Ron Howard On Apollo 13, Dale Earnhardt & Why True Stories Matter

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with legendary director and film producer Ron Howard to learn more about his involvement in the Amazon Prime series Earnhardt, as well as a deep dive into Ron's storied career. 

After finding stardom as a child actor on the Andy Griffith Show and becoming an icon as part of the famed Happy Days series, Ron made the decision to move behind the camera and began a sterling career as a director and producer. Dale Jr. was curious about Ron’s process of picking a project to work on, which Ron explains can be different every time but relies a lot on his gut feeling. Ron says that the Earnhardt story checked many boxes of great storytelling as it was relatable and had larger-than-life characters that faced challenges.

Ron recalls moving into projects that dealt with real-life events, which began when he took on Apollo 13. Although he originally felt that historical subjects might limit creativity, he found telling the stories in a film setting to be liberating, and it helped him step into the documentary world. The guys also chat about the films that surprised Ron with how they were received, and what he feels his greatest accomplishments in his career have been so far. Ron talks about the process of getting nominated for Best Director and how technology has evolved filmmaking and the art of storytelling on screen. Dale also inquires about Ron’s decision to leave acting and move into the world of directing, likening it to a race driver’s decision to retire from behind the wheel.

 

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