Inside Mann: William Goldenberg talks about The Insider

“Lowell Bergman [portrayed by Al Pacino] was a consultant on the movie and was around a lot; it is amazing to work on movies about real people,” states William Goldenberg who assembled the project along with Paul Rubell (Collateral) and David Rosenbloom (Immortals).  “Paul had the first half of the movie and I had the second half with some exceptions.”    When a tobacco lawyer is told to shut-up by a state of Mississippi attorney, the actors where literally reliving the historical moment.  “That’s the actual courthouse that the deposition happened.  The court reporter was the actual court reporter.  That level of detail with Michael gives it an extra realism.   There is such great camera work in that scene it almost feels like it is coming right under his arm at one point.”  Authenticity is fundamental to the storytelling.  “Michael does a tremendous amount of research where he prepares a book which is the biggest three ring binder you have ever seen and it is filled with information about the characters, the backgrounds and motivations, and pictures.  Michael gives the actors their homework to study.  I know that the level of detail and preparation that he does is off the charts."

Unlike Heat where a gunfight erupts on the streets of Los Angeles, only a single piece of ammunition appears in The Insider.  “We needed an insert of the bullet,” remarks William Goldenberg.  “I will rarely say to Michael, ‘That we need to pick up an insert.’  Because often times you will make a list of what inserts are needed but Michael rarely goes back to reshoot anything or any pickups; he takes a lot of pride in getting it all the first time.  I did ask the script supervisor as I thought we needed an insert for that.  Michael had the idea of shooting it through the mailbox with Russell’s face behind the bullet which I thought was so cool.”  Goldenberg was also impressed by the footage for the cinematic moment which features Colm Feore (Thor) talking about flying fighter jets to Russell Crowe.  “I remember watching the dailies and Michael used a Frazier lens which had a split-eye optic. You were able to get things in focus things there were very close to the camera and things in the background to be in focus as well.  Michael uses that lens so brilliantly in that sequence where Russell turns to the camera and his face is almost up against it while Colm is in the background talking.”

Piecing together scene where Lowell Bergman urgently tries to get potentially suicidal Jeffrey Wigand on the phone was complicated by the use of a visual effect.   “Wigand sees a wall of wallpaper morph into his own backyard with his kids.  The combination of Lisa Gerrard’s [Burning Man] music, and Russell’s performance, all credit goes to Michael there.  Even with the pieces of the kids we picked out it is one of the most favourite things I have ever cut. The degree of difficult was high because of the morphing.  They didn’t do it quite technically right when they did it.  Michael used a motion-control camera on Russell.  It was supposed to be motion-controlled camera on the background and Michael shot them without it.  We didn’t think it would work.  Chris Watts [Gravity], the visual effects supervisor did a brilliant job of making it all so everything was lined up.  Without Chris it wouldn’t have worked.”

A hapless hotel manger goaded over the phone by Lowell Bergman provides an element of humour.   “I don’t know how Roger Bart [Law Abiding Citizen] ended up in the movie; he’s a Tony-winning actor.  You want it to be funny but you don’t want it comedic.  Maybe that’s why Michael went for such a great actor for that small part.  ‘Get on the fucking phone!’  It’s fantastic.  And the moment when Russell opens the door, flips the phone and slams the door, Russell came up with that.  The funny thing is we shot a scene of Al where he is waist deep in the water and there was one take where all of sudden he runs out of the water because there was shark nearby!  I’m sure it was little but it still scared the crap out of him.”