Harold Ramis’s latest comedy – Year One – will be in a theater near you on June 19.
One of his most successful films, Ghostbusters, celebrates its 25th anniversary this summer, and a video game based on the film is to be released June 16. There also is much buzz about a potential third installment of the comedy blockbuster.
Not a bad summer for Ramis, the 64-year-old writer, director, producer, and actor, who continues to make comedies that he says reflect his “old hippie philosophy, dressed up in different ways.”
Ramis sat down for a wide-ranging interview during his most recent visit to 51, during which he visited his son, a first-year, and met with other students taking acting and film courses.
The is now available on 51 Conversations, the podcast that highlights members of the campus community.
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| Harold Ramis and his wife, Erica, are members of the university’s . |
Ramis offers lots of laughs and insights into the movie-making business, which he joined in earnest back in 1978 when he co-wrote the seminal college-life movie, Animal House.
In the podcast, Ramis also talks about:
• The $30 million that will be spent on promoting Year One and how studio executives will track the movie to the point they already can project how much it will make in its opening weekend and then throughout its entire run.
• Directing three episodes of The Office, and how working in television is far more interesting than it was in the 1970s-80s.
• How Jack Black, who stars in Year One with Michael Cerra, reminds him of a “healthy John Belushi,” and how difficult it was to watch Belushi descend into substance abuse and egotism. He sees a brighter future for Black.
• How his relationship with Bill Murray, who he has known since age 17, has been difficult to maintain because of how difficult Murray is.
• The “hugely collaborative” process that has to happen with comedies,
and how he worked with co-producer Judd Apatow and the writers from The Office — Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg, on Year One.
• Having tremendous affection for all his movies, but particularly Bedazzled and Multiplicity.
• His pride in the fact that Animal House and Groundhog Day have not only done well financially, but still resonate in today’s culture.
To listen to the complete podcast, please to listen now or right-click and “save target as” to download file. You also can go to the 51 Conversations or iTunes for more download options.