Aaron Sorkin cites lack of visual instinct in directing assessment

Aaron Sorkin is questioning his ability to master the visual aspects of filmmaking.

The 65-year-old writer and director discussed the reception of his latest film, The Social Reckoning, during an appearance at the Newport Beach Film Festival last week. He was receiving the event's Maverick Director Award when he spoke with The Hollywood Reporter for their Awards Chatter podcast.

Sorkin stated that he was the second choice to direct the movie. He preferred David Fincher, who directed The Social Network, to helm the project. However, Fincher has an exclusive deal with Netflix, while Sony owned the rights to this new film.

The movie, which cost $40 million to produce, opened in theaters on Oct. 9. It tells the story of Facebook and features Mikey Madison, Jeremy Allen White, and Jeremy Strong in lead roles. The film has received mixed critical response, currently sitting at 54 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Its worldwide box office gross has reached $15 million.

Sorkin expressed concern that the specific skills required for effective directing are not easily learned. He compared directing to screenwriting, noting that while some elements of writing can be taught, the core of talent often cannot. He said he is worried that the parts of directing where he struggles are the parts that cannot be acquired through study.

He admitted that he has little visual sensibility. Sorkin noted that while he has worked with acclaimed directors like Rob Reiner and Bennett Miller in the past, his own experience behind the camera has been a steep learning curve. He specifically pointed to the science of filmmaking and camera usage as areas where he feels he has absorbed too little.

The filmmaker related his experience to football coaches who claim all elements for a win were present but did not align. He said he feels similarly about his directing work, believing that if given another chance, he could bring all the components together effectively.

Sorkin also addressed the state of mid-budget movies. He observed that many of his recent films, including The Social Reckoning, might be destined for streaming platforms rather than theatrical releases today. He noted that only A Few Good Men from his filmography might still be considered a standard feature film in the current market.

In other remarks, Sorkin discussed the potential return of The West Wing. He expressed a desire to revive the series but cited the challenge of finding the right story. He mentioned that the cast has aged, which he did not anticipate when the show originally ended. He also spoke about a new Lincoln Center production of A Few Good Men, which he is rewriting. He described his Broadway debut for that play as occurring around the time he began using cocaine and said he is now working on the script while sober.