasure to work with all these people.

[00:15:52] Well happy to have them back either way has Clint seen the film yet.

[00:15:56] I don't know it's a good question. I haven't brought it up to him he sees living up in Carmel and I haven't been up there lately.

[00:16:05] I talked to him not that long ago but I didn't send it to maybe I should see the person who's a pain in you value the most when it comes to your work.

[00:16:16] Yeah, I mean, I like to get input from all my friends and so but yeah, I mean there's nobody that knows much about movie making his Clint and he I learned so much from him along the way.

[00:16:33] He's forgotten more than all ever know so you know it's just it was always just such a terrific experience just to be around him and be able to soak that in and learn from him and I've adopted so many of his technique so much to be stony without even kind of being conscious of it but it's been very helpful to me as director.

[00:16:58] And you worked with Tom Stern to his signature D.P on two of your films so far as well which I assume also helps you obviously also had a prior working relationship so it must all like you know feed in into this nice ecosystem of comfortability for you I imagine yeah it's always a.

[00:17:18] Sure when you're starting a movie to sort of ramp up and get to know people and build trust and figure out what their strengths and weaknesses are what you can come and for so when you can work with somebody that you've been working with for a long time all that is behind you and you just.

[00:17:37] Good work so yeah really tripping so what's next at this point for you are you writing the next one are you on the lookout for other scripts are you already in production where were you at right now.

[00:17:49] I got several movies and development i've written two scripts that are both we're working on right now in fact I'm getting soon as I hang up I'm going to get back to work on that one nice and then another script that I'm attached to direct so we'll see which one comes together first it's kind of a strange time into this right now with the.

[00:18:06] Another potential strike and everybody's kind of moving consciously it's kind of unfortunate now I like to get building.

[00:18:16] Do you want to stay within the Liam Neeson with a gun genre or are you looking to tackle anything in particular.

[00:18:23] No I mean.

[00:18:25] The only and I have talked we love to work together again and we may do that again but all three of these projects that i'm working on would not include him so moving different directions alright well hey we like the unpredictability and the versatility so Robert thank you so much for your time today really really appreciate it i hope you have a good rest of your day.

[00:18:47] Thank you very much but i'm talking to you too take care.

[00:18:50] Hey everyone thank you so much for listening to my review with the director for in the land of saints and sinners Robert the rents here on the next best picture podcast.

[00:18:58] In the land of saints and sinners is now currently playing in theaters.

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