AJB Interview with Tony Broccoli
Barbel
ScotlandPosts: 37,854Chief of Staff
Our next interviewee is a member of the most important family in the world of James Bond films.
Tony Broccoli has worked in various capacities on the James Bond series, including Production Executive on Spectre, Location Manager on Licence To Kill, Second Assistant Director on For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy, etc. His work outside the series has included such TV programmes as Destination X TV: Hawaii.
He has kindly agreed to answer our questions, and I'd like to ask our members to post them below. I know that you will not ask any personal questions, or expect any indiscretions.
Cut-off point for questions is Sunday at 17.00 GMT.
Tony Broccoli has worked in various capacities on the James Bond series, including Production Executive on Spectre, Location Manager on Licence To Kill, Second Assistant Director on For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy, etc. His work outside the series has included such TV programmes as Destination X TV: Hawaii.
He has kindly agreed to answer our questions, and I'd like to ask our members to post them below. I know that you will not ask any personal questions, or expect any indiscretions.
Cut-off point for questions is Sunday at 17.00 GMT.
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Comments
I have never heard a bad word about him, his work ethics and the spirit that he‘s brought to others - can you confirm this?
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Has this overt use of one of the Bond continuation novels for the first time set a precedent for the inclusion of more continuation novel material in future James Bond films?
(I doubt if he'd say anything, anyway)
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
Was directing ( assistant ) a pleasant experience or a
stress filled experience .
Do the family take note of fans' discussions on AJB and sites like ours?
(Barbel, I'm not sure how you're going to top this one, but well done on arranging this great series of interviews -{ -{ )
(Congratulations and thanks, Barbel).
Certain members are suggesting that I slow down these interviews, others seem to want them quickly. To a large degree this is outwith my control, and it may be some time before the next one... or not, I truly don't know.
A fat man at an all you can eat Buffet .... I don't really care about the speed of
the service, ... just that they keep on coming
1. What's been your favourite Bond film to work on, and why?
I’ve enjoyed every Bond film I’ve worked on but if I have to choose one I’ll go with “The Man with the Golden Gun”. I was 20 and it was the first film I’d worked on. I was at college at University of Notre Dame (it had just turned co-Ed) and suddenly I’m in Thailand for the summer. I love Asia and Thailand in particular, lovely people, beautiful girls, great food and beaches. A fun film crew, mostly British, some of whom I’d known since I was a kid visiting Bond sets. Bond films of course are well oiled machines, we stay in the best hotels, are well paid and since many of the crew are returnees there’s a great camaraderie. Roger was great, funny, down to earth and charming. Herve Villechaise was a wild and crazy partier, he would make a point of arriving back from his night’s revelries at 6 am when we were leaving the hotel to go to work, a girl on each arm . On a few of the other films I worked with the underwater unit which is great also, a smaller, tighter crew in a location with crystal clear water and beautiful beaches like the Bahamas and Cancun. But it’s great to be with the main unit, where the action is. I might add that growing up my father was often away making movies while I was in boarding school, so it was a special treat to be able to spend a few months with him. Unlike some producers he was very hands on and on the set every day. Usually playing backgammon with Roger! I’ll get to the other questions later, my answers won’t be as long!
I do hope they are, that's a great answer.
Yes I can confirm all the good things said about Roger. A gentleman and a close friend of my family. A very funny man and a practical joker. And self-deprecating. I once visited him in Switzerland with my then girlfriend and she said to him “Tony says you’re so funny, tell us a joke”. His reply: “Well you’ve seen my acting haven’t you”?
3. I understand cutting costs is always important in a film production, but would you say the budget restraints were tougher during the production of Licence To Kill than other Bond films?
Being a location manager for the underwater unit on “License to Kill” I was not especially aware of budget constraints. Since the previous film, “Living Daylights”, was not one of the biggest box office winners, I imagine that was a factor. Also, filming in Mexico (and Mexican government subsidies) made it more cost effective.
As I mentioned I was the location manager for the underwater unit in Isla Mujeres, a small island near Cancun, Mexico. We were there for three months filming with sharks, mini submarines etc. Timothy, nor any of the other actors, were there. We used stunt men and doubles. Any underwater scenes involving Timothy were filmed in a water tank at the studio in Mexico City.
5. Was there ever any consideration given to filming any of the James Bond continuation novels in whole or in part? We've already seen Kingsley Amis' Colonel Sun torture scene used in Spectre of course.
Not being a producer or being intimately involved in the creative decisions, I don’t know the answer to this question. I’m sure that the “continuation” Bond novels have been read by the producers and other principals. They’re always looking for story ideas and they could come from anywhere, including the more recent 007 books.
Too bad that I haven‘t asked for more of these stories
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Being an assistant director for me was always a fun experience. Of course there are always problems to solve and some stress involved. Being the son of the producer put me in a fairly unique position, and perhaps I was viewed differently. Of course I got the job because of nepotism and maybe some resented that. All I could do was to get on with the job and try not to be too big for my boots!
7. Before any production is planned, how much discussion within the family goes on as to the general tone or direction in which the next film- and perhaps the series- should be steered?
Much discussion goes on between the producers, writers, director and others. Yes I am part of the Broccoli family, but apart from an occasional opinion I have not been part of the creative team that makes those decisions.
There are people in the “Bond” office who read pretty much everything written about Bond in the press, Bond sites etc. I don’t know how much consideration it is given but we want to make the fans happy!
9. How do you see the future for the family Broccoli and Bond? Are you confident (sure) they will continue together for a long time?
Barbara and Michael love what they do. I would describe them as workaholics (especially compared to me!). Michael is getting older and will likely slow down a bit. His son Gregg Wilson has been taking more of a lead role in recent years. I think Barbara will be the main Broccoli force for another 20 years or so.
Going back to Casino Royale was straight out of Cubby’s ethos it seems, should we be seeing future Bond films looking back at Fleming’s literary work?
I’m sure Cubby would be very happy with the continued success and with the direction the recent Bond films have taken, getting back to the more realistic and gritty tone of the first few films. Who knows where the Bond films will go in the future, but for now I think everyone is happy with the financial and (mostly) critical success of the recent outings.
11. I understand cutting costs is always important in a film production, but would you say the budget restraints were tougher during the Production of Licence to Kill than other Bond films?
Question already answered! I hope I’ve answered your questions satisfactorily. I did my best! And thanks for being Bond fans! Tony Broccoli
And a huge thank you to Mr Broccoli for being such an informative interviewee.
Thanks again to Mr Broccoli and hats off to Barbel for arranging another great interview. -{
Lord Felix: Sir James, watch out for that man with green trainers!
Sir James: Worry ye not, I'll not run him over!