Gary Lucchesi (Veteran Producer, Studio Executive, and Former Agent) on Working with Talent and Successful Filmmaking

Send Kevin a Text Message In this episode of "Don't Kill the Messenger," host Kevin Goetz sits down with Gary Lucchesi, the acclaimed producer and former President of the Producer’s Guild of America. From his early days as a talent agent at William Morris to his tenure as President of Production at Paramount Pictures, Gary has been a driving force behind numerous hit films. As a producer, his credits include Primal Fear, Million Dollar Baby, The Lincoln Lawyer, and Runaway Bride, among many others. In this insightful conversation, Gary shares stories from his career, discussing the art of assembling the right talent, the power of test screenings, and his thoughts on the future of the film industry. From William Morris to Hollywood Heavyweight (07:41) Gary talks about his early days at the William Morris Agency and the lessons he learned from mentors like Stan Kamen. He shares stories about signing talent like Michelle Pfeiffer and Kevin Costner. The Paramount Years (17:45) Gary discusses his tenure as President of Production at Paramount Pictures, where he oversaw films like The Hunt for Red October and Fatal Attraction. Saving Fatal Attraction with a New Ending (21:25) Gary shares the story of how a focus group and audience test screening led to a major change in the ending of Fatal Attraction, turning it from a "bummer" into a box office hit. Producing Primal Fear and Discovering Edward Norton (28:21) Gary dives into the making of Primal Fear, discussing the casting process and how Edward Norton’s brilliant audition won him the career-launching role over other contenders like Leonardo DiCaprio. Million Dollar Baby and the Road to the Oscars (33:15) Gary shares the journey of making Million Dollar Baby, from the script's origins to Clint Eastwood's involvement to the film's Academy Award. Bringing Andrew Lloyd Weber to the Big Screen (37:08) Gary talks about his time working with Andrew Lloyd Weber and bringing musicals like Sunset Boulevard and Cats to the screen. The Shifting Landscape of the Film Industry (42:38) Kevin and Gary discuss the seismic changes in the film business. Gary shares his optimism about the next generation reinventing the industry. Gary Lucchesi brings his passion for producing, his keen eye for talent, and his deep understanding of the filmmaking process to this conversation with his friend, and host, Kevin Goetz. For anyone interested in the art and business of filmmaking, this episode offers a front-row seat to one of the industry's most accomplished and respected producers. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review or connect on social media. We look forward to bringing you more revelations from behind-the-scenes next time on Don't Kill the Messenger! Host: Kevin Goetz Guest: Gary Lucchesi Producer: Kari Campano Writers: Kevin Goetz, Darlene Hayman, Kari Campano, and Nick Nunez Audio Engineer: Gary Forbes (DG Entertainment) For more information about Gary Lucchesi: Wikipedia: For more information about Kevin Goetz: - Website: www.KevinGoetz360.com - Audienceology Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Audience-ology/Kevin-Goetz/9781982186678 - How to Score in Hollywood: https://www.amazon.com/How-Score-Hollywood-Secrets-Business/dp/198218986X/ - Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Substack: @KevinGoetz360 - LinkedIn @Kevin Goetz - Screen Engine/ASI Website: www.ScreenEngineASI.com