Filmmaker Adam Cooper chatted about directing the film “Sleeping Dogs,” and working with Oscar winner Russell Crowe.
The synopsis is: A case he can’t remember. A life he has to save. Watch Russell Crowe as a former homicide detective trying to unravel a major mystery in the new thriller “Sleeping Dogs,” which will be released in theaters on March 22nd.
‘Sleeping Dogs’
On his experience directing the movie and co-writing the screenplay with Bill Collage, he said, “It was exhilarating. It was exciting, terrifying, and all of the things that come with being a first-time filmmaker. I’ve been a writer for a long time, so there was a comfort to that.”
“As the director, you are responsible for all things, which is both exciting and scary,” he noted.
“I was really fortunate to be surrounded by a really incredible group of creatives. I had a lot of support. It was a really great experience, and I am grateful to have gotten to do it with the people that I’ve gotten to do it with,” he explained.
Working with Oscar winner Russell Crowe
On working with Russell Crowe, he said, “It was awesome. Getting to have an Academy Award winner in your first film is definitely a pinch yourself type of thing. Russell is a brilliant actor and a great collaborator. He had great ideas and made every scene better, and he made everyone around him better. It was a really incredible experience.”
“The same holds true with Karen Gillan and Tommy Flanagan. Karen is mostly known for her comedic content but getting to see her exercise her dramatic chops was great,” he said.
“Tommy Flanagan was really awesome as well. I am fans of all of these people, so getting to work with them on this film was great,” he added.
The digital age
On being a filmmaker in the digital age, Cooper said, “I think ‘Sleeping Dogs’ is a great movie for streaming platforms. You don’t see a lot of these mid-budget adult thrillers in cinemas these days. Companies are mostly investing in big blockbusters for theatrical releases, so the advent of digital tech and streaming platforms are great for a movie of this size.”
“This movie is going to have a theatrical release, but I imagine that it will live a long time on streaming platforms, so I am excited for it,” he foreshadowed. “Ultimately, this film will end up on Netflix or Hulu or one of the streamers.”
AI on the future of the industry
“I think AI is great when you have a whole novel that you don’t feel like reading, and you want a summary of it. For a creative, I like it as a tool but I’m scared of it in terms of its evolution. I am scared from the standpoint that there are people who support their families by building sets, and I am fearful that AI will be able to build your set for you, and you won’t need those people.”
“I imagine that AI will get better, smarter, and more nuanced. It could be a worthwhile shortcut for a lot of people. Selfishly, I wish that AI didn’t exist,” he added.
Advice for young and aspiring filmmakers
For young and aspiring filmmakers, he encouraged them to “keep on writing and shooting things.” “You have more tools at your disposal than I had when I started out. Back then, there weren’t any iPhone cameras. I don’t want to diminish film schools, but you can shoot a master with your iPhone camera, and you can put it all together, where in the past, you weren’t able to do that.”
“You can explore, and you can start to perfect your craft at a much younger age than people used to be able to do so. There is just so much more access these days. The best education is just making things,” he acknowledged.
Career-defining moments
On his career-defining moments, he shared, “Probably my very first job that I ever had as a writer. The specific content is unimportant but when you breakthrough from having had this dream to do something to realizing that it can be a reality, that gives you a confidence to keep doing it.”
“Also, every time you get to write something else, that gives you a bit more confidence,” he admitted. “I have had a lot of really great experiences, and I feel very fortunate.”
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Cooper responded, “52-year-old man with a two-year-old.”
Favorite motto to live by
His favorite motto to live by is “Carpe Diem,” which means “seize the day.”
Success
On his definition of the word success, Cooper said, “Getting to work on stories that I am passionate about with likeminded creatives who are equally passionate. Getting paid to do that is a great thing.”
Closing thoughts on ‘Sleeping Dogs’
Cooper remarked about “Sleeping Dogs,” “I hope that it awakens something in the viewers about their own humanity and their own memories of the past, and the way they define themselves. I hope the audience has a good time, and it has some surprises for them.”
