We spoke by phone Friday about her new film "Battle in Seattle."
I first interviewed Mary in early 2002.
Mary: "This is a great film but with limited… P&A (prints and advertising), it’s hard to get people in."
"It’s one of the best reviewed films in the nation right now."
"I was watching the Tonight Show. Kevin Farley was on. He is in An American Carol. He’s also in one of my movies. I did not produce An American Carol.
"Charlize had just been on the Tonight Show talking about Battle in Seattle. Jay Leno said he loved the movie. Jay said how do you get corporate America [to support Battle in Seattle which is anti-corporate]."
Luke: "I like that this movie is about people who believe in things greater than themselves."
Mary: "Harvey Weinstein said to me that this was an important film that makes people want to do good."
"Many of the protesters that were in the battle in Seattle in 1999…came to openings. To hear them and that we got their blessing and that we tried to keep it real… It takes extraordinary backbone to do what they do and to risk themselves like that. I don’t know how many people in America are willing to do that but we got to meet a lot of them during filming and that was exciting."
Luke: "People who have passion are so much more interesting."
Mary: "I live my life on passion but it is not the same passion as these protesters have."
"Many of the stars that were in this movie went from driving big SUVs and Mercedes to Priuses. I know it changed everybody on this set."
Luke: "What is your greatest motivating passion?"
Mary: "To do more movies that affect people, that are thought-provoking."
"We just paid for the rights to the prequel to The Passion of the Christ. It’s Mary, Mother of the Christ. We’re going to be doing that for MGM in Morocco."
Luke: "Would you be able to produce a movie with an ideology the opposite of your own, say, An American Carol?"
Mary: "Huh? Not that one."
"I did Cabin Fever 2, a horror movie sequel from Lions Gate. It was a money deal."
"Our movie Battle in Seattle screened at the Democratic convention in Denver. Stuart and Charlize were out there for Obama. It was also screened in Washington D.C. for staunch Republicans."
"Somebody just brought me Bhutto‘s story."
Luke: "Do you ever think about the social and professional consequences with producing a movie that would be unpopular with your peers?"
Mary: "I’m not that thinking about that."
Luke: "Out of everything you do as a producer, what do you think you do best?"
Mary: "Understanding the art of igniting passion. I understand and structure financing really well. I mitigate investor risk. The art of the deal is what I do best."
"We got stars to do this movie (Battle in Seattle) for virtually nothing."
