Directions : Director Research - Paul Feig

 Director Research - Paul Feig

Fig. 1 Portrait of Paul Feig

Paul Feig is an American director, producer, writer and actor. Bridesmaids, Ghostbusters, A Simple Favour and Spy are some of his most well-known directorial pieces of work. 

Feig's main trademark is the fact that all his films are all comedic in some way shape or form. Comedy plays such a big part in his films. He has spent years and continues to watching comedies and looking at comedic material in order to hone his comedic abilities. Silent films, such as the works of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, have been of great inspiration to Feig, particularly when it comes down to the use of physical comedy. 

Women are often at the forefront of Feig's films. Feig tries to ensure that he gets women's opinions on the female characters in his films so that their characters are more realistic in terms of how women speak, their behaviour etc. 

Feig likes to ensure that the actors are at the centre in terms of deciding who their characters are and then building upon that. He allows for the cast to improvise and make suggestions. This allows for the cast to build a relationship, form chemistry and bounce off each other. The relationships between the characters is also important when it comes to Feig's films. The audience often wants to be a part of the relationships displayed in his films on screen and can relate to them in some way shape or form. 

Fig.2 Poster for Bridesmaids (2011)

Paul Feig is also known for his sense of style, his suits in particular, and drew upon this when making A Simple Favour. A trademark of this film is the suits and outfits that Blake Lively, who plays Emily Nelson, wears throughout the film. The suits in this film were inspired by both Paul Feig's sense of style and films from the 'classic Hollywood film' era. 

Fig.3 Film Still of Blake Lively in A Simple Favour (2018)

Feig's approach is focused around the characters and the actors playing them as well as the use of comedy. 

Bibliography:

Berkowitz, J. (2017)  "Bridesmaids" and "The Heat" Director Paul Feig On How To Make <strike> Female-Driven </strike> Comedies Everybody Wants To See. At: https://www.fastcompany.com/3020072/bridesmaids-and-the-heat-director-paul-feig-on-how-to-make-female-driven-comedies-everybody- (Accessed 11/02/2021)

Blackwelder, C. (2020) 'Bridesmaids' director reveals who broke character the most whilst filming' . At: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/paul-feig-enduring-legacy-bridesmaids-10-years-73191722 (Accessed 11/02/2021)

Eakin, M. (2013) 24 hours of inspiration: The Heat director Paul Feig talks us through some of his comedy favourites. At: https://film.avclub.com/24-hours-of-inspiration-the-heat-director-paul-feig-ta-1798238999 (Accessed 11/02/2021)

Fig.1 Merritt, J. (2011) Portrait of Paul Feig. [Photograph] At: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0082450/mediaviewer/rm4153457408/ (Accessed 11/02/2021)

Fig. 2 Universal Pictures (2011) Poster for Bridesmaids. (2011) [Photograph] At: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1478338/mediaviewer/rm672433408/ (Accessed  11/02/2021)

Fig.3 Lionsgate. (2018) Film Still of Blake Lively in A Simple Favour (2018) In: A Simple Favour. United States: Lionsgate. (Accessed 11/02/2021)

Miller, J (2018) 'A Simple Favour: Blake Lively's Most Jaw-Dropping Fashion Moments, Explained' In: Vanity Fair 15/09/2018 At: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/09/a-simple-favor-movie-style-fashion (Accessed 11/02/2021)

Nicholson, R. (2019) ' 'Paul Feig: Male humour always devolves into homophobia and name-calling' ' In: The Guardian 18/10/2019 At: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/18/paul-feig-male-humour-always-devolves-into-homophobia-and-name-calling  (Accessed 11/02/2021)

Ryzik, M. (2015) 'The Director Paul Feig Prepares 'Spy' With Melissa McCarthy' In: The New York Times 01/05/2015 At: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/03/movies/the-director-paul-feig-prepares-spy-with-melissa-mccarthy.html (Accessed 11/02/2021)

Wallace, C. (2018) Inside The Amazing Wardrobe Of Hollywood Director Mr Paul Feig. At: https://www.mrporter.com/en-us/journal/fashion/inside-the-amazing-wardrobe-of-hollywood-director-mr-paul-feig-571416 (Accessed 11/02/2021)