'I carry a pay-as-you-go dumb-phone': Christopher Nolan reveals why he shuns modern technology and uses hand-written scripts
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Christopher Nolan, the acclaimed director of 'Oppenheimer', revealed that he does not use email or smartphones and prefers to use a disposable cell phone when he needs to.
He also shared some of his unusual methods of working with actors and keeping his scripts secure.
Christopher Nolan’s burner phone and 'The Wire' inspiration
The 53-year-old filmmaker appeared on 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' where he was asked about some of his notorious quirks and habits.
Colbert mentioned the ‘mystique’ that surrounds Nolan and his process and brought up his aversion to common technology.
"I don’t have an email address - I never use email," Nolan confirmed.
"I don’t have a smartphone. I will carry a pay-as-you-go like dumb-phone thing when I need to," he added.
Colbert joked that Nolan had a "burner phone" and asked if he worked with the cartels. Nolan replied that he was inspired by the TV show 'The Wire', which featured drug dealers using disposable phones.
He also joked that he would break up his phone and throw it away "Jason Bourne-style" when he was done with it.
Christopher Nolan’s hand-delivered scripts and red ink trick
Colbert then inquired about Nolan’s practice of personally delivering his scripts to actors and staying with them as they read them for the first time.
Christopher Nolan said that this was to keep the script private and avoid emailing it around.
He also said that it was to get immediate reaction and feedback from the actors and see if they shared his creative vision.
The 'Tenet' director said that this might put "a little pressure" on the actors, but he said that he could tell if they liked the script or not.
"I love it, it's great, I want to do it," and realize that no, they don't. And that's fine!," he said.
He also revealed that he prints his scripts in red and black ink so that they could not be photocopied, Daily Mail reported.
Christopher Nolan’s no-cell-phone and no-Uggs policy on set
Another eccentricity that Colbert brought up was Nolan’s ban on cell phones and Uggs on set.
The 'Memento' director explained that he did not allow cell phones on set because he wanted to minimize distractions and maintain the reality of the scene.
"It's for the cast and it's for me. You know, I'm in there with them, trying to concentrate, trying to see the reality of it," he added.
