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60-428: Mark Rydell (born Mortimer H. Rydell ; March 23, 1929) is an American film director , producer, and actor . He has directed several Academy Award -nominated films including The Fox (1967), The Reivers (1969), Cinderella Liberty (1973), The Rose (1979), and The River (1984). He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director for On Golden Pond (1981). Rydell initially trained in music. As

120-592: A Chris-Craft Sportsman (U22-1802), was sold in 1983 by Curtin. It was the boat Fonda and Hepburn used for their excursions on Golden Pond. At the same time, the buyer of U22-1802 also purchased the replica used in the crash scene. Although the Chris-Craft Sportsman was the main boat used in the movie, the script called for the Thayer IV, a mail boat , a canoe and a replica of the Thayer IV. These were provided by Patrick Curtin of Eastern Classics,

180-473: A film school to get a bachelor's degree studying film or cinema. Film students generally study the basic skills used in making a film. This includes, for example, preparation, shot lists and storyboards, blocking, communicating with professional actors, communicating with the crew, and reading scripts. Some film schools are equipped with sound stages and post-production facilities. Besides basic technical and logistical skills, students also receive education on

240-815: A boatyard in Laconia, New Hampshire , specializing in the restoration of mahogany speedboats. Following World War II , the Sportsman model reappeared as a direct descendant of its 1937 predecessors. The popular model stayed in the Chris-Craft lineup until 1960. The use of a 1950 Sportsman model as the Thayer IV in On Golden Pond did much to generate interest in antique and classic boats. Despite their many common acquaintances and long careers in show business, Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn not only had never worked together, but had never met until working on

300-691: A car crash. He later won plaudits for his role of violent Jewish mob kingpin Marty Augustine in Robert Altman 's The Long Goodbye (1973). His most recent significant film role was in Woody Allen 's Hollywood Ending (2002). Rydell moved into directing television and soon became very successful. He did episodes of Mr. Novak ; Ben Casey ; The Reporter ; Slattery's People ; I Spy ; The Wild Wild West ; The Long, Hot Summer ; and Gunsmoke . He said later: "I come from

360-462: A certain pleasure in that, and writer Thompson's analysis of old age is sensitive, thought-provoking and credible. Not all reviewers were impressed. David Kehr of the Chicago Reader wrote: The cinematic equivalent of shrink-wrapping, in which all of the ideas, feelings, characters, and images are neatly separated and hermetically sealed to prevent spoilage, abrasion, or any contact with

420-485: A flat fee for the project, as a weekly salary, or as a daily rate. A handful of top Hollywood directors made from $ 133.3 million to $ 257.95 million in 2011, such as James Cameron and Steven Spielberg , but the average United States film directors and producers made $ 89,840 in 2018. A new Hollywood director typically gets paid around $ 400,000 for directing their first studio film. The average annual salary in England

480-400: A general plotline and let the actors improvise dialogue, while others control every aspect and demand that the actors and crew follow instructions precisely. Some directors also write their own screenplays or collaborate on screenplays with long-standing writing partners. Other directors edit or appear in their films or compose music score for their films. A film director's task is to envisage

540-464: A month while they have some time to themselves. Although Norman is acting cynically as his 80th birthday approaches, showing signs of dementia and having heart palpitations, he allows Billy to stay. Billy is at first annoyed by being left with elderly strangers, with no friends nearby and nothing to do. He resents Norman's brusque manner, but eventually comes to enjoy their Golden Pond fishing adventures together. Billy also begins to enjoy reading books in

600-551: A recent trend of more attention to women directors in India, brought on partly by Amazon and Netflix moving into the industry. Of the movies produced in Nollywood , women direct only 2%. There are many different awards for film directing, run by various academies , critics associations , film festivals , and guilds . The Academy Award for Best Director and Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director are considered among

660-533: A six picture contract with the Mirisch Brothers . They planned to make Good Luck, Miss Wyckoff , which was eventually made in 1979 by other filmmakers. Rydell directed John Wayne in The Cowboys (1972). He made a romantic comedy, Cinderella Liberty (1973), with James Caan and Marsha Mason . Around this time he said he did not want to make genre movies: "I want to create my own genre." He

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720-421: A successful Broadway play, On Golden Pond was processed American cheese , smooth, infinitely spreadable and bland, with color added by the actors   ... the movie   ... still American cheese, but its stars—Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, Jane Fonda and Dabney Coleman—add more than color to this pasteurized product. On Golden Pond now has the bite of a good old cheddar   ... Mr. Fonda gives one of

