Listen To A 1-Hour Conversation With David Fincher & Filmmaker Kent Jones About The Making Of 'Mank'

If you’re a fan of films, it’s always fascinating to hear David Fincher talk. No matter if you enjoy his work or not, he’s one of those creators that are just so knowledgeable and precise, he’s endlessly interesting when discussing just anything to do with the industry and creating films. So to get a full hour of him talking on the Film at Lincoln Center podcast? Yes, please!

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Over the course of the hour-long conversation, where Fincher spoke to Kent Jones about “Mank” and the creation of his acclaimed black and white feature, he discussed inspirations, Old Hollywood, and all the technical wizardry you expect from someone that is such a perfectionist (in the best possible way).

One of the areas that are discussed is the idea of fully embracing the period setting of “Mank” and not only shooting in black and white, but also in the boxy 4:3 aspect ratio. And while Fincher admits that this was a discussion, it wasn’t something he seriously considered after spending years shooting commercials.

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“When it got right down to it, this time, we talked about 4:3 [aspect ratio],” explained Fincher. “I just have so little affinity for that as a window to compose with. I was never good at it when shooting television commercials. When I did that way back when, they were all 4:3.”

He added, “It was fine for a Pepsi can. 4:3 is probably pretty good for that. But you get into the 12-ounce bottle and it was like too vertical. And shooting in cars was always such a problem because you end up with just like a sliver of the back of someone’s head in the foreground. It was just a bridge I couldn’t cross.”

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So, if you’re someone that is hoping that Fincher would take bold risks in terms of aspect ratios, such as with 4:3, it doesn’t seem like you’re going to get your wish. And honestly, if a gimmick is just a gimmick and doesn’t add to the overall enjoyment, then Fincher is absolutely right to not even bother.

You can hear the rest of the discussion below: