Phil Johnston is the Academy Award-nominated co-director and writer of “Ralph Breaks the Internet.” He also co-wrote the original “Wreck-It Ralph” and the Oscar-winning “Zootopia.” But we can say we knew him way back when — all the way back when he was a student at Columbia University film school and we were neighbors with him and his wife, Jill, in a loft building in Brooklyn. He and I talk about all of it in my latest A La Carte interview: his early love of movies growing up in small-town Wisconsin, his first career as a TV news reporter in the Midwest and the leap of faith he took to pursue his dream of being a filmmaker. He’s been so busy for the past several years, it was just nice to sit down and have a conversation with him. I hope you guys enjoy, too. (Also: The movie title I’m groping for during the Ethan Hawke portion of our discussion is “Juliet, Naked,” which I quite liked.)
Long time What the Flick?!/Breakfast All Day viewer from Appleton, WI and it is so cool to finally get this interview after the many mentions of your friendship with Wisconsin-born Phil!
Thanks for watching/listening, Nick!
I have to ask Christy, are you pleased with the amount of fans you have retained from your years of loyal service at Young Turks? Because there seem to be quite a few!
As a journalism major film nerd currently living in Minneapolis, this episode was made for me. The KARE 11 shoutout was neat. They truly are a great, truth and humanity-driven station. Thanks for doing these!
Thanks for listening, Katie!