780-550: A tradition of spending each summer at their cottage on a lake called Golden Pond, in the far reaches of northern New England . When they first arrive, Ethel notices the loons calling on the lake "welcoming them home"; Norman, however, claims he does not hear anything. As they resettle into their summer home, Norman, who is about to turn 80, shows signs of dementia when he is unable to recognize several family photographs. He copes with his memory problems by frequently talking about death and growing old. Ethel does her best to liven up

840-403: A way to translate a screenplay into a fully formed film, and then to realize this vision. To do this, they oversee the artistic and technical elements of film production. This entails organizing the film crew in such a way to achieve their vision of the film and communicating with the actors. This requires skills of group leadership, as well as the ability to maintain a singular focus even in

900-520: A yearly salary from ¥4 million to ¥10 million, and the Directors Guild of Japan requires a minimum payment of ¥3.5 million. Korean directors make 300 million to 500 million won for a film, and beginning directors start out making around 50 million won. A Korean director who breaks into the Chinese market might make 1 billion won for a single film. According to a 2018 report from UNESCO ,

960-477: A youth, he wanted to be a conductor. He said he left music because of the proliferation of drugs among the musicians: "Heroin was the drug of choice," he said. "Knowing that I have an addict's personality in that a little is good but a lot is better, I knew I was in danger. So I went back to college and went to the Neighborhood Playhouse." He studied acting at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of

1020-740: Is a film criticism concept that holds that a film director's film reflects the director's personal creative vision, as if they were the primary "auteur" (the French word for "author"). In spite of—and sometimes even because of—the production of the film as part of an industrial process, the auteur's creative voice is distinct enough to shine through studio interference and the collective process. Some film directors started as screenwriters , film editors , producers , actors , or film critics , as well as directing for similar media like television and commercials. Several American cinematographers have become directors, including Barry Sonnenfeld , originally

1080-540: Is doing and he does not really mind, but that he will take only so much of it. In another conversation, Chelsea discusses with Ethel her frustration over her relationship with her father, feeling that although she lives thousands of miles away in Los Angeles , she still feels like she is answering to him. Before they depart for a European vacation, Chelsea and Bill ask the Thayers to allow Billy to stay with them for

1140-507: Is that I could believe it. I could believe in its major characters and their relationships, and in the things they felt for one another, and there were moments when the movie was witness to human growth and change. I left the theater feeling good and warm, and with a certain resolve to try to mend my own relationships and learn to start listening better   ... watching the movie, I felt I was witnessing something rare and valuable. In his The New York Times review, Vincent Canby said: As

1200-698: Is the opportunity to see Dabney Coleman [in] a role that goes beyond the caricatures he's usually given to play   ... On Golden Pond is a mixed blessing, but it offers one performance of rare quality and three others that are very good. That's not half-bad. TV Guide rates it 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 out of 4 stars, calling it "a beautifully photographed movie filled with poignancy, humor, and (of course) superb acting   ... there could have been no finer final curtain for [Henry Fonda] than this." Channel 4 sums up its review by stating: Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn both shine in an impressively executed Hollywood drama. [It] has its mawkish moments but there's

1260-738: Is £50,440, in Canada is $ 62,408, and in Western Australia it can range from $ 75,230 to $ 97,119. In France, the average salary is €4000 per month, paid per project. Luc Besson was the highest paid French director in 2017, making €4.44 million for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets . That same year, the top ten French directors' salaries in total represented 42% of the total directors' salaries in France. Film directors in Japan average

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1320-1123: The Berlin/Brandenburg TV station RBB (Berlin-Brandenburg Broadcasting) and ARTE . In recent decades American directors have primarily been coming out of USC , UCLA , AFI , Columbia University , and NYU , each of which is known for cultivating a certain style of filmmaking. Notable film schools outside of the United States include Beijing Film Academy , Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica in Mexico City, Dongseo University in South Korea, FAMU in Prague, Film and Television Institute of India , HFF Munich , La Fémis in Paris, Tel Aviv University , and Vancouver Film School . Film directors usually are self-employed and hired per project based on recommendations and industry reputation. Compensation might be arranged as

1380-754: The Century (1996), which starred Isabella Rossellini and Stephen Rea , and James Dean (2001), which earned actor James Franco a Golden Globe award. Rydell also acted in the movie, playing Jack L. Warner (head of Warner Bros). He was credited as executive producer on An Unfinished Life (2005). In 2006, Rydell directed the movie Even Money . His last credit to date was an episode of Masters of Science Fiction , "A Clean Escape". Three years later – working with actor Martin Landau and screenwriter/playwright Lyle Kessler – he produced an education seminar, The Total Picture Seminar. The two-day event covers

1440-528: The Coen brothers' Director of Photography; Wally Pfister , cinematographer on Christopher Nolan 's three Batman films made his directorial debut with Transcendence (2014). Despite the misnomer, assistant director has become a completely separate career path and is not typically a position for aspiring directors, but there are exceptions in some countries such as India where assistant directors are indeed directors-in-training. Many film directors have attended

1500-407: The Thayers are loading the last of the boxes. Norman tries to move a heavy box but starts having heart pain and collapses onto the floor of the porch. Ethel tries unsuccessfully to get the operator to phone the hospital, and goes to comfort her husband. Norman then comes to, says the pain is gone, and attempts to stand to say a final farewell to the lake. Ethel helps Norman to the edge, where they see

1560-621: The Theatre in New York City. His first significant roles were as Walt Johnson on The Edge of Night , and as Jeff Baker on As the World Turns , which he played from December 12, 1956, to 1962. The role of Jeff was a particularly popular role with the audience. During the series run he directed Roots off-Broadway in 1961. In 1962, Rydell declined to sign another long-term contract at ATWT , and producers had his character die in

1620-426: The atmosphere – they play Parcheesi , admire the natural scenery, and talk to the mailman, Charlie, who delivers mail and visits via boat. They are visited by their only child, daughter Chelsea, who is somewhat estranged from her father. She introduces her parents to her fiancé Bill and his 13-year-old son, Billy. Norman tries to play mind games with Bill, an apparent pastime of his. Bill tells him he knows what Norman

1680-467: The cast and crew and creates an overall vision through which a film eventually becomes realized or noticed. Directors need to be able to mediate differences in creative visions and stay within the budget . There are many pathways to becoming a film director. Some film directors started as screenwriters , cinematographers , producers , film editors or actors. Other film directors have attended film school. Directors use different approaches. Some outline

1740-529: The cottage, first reading Treasure Island and later A Tale of Two Cities . Billy and Norman soon grow obsessed with catching Norman's fish rival, "Walter", which leads to the accidental destruction of the Thayers' motorboat in a rocky area called Purgatory Cove. Norman gets thrown overboard and suffers a head wound, and Billy dives in the water to save the old man. They are later rescued by Ethel and Charlie. Once healed, Norman goes fishing with Billy and they finally catch "Walter", but they eventually release

1800-475: The crash scene, was so sturdy that it kept bouncing off the rocks without any damage. The crew had to modify the boat so it would break away in the wreck. The water level in Squam Lake was so low during the summer of production that Fonda and Doug McKeon could have stood during the scene in which they were supposedly clinging to the rocks for fear of drowning. The September water was barely knee-deep, but it

1860-402: The crew not to dismantle the second story. A gazebo and a small boathouse were also relocated during the shoot. The Thayer IV was the name of the boat used in the film. There were three Thayer IV's used in the movie, including one replica used for the crash scene. One was a 1950 Chris-Craft Sportsman (U22-1460), bought by a family in 1982 from marine coordinator Pat Curtin. The other boat, also

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1920-422: The director ensures that all individuals involved in the film production are working towards an identical vision for the completed film. The set of varying challenges they have to tackle has been described as "a multi-dimensional jigsaw puzzle with egos and weather thrown in for good measure". It adds to the pressure that the success of a film can influence when and how they will work again, if at all. Generally,

1980-435: The director works with the editor to edit the material into the director's cut . Well-established directors have the " final cut privilege ", meaning that they have the final say on which edit of the film is released. For other directors, the studio can order further edits without the director's permission. The director is one of the few positions that requires intimate involvement during every stage of film production . Thus,

2040-548: The disciplines of acting, directing, and writing for film. The three have worked together as a team for many decades at The Actors Studio teaching and coaching professional actors, writers, and directors. In 2010, Rydell joined the Advisory Board of Openfilm, an online video sharing site created to help aspiring independent filmmakers. He executive produced the documentary A Coup in Camelot (2015). Mortimer H. Rydell

2100-482: The film an approval rating of 91% based on 44 reviews, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn are a wondrous duo in On Golden Pond , a wistful drama that movingly explores the twilight years of a loving marriage." Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times said: On Golden Pond was a treasure for many reasons, but the best one, I think,

