Aaron Sorkin calls visual instinct the hardest directing skill to master

Aaron Sorkin told The Hollywood Reporter last week that he is worried his weaknesses as a director are traits that cannot be taught. The conversation took place at the Newport Beach Film Festival, where the 65-year-old screenwriter received the Maverick Director Award for The Social Reckoning. The film, which Sorkin also wrote, opened in theaters on Oct. 9.

The movie has earned $15 million worldwide since its release. It currently holds a 54 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Sorkin noted that the production had a $40 million budget. He said he was disappointed by the reception compared to earlier works, such as The Social Network, which David Fincher directed 16 years ago.

Sorkin explained that Fincher was his first choice to direct The Social Reckoning. He said Fincher has an exclusive deal with Netflix, while Sony owns the rights to the new film. Sorkin said he would prefer Fincher to direct all of his projects. He admitted that he was the second-choice option to helm the camera.

The screenwriter said he has been writing movies for 35 years. He cited A Few Good Men, The American President, and Charlie Wilson’s War among his previous credits. He won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for The Social Network. He also received screenplay nominations for Moneyball, Molly’s Game, and The Trial of the Chicago 7.

Sorkin said he feels like he just entered the film industry recently. He compared his uncertainty to the concept of talent in screenwriting. He said that while some parts of writing can be learned, others are innate. He expressed fear that his directing limitations fall into the category of innate ability rather than skill that can be acquired through study.

He said the learning curve was steeper than expected regarding the use of the camera. He noted that he learned from working with directors like Rob Reiner, David Fincher, Bennett Miller, Mike Nichols, and Danny Boyle. He said he was surprised by how little of the technical science of filmmaking he had absorbed. He described his visual sensibility as non-existent.

Sorkin compared his situation to football coaches after a losing game. He said he feels the elements for success were present but did not come together. He asked for another chance to direct, claiming that he believes he will eventually be able to combine his strengths. He said he is not done wanting to collaborate with other directors.

During the interview, Sorkin also discussed the potential return of The West Wing. He said he misses the cast and the show but needs a strong story to revive it. He noted that the actors have aged since the series ended. He said he cannot simply write dialogue without a narrative structure.

He addressed the decline of mid-budget movies in the industry. He said this is his 11th film. He stated that, except for A Few Good Men, his other movies likely would have been produced for streaming services today rather than as theatrical features. He also discussed a new Lincoln Center revival of A Few Good Men, which he is rewriting for the stage.

Sorkin said the current production of A Few Good Men is different from the original Broadway version. He said he is working on the rewrite while sober. He noted that he was very young when he wrote the original play. He described the updated version as essentially a new play.