One Woman's Writing Retreat

An Interview with
Niki Marvin 

Producer of 
The Shawshank Redemption

by Catherine Tudor


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Question: What is your background?

NM: I'm originally from England, started as an actor at the age of eight. Both my parents were in the theatre so it was a natural extension for me to follow in their footsteps. I worked as a classical actress, doing everything from Shakespeare to Ibsen to Shaw to modern day playwrights like Pinter. I worked in theatre, television and radio. I moved on to writing and directing plays then went to the BBC where I wrote, directed and produced television. Everything from documentaries to drama.

 

Question: Why did you come to Hollywood?

NM: I wanted to make movies and there was no film industry in England. Luckily, my mother is an  American so I have dual nationality. I can work in England and the United States.

Question: How different is it than England?

NM: Very. England's a tiny country. Theatre, TV and radio are all very close by in London so you can easily work in all three mediums. And now films. Since I left, there is now quite a strong film industry. Here, if you want to do theatre, you have to be in New York or Chicago.  But the best filmmaking is in the United States. That's why we all gravitate here from all over the world. The first time I worked on the backlot of Universal, it was such a thrill. The history of the place. To know you were working in the very same place that people you'd grown up watching, admiring had worked.

Question: What was your role in producing The Shawshank Redemption?

NM: Frank Darabont and I met and worked together on a film called Nightmare on Elm Street 3.  We became friends. He was a huge Stephen King fan. Had already made a short film of one of his stories. I didn't know Stephen King's work other than his horror films. Frank gave me two of his books of short stories and novellas, told me he wanted to make Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. I read it, thought it was fabulous and wanted to work with him on it. I was asked to come up with a cable movie for Universal's new cable division, found a script called "Buried Alive" and asked Frank to direct it. We did that then sold "Shawshank" to Castle Rock. And things went from there. We cast the movie, hired the crew and I worked alongside him every moment from start to finish. It was a very rewarding experience. The studio got really behind it. The film was released. And didn't do well at first. We were saved by the fact that the film was nominated for seven Oscars. The result of our peers seeing it on video for Academy Award consideration and voting for it. The film was then re-released and became a success.

Question: What advice would you give writers wanting to break into the business?

NM: First, I would suggest that you study screenwriting through a combination of reading scripts and watching movies. Going back and forth between what's on the page and what's on the screen to learn why something does or doesn't work. Second, I really believe it's important to write about something you're passionate about. Don't try and come up with a formula. It never works. When you write from your heart, it somehow transmits onto the page. Third, I would recommend going to a site like WriteMovies.com where young writers are nurtured and shown the ropes. We all need to be mentored. For me, that happened in the theatre and at the BBC. And I will forever be grateful.

Question: What are you working on next?

NM: I wear three hats--writing, directing and producing--and all my projects involve some combination of the three. I'm producing and directing a feature film, writing and producing a TV movie, writing and executive producing a pilot for a series. All of which are keeping me very busy. But they are all projects that I'm passionate to make. All with people I enjoy working with.

 

About Niki Marvin

 

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