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With the Natalie Portman drama Lucy in the Sky opening in theaters this weekend, I recently sat down with director Noah Hawley for an extended interview. Written by Hawley, Brian C Brown, and Elliott DiGuiseppi, the film stars Portman as an astronaut named Lucy Cola who begins to lose touch with reality after returning to Earth, which now seems small when compared to the majesty of space. The film also stars Jon Hamm, Dan Stevens, Zazie Beetz, Pearl Amanda Dickson, and Ellen Burstyn.

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Image via Fox Searchlight Pictures

If you’ve seen the trailers, you probably noticed the way the aspect ratio changed in the footage. One of the interesting things Hawley did in the film was use the aspect ratio as a way to convey Cola’s mental state. During the interview, we talked about the changing aspect ratio, a cool shot in the hospital, who he trusts for honest feedback, what he was nervous to be able to pull off before filming began, why he wanted the film to be a subjective experience, his first cut of the film, why the movie gets brighter as the subject matter gets darker, and more. In addition, with Fargo season four getting ready to start filming this month, he teased a few things fans can look forward to.

Check out what he had to say in the player above and below is exactly what we talked about.

Noah Hawley:

  • What is it like having the script to actors hoping they would want to do it?
  • Did he have to convince the studio to let him use a changing aspect ratio in the film?
  • How did they come up with the hospital shot?
  • Why he wanted the film to be a subjective experience.
  • How long was his first cut?
  • Who does he trust for honest feedback?
  • How he designed the color design in pre-production.
  • How the movie gets brighter as the film gets darker.
  • What was he nervous to be able to pull off while making the film?
  • Fargo season 4 talk.
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Image via Fox Searchlight Pictures