Episode XLII (Part 1): Oscar-winning Filmmaker Taylor Hackford

The 42nd edition (Part 1 of 2) of Whe're They At features Oscar-winning film director and producer, Taylor Hackford. He is one of the prolific filmmakers over the past four decades. Born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, he started his career as a journalist and documentarian. Taylor won an Academy Award in 1978 for Best Live Action Short for his film, 'Teenage Father'. He proceeded to direct a myriad of memorable films like 'An Officer and a Gentleman', 'Against All Odds', 'Everybody's All-American', 'Dolores Claiborne', 'The Devil's Advocate', as well as the biopic about the musical and business genius Ray Charles called 'Ray', in which Taylor received an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. Also, he spearheaded documentaries on the legendary musician Chuck Berry ('Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll') & iconic boxer and activist Muhammad Ali ('When We Were Kings'). Host Nabaté Isles had the honor to speak with Taylor on a plethora of topics including: 

  03:09-How did he and his wife, Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren deal with the pandemic personally and professionally?                      05:53-What has the film industry learned from the pandemic? How can they move forward?                          11:19-On the Academy Award nominated films in 2020 that appealed to him.                        15:20-Provides his candid take on the Academy Awards changing the order of the award announcement, making the Best Actor category last.                    21:02-Growing up in Santa Barbara (California) and being involved in many activities within sports and the arts.                         23:30-The film that influenced him to be a filmmaker.                         25:12-The public figures who influenced him as a filmmaker.                       28:25-Reflects on how the Oscar-winning documentary about Muhammad Ali, 'When We Were Kings' was the film that he spearheaded.                       38:15-On how being a documentarian helped cultivate his style as a filmmaker for narrative films.                       42:39-His method in being able to gain the trust from elite actors like Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro and Jamie Foxx.                       47:16-The obstacles he experienced, especially from the studio executives while directing 'An Officer and A Gentleman' and 'The Devil's Advocate'.                     54:26-Reflects on directing lead female actresses, Kathy Bates and Jennifer Jason Leigh) in the riveting and underrated film, 'Dolores Claiborne'.                   58:56-On music inspiring his film directing.                     Follow Whe're They At on www.twitter.com/whe_retheyat, www.instagram.com/whe.retheyat  and www.facebook.com/whe.retheyatpodcast/                 Musical selections are from Nabaté Isles' album, 'Eclectic Excursions', available on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, Tidal, etc. Check out his website as well: www.nabateisles.com as well as https://nsiuniversal.bandcamp.com/