Join Thomas Manning in this special Meet Me at the Movies: Open Dialogue segment as he interviews director Jason Reitman and casting director John Papsidera on the red carpet for based on a true story film, Saturday Night. Manning dives into their creative process, exploring how the film was brought to life and the collaborative effort that shaped its story and characters.

L-R: Gilda Radner (Ella Hunt), Jane Curtain (Kim Matula), Dick Ebersol (Cooper Hoffman), Rosie Shuster (Rachel Sennott), Garrett Morris (Lamorne Morris), Alan Zweibel (Josh Brener) and Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) in SATURDAY NIGHT. Photo Credit: Hopper Stone. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Based on a true story, the film explores the behind-the-scenes magic of Saturday Night Live, diving into the creative chaos and camaraderie that fuel one of the most iconic comedy shows in television history.

Recorded live on the red carpet in Music City, this engaging conversation highlights the artistry behind the film’s production.

As a registered film journalist, Manning brings thoughtful questions and expert insight to this exclusive interview. This segment originally aired on Meet Me at the Movies on C19 TV.

Official Synopsis:

At 11:30pm on October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television – and culture – forever. Directed by Jason Reitman and written by Gil Kenan & Reitman, Saturday Night is based on the true story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live. Full of humor, chaos, and the magic of a revolution that almost wasn’t, we count down the minutes in real time until we hear those famous words…

In theaters October 11th, 2024.
Available on digital November 12th, 2024.
Available on Blu-ray and DVD January 7th, 2024.

For more information, head to the official Saturday Night theatrical release website.

Thomas Manning is a member of the NCFCA, SEFCA, and CCA, and also the co-host of the television show and radio program Meet Me at the Movies. He has served as a production assistant and voting member on the Film Selection Committee for the Real to Reel Film Festival. Additionally, he manages his own film review and interview site, The Run-Down on Movies. Manning is a graduate of Gardner-Webb University with a double-major in Communications and English. His passion for cinema and storytelling is rivaled only by his love for the music of Taylor Swift.

Categories: Filmmaker Interviews

Tags: Andrew Barth Feldman, casting, Columbia Pictures, comedy, Cooper Hoffman, Cory Michael Smith, directing, drama, Dylan O’Brien, Ella Hunt, Emily Fairn, Finn Wolfhard, Gabriel LaBelle, Gil Kenan, history, interview, J.K. Simmons, Jason Reitman, John Papsidera, Jon Batiste, Kaia Gerber, Kim Matula, Lamorne Morris, Matt Wood, Matthew Rhys, Meet Me at the Movies, Naomi McPherson, Nicholas Braun, Open Dialogue, Rachel Sennott, Right of Way Films, Saturday Night, Sony Pictures, Tommy Dewey, WGWG, Willem Dafoe