2160-478: The film industry throughout the world has a disproportionately higher number of male directors compared to female directors, and they provide as an example the fact that only 20% of films in Europe are directed by women. 44% of graduates from a sample of European films schools are women, and yet women are only 24% of working film directors in Europe. However only a fraction of film school graduates aspire to direct with

2220-414: The film was leased from a New York physician and was modified significantly for the shoot: an entire second floor was added as a balcony over the main living area at the request of the production designer. After the shoot, the production company was contractually obligated to return the house to its original state, but the owner liked the renovations so much that he elected to keep the house that way and asked

2280-479: The film's producer Raymond Stross, but disliked working with him. Rydell said he ended up paying out four times his fee for the picture to get out of the contract. Nonetheless, he credits Stross for starting his film career. He directed Steve McQueen in The Reivers (1969). Rydell and friend Sydney Pollack , who had known each other since they were both actors, formed a company, Sanford Productions, and signed

2340-434: The film, Norman (Henry Fonda), a crusty, retired professor grappling with many effects of aging, has been married for many years to upbeat, feisty Ethel (Katharine Hepburn), and has had a remote, difficult relationship with their daughter, Chelsea (Jane Fonda). At their summer home on Golden Pond, Norman and Ethel agree to care for Billy, the son of Chelsea's new boyfriend, and an unexpected relationship blooms. On Golden Pond

2400-427: The film. On the first day of shooting, Hepburn presented Fonda with her longtime companion Spencer Tracy 's "lucky" hat, which Fonda wore in the film. Hepburn, who was 74 at the time of filming, performed all her own stunts, including a dive into the pond. The scene in which Norman and step-grandson Billy run their boat into the rocks was filmed repeatedly. The vintage 1951 mahogany Chris-Craft boat, used strictly for

2460-434: The fish. Chelsea returns to learn her father has made friends with her fiancé's—now husband's—son. When she sees the change in her father's demeanor, Chelsea attempts something Billy accomplished that she never could: a backflip. She successfully executes the dive in front of a cheering Norman, Billy and Ethel. Chelsea and Norman finally fully embrace before she and Bill depart with Billy. The final day on Golden Pond comes and

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2520-476: The great performances of his long, truly distinguished career. Here is film acting of the highest order   ... Miss Hepburn   ... is also in fine form. One of the most appealing things about her as an actress is the way she responds to—and is invigorated by—a strong co-star   ... she needs someone to support, challenge and interact with. Mr. Fonda is the best thing that's happened to her since Spencer Tracy and Humphrey Bogart   ... an added pleasure

2580-408: The loons, and Norman says they are calling on the lake, "saying goodbye". He notes how they are just like him and Ethel; that their offspring is grown and gone off on her own, and now it is just the two of them. Jane Fonda purchased the rights to the play specifically for her father, Henry Fonda , to play the cantankerous Norman Thayer. The father-daughter rift depicted on-screen closely paralleled

2640-472: The majority entering the industry in other roles. In Hollywood, women make up only 12.6 percent of film directors, as reported by a UCLA study of the 200 top theatrical films of 2017, but that number is a significant increase from 6.9% in 2016. As of 2014, there were only 20 women in the Directors Guild of Japan out of the 550 total members. Indian film directors are also greatly underrepresented by women, even compared to other countries, but there has been

2700-575: The most prestigious awards for directing, and there is even an award for worst directing given out during the Golden Raspberry Awards . On Golden Pond (1981 film) On Golden Pond is a 1981 drama film directed by Mark Rydell from a screenplay written by Ernest Thompson , adapted from his 1979 play of the same name . It stars Katharine Hepburn , Henry Fonda (in his final theatrical film), Jane Fonda , Doug McKeon , Dabney Coleman and William Lanteau . In

2760-548: The nature of professional relationships that occur during film production. A full degree course can be designed for up to five years of studying. Future directors usually complete short films during their enrollment. The National Film School of Denmark has the student's final projects presented on national TV. Some film schools retain the rights for their students' works. Many directors successfully prepared for making feature films by working in television. The German Film and Television Academy Berlin consequently cooperates with

2820-415: The position of film director is widely considered to be a highly stressful and demanding one. It has been said that "20-hour days are not unusual". Some directors also take on additional roles, such as producing, writing or editing. Under European Union law, the film director is considered the "author" or one of the authors of a film, largely as a result of the influence of auteur theory . Auteur theory

2880-559: The real-life relationship between the two Fondas. The producers originally offered the role of Norman Thayer to James Stewart , but he declined. Anthony Michael Hall auditioned for the role of Billy Ray Jr., which eventually went to Doug McKeon. Screenwriter Thompson spent his summers along the shores of Great Pond , located in Belgrade, Maine , but the film was made on Squam Lake in Holderness, New Hampshire . The house used in

2940-407: The restrictions of the film's budget and the demands of the producer and studio (such as the need to get a particular age rating ). Directors also play an important role in post-production . While the film is still in production, the director sends " dailies " to the film editor and explains their overall vision for the film, allowing the editor to assemble an editor's cut . In post-production,

3000-401: The school of sitting around the table for two weeks examining every detail of the material, working out relationships with the actors, so they know what they are doing, bringing them to locations, so they can get comfortable." Rydell's first feature as director was The Fox (1967) which was a box-office hit, in part due to its then-rare lesbian content. He signed a multi picture contract with

3060-403: The sole superiors of the director are the producers and the studio that is financing the film, although sometimes the director can also be a producer of the same film. The role of a director differs from producers in that producers typically manage the logistics and business operations of the production, whereas the director is tasked with making creative decisions. The director must work within

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3120-476: The speedboat that sped by and disturbed them was so forceful it overturned their canoe in one take. Fonda was immediately taken out of the water and wrapped up in blankets, as his health was fragile by then. The town of Holderness, New Hampshire , offers boat tours of Squam Lake and the filming locations in the movie. There is also a restaurant called "Walter's Basin", which is named after the trout called "Walter" that Billy catches with Norman. For filming, "Walter"

3180-477: The stressful, fast-paced environment of a film set. Moreover, it is necessary to have an artistic eye to frame shots and to give precise feedback to cast and crew, thus, excellent communication skills are a must. Because the film director depends on the successful cooperation of many different creative individuals with possibly strongly contradicting artistic ideals and visions, they also need to possess conflict-resolution skills to mediate whenever necessary. Thus

3240-542: The television and film mogul . It was Grade who largely raised the financing for the film. With a box office take of $ 119,285,432, On Golden Pond was the second-highest-grossing film of the year , following Raiders of the Lost Ark , which earned $ 209,562,121. On Golden Pond received widespread critical acclaim, with critics highlighting the screenplay and performances of the cast (particularly of Hepburn and Henry Fonda). The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives

3300-453: The time. He was going to make a film based on the play Nuts but instead did The River (1984), with Mel Gibson and Sissy Spacek . It was not a commercial success. Neither was Rydell's next film, For the Boys (1991), with Caan and Midler. Rydell made the television movie McBride and Groom (1993) and the feature Intersection (1994). He directed the television movies Crime of

3360-418: Was born on March 23, 1929, to a Jewish family in New York City. Rydell married actress Joanne Linville in 1962. The couple had two children, Amy and Christopher , both actors. Rydell and Linville divorced in 1973. Rydell had another son, Alexander, from his second marriage to documentary producer Esther Rydell. That union ended in divorce in 2007. Film director The film director gives direction to

3420-664: Was brought from a trout pond at the nearby Castle in the Clouds estate. He was released into Squam Lake after his capture. Leftover footage of Fonda and Hepburn driving through the New Hampshire countryside, as seen in the opening credits, was later used for the opening of the CBS television sitcom Newhart . The studio behind the film was ITC Entertainment , the British company presided over (until late 1981) by Lord Grade ,

3480-400: Was cold enough that the pair had to wear wetsuits under their clothes. Hepburn, on the other hand, dove into the water without the aid of the wetsuit because she wanted the scene to keep its authenticity. Some of the scenes in which Billy takes the boat on his own were filmed on nearby Lake Winnipesaukee . While filming the scene in which Fonda and Hepburn are watching the loons on the lake,

3540-610: Was released theatrically on December 4, 1981, to critical and commercial success. Reviewers highly praised Rydell's direction, Thompson's screenplay and the performances of the cast. The film grossed $ 119.3 million domestically, becoming the second highest-grossing film of 1981 in North America . It received ten nominations at the 54th Academy Awards , including for Best Picture , and won three: Best Actor (for Henry Fonda), Best Actress (for Hepburn) and Best Adapted Screenplay . An aging couple, Ethel and Norman Thayer, continue

3600-426: Was reunited with Caan on Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976) which was a box-office flop, and directed the pilot episode of Family (1976). Rydell directed The Rose (1979), starring Bette Midler , which was a huge hit. So too was On Golden Pond (1981), starring Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn , for which Rydell received an Oscar nomination as Best Director . "I'm this week's heat," he joked at

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