Donald Petrie (Veteran Movie and Television Director) on Comedy Directing, Family Legacy, & the Power of Audience Testing

Send Kevin a Text Message In this episode of Don't Kill the Messenger, host Kevin Goetz welcomes director Donald Petrie, the American Film Institute Fellow whose romantic comedies have grossed hundreds of millions worldwide. From launching Julia Roberts in Mystic Pizza to directing Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality and pairing Jack Lemmon with Walter Matthau in Grumpy Old Men , Donald has helmed some of Hollywood's most beloved films. Donald shares how he transformed from actor to director while maintaining the family tradition of integrity and craftsmanship. The Petrie Family Legacy (04:48) Donald reveals how his parents instilled respect for talent and collaboration, moving the family wherever his father was filming rather than using nannies. Discovering Julia Roberts (08:49) Three weeks before shooting Mystic Pizza , Donald found his perfect Daisy - a young actress who could be both brazen and vulnerable. He recalls the moment Julia Roberts auditioned and how he immediately knew she was the one. Emmy Nomination at 26 (13:13) Donald discusses how directing the famous "Venus Butterfly" episode of LA Law earned him an Emmy nomination and changed his career trajectory, leading to feature film offers. Grumpy Old Men Magic (18:16) Donald shares behind-the-scenes stories of directing Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, including Matthau's direction philosophy and how the legendary duo grounded each other's performances. The Test Screening Revelation (25:23) A crucial lesson from Grumpy Old Men : Donald explains how the original opening killed the comedy and why he learned to signal to audiences that "it's okay to laugh." Miss Congeniality 's Secret Formula (35:33) Donald reveals his pitch that transformed the pageant comedy. The Power of Audience Testing (42:01) Donald advocates for test screenings, explaining how audience feedback helped him completely restructure Grumpy Old Men 's opening and Miss Congeniality 's ending. Donald demonstrates how family values, collaborative spirit, and respect for the audience can create lasting entertainment. His insights into comedy directing, star discovery, and the creative process offer valuable lessons. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and share. We look forward to bringing you more behind-the-scenes revelations next time on Don't Kill the Messenger . Host: Kevin Goetz Guests: Donald Petrie Producer: Kari Campano Writers: Kevin Goetz, Darlene Hayman, and Kari Campano Audio Engineer: Gary Forbes (DG Entertainment) For more information about Donald Petrie: Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Petrie IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0677953/ For more information about Kevin Goetz: Website: www.KevinGoetz360.com Audienceology Book: 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