![MV5BMTYzMzkxOTA3Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzk3NzU4NQ@@. V1 SY1000 CR0,0,675,1000 AL](http://images.ctfassets.net/3m6gg2lxde82/5pVV3kBQ8ADPyRnVE0mwv2/bf4488cf09f72d72464cf01990ba34f7/MV5BMTYzMzkxOTA3Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzk3NzU4NQ__._V1_SY1000_CR0_0_675_1000_AL_.jpg.png?w=100&h=100&fit=fill&f=faces&q=90&fm=webp)
The movie that made the earliest impression on me was one I was far too young to see, and that was The Godfather. Since then, and throughout my career, I find I gravitate toward thrillers. Paying homage to this genre was part of the inspiration behind creating Solstice Studios.
![The Conformist](http://images.ctfassets.net/3m6gg2lxde82/1A4rYPuyzgcBhMBKZ91ze6/28ad18e6e64907501f3bfc2d5f0f5038/the-conformist.png?w=590&h=332&fit=fill&f=faces&q=90&fm=webp)
In terms of films that I’ve liked over the years, a lot of them have intrigue or thriller written on them. I have to say, my favorite movie is The Conformist, the Bertolucci film. But equally, or right next to it, would be The French Connection.
![The French Connection](http://images.ctfassets.net/3m6gg2lxde82/CrkaGvES4OoJct3thI6Gp/685e2b1e62ee4236ed85c199b74c5644/french-connection.png?w=590&h=332&fit=fill&f=faces&q=90&fm=webp)
I’ve always loved The French Connection and want to make something that would be an homage to that. It’s really high-octane, if you will, but also the development of character was really strong. And if I recall correctly, it won the Academy Award for Best Picture that year. [It did, along with Actor, Directing, Editing and Adapted Screenplay Oscars.]
![http://aple.tmsimg.com/assets/p8118_i_h10_ac.jpg](http://images.ctfassets.net/3m6gg2lxde82/1sL29mwQBkrrcVAIT3siam/45e2420c080d5815f71a2b07ce40402c/rear-window.png?w=590&h=332&fit=fill&f=faces&q=90&fm=webp)
If you don’t pick a Hitchcock movie and you like thrillers, you need to be fired. They’re all amazing, of course, but I found there was something haunting about Rear Window and I couldn’t get it out of my head.
![No Country for Old Men](http://images.ctfassets.net/3m6gg2lxde82/5ZOotbk09uboDDzjxuuZDz/293303243bcae4a909be94edfbba3be7/no-country-for-old-men.png?w=590&h=332&fit=fill&f=faces&q=90&fm=webp)
It’s probably mostly about [star] Javier Bardem. That’s just the most amazingly complex, odd, one-of-a-kind character you can ever imagine. I thought he was extraordinary.
![http://aple.tmsimg.com/assets/p18698_i_h10_ab.jpg](http://images.ctfassets.net/3m6gg2lxde82/6U5BH4RWpnxOLhPBM6ZFyX/e55284a26b6a900afb14278fb00325c7/http___aple.tmsimg.com_assets_p18698_i_h10_ab.jpg?w=590&h=332&fit=fill&f=faces&q=90&fm=webp)
The director, Anthony Minghella, was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and I thought he created something that was both lyrical and powerful, and boy, that’s hard to do. One or the other, sure, but for me it captured both. I just thought it was extraordinarily beautiful cinema that was mind-blowing. Having been along for the ride—running the marketing of it and getting to work with them was such a privilege—and having it go all the way through to winning Best Picture was quite something.
![The Godfather](http://images.ctfassets.net/3m6gg2lxde82/5XsME9EUfFDgSeecu45O13/764ed205c4bb03bfd3db6537e500ec8b/the-godfather.png?w=590&h=332&fit=fill&f=faces&q=90&fm=webp)
I have to go back to the movie that inspired me to watch movies, and that I was far too young to be seeing: The Godfather. I don’t know what my parents were thinking, but I’m glad they did it. It was admittedly right up to the edge of what I could handle at 10 years old, but I got through it and I thought it was inspirational.