10 Questions for Ron Howard - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 12-04-2008, 09:22 PM

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You seem to have been one of the very few famous child stars who survived without any disorders. How did you do it? Mark Flowers, LOGANVILLE, GA.

I can't take a lot of credit for it. My parents did a fantastic job. The way my father described it to me as a kid, being on television is a career choice. It's a way of working, and you want to do that with integrity, but everybody works. I think that his common sense wore off on me a little bit.

Did growing up as a child star help when your own kids wanted to get into the same field? Michael Weaver, HONOLULU

I have four kids. Two of them are acting professionally now, but my wife Cheryl and I wouldn't let any of them work as minors the way I had. What I told them was, "If you love the business, then pursue it. But it's going to be your decision as an adult, not something that I decide for you when you're a minor."

Do you miss The Andy Griffith Show or Happy Days more? Collin Kaiser, DENVER

I'm not a very nostalgic person, and I view the shows differently. When I think of my childhood, I think of The Andy Griffith Show. Happy Days was more like college or the Army, where those relationships are my first adult friendships. Both have important places in my heart, not to be corny about it.

Would you ever act again? David Malyn, SALT LAKE CITY

Every once in a while, somebody asks me if I would be in something. But at a certain point my wife said, "We're raising four kids. If you're not pursuing acting as a career, please don't take jobs as a kind of lark. If you have a couple extra weeks, give them to us." I thought that was a really fair request.

What was the most difficult part about making the transition from actor to director? Matthew Peterson HOT SPRINGS, ARK.

For me it was learning to not control everything. When you're directing, of course, you're supervising everything, but if you don't trust the artists you're collaborating with, you wind up tying one of their hands behind their back. My work got much, much better when I learned to let go a little bit.

Who do you feel is the best actor turned director, not including yourself? Ismail Atiev, TORONTO

Robert Redford's made some amazing movies. Eastwood is stupendous. Woody Allen is bold and artful. Ismail, I'm sorry, I'm going to have to say that I admire them all too much to be able to identify a single individual.

Is there going to be an Arrