While it's always great to talk with actors, if you want to hear why certain key decisions were made, or what was the most difficult technical sequence, you've got to talk with the producer.  After all, while an actor might have a great behind the scenes story, the producer can give you a lot more details.

The other week, Disney held a big press junket in Arizona, and I landed an exclusive video interview with John Carter producer Jim Morris.  During our extended conversation we talked about how the movie doesn't talk down to the audience, how they improved the shortcomings of the novel, his thoughts on film vs. digital, are there Easter Eggs in the film, the issues with 3D brightness in different theaters, the pranks on set, what's his favorite movie, actor and director, and so much more.  Hit the jump to watch.

Jim Morris Time Index

• 0:10 – Producer Jim Morris talks about his nerves before the screening of John Carter.
• 1:00 – As a movie that doesn’t talk down to its audience, Morris addresses the level of engagement for those watching John Carter. He also talks about improving upon the shortcomings of the novel and giving John Carter more of a character arc.
• 2:40 – Morris reveals his favorite movie, actor and director.
• 3:40 – Morris shares two great stories about pranks on the set of John Carter.
• 5:50 – With his history at ILM, Morris reflects on the evolution of effects technology and the breakthroughs he experienced on John Carter.
• 9:15 – Morris talks about the next hurdle to effects technology being totally believable digital characters used in films. He also addresses the need to make the current tools available to the widest possible number of filmmakers.
• 10:25 – Morris reveals the most difficult technical sequence from John Carter.
• 11:35 – Casting his vote in the discussion of film vs digital, Morris talks about which version he supports and where he thinks the industry is headed.
• 13:20 – Morris addresses the fact that theaters are projecting the 3D movies at a lower brightness level than was originally intended.
• 15:25 – Morris talks about whether or not there are any Easter eggs in John Carter for fans of the source material and whether or not Andrew Stanton’s work with Pixar is mentioned cryptically in the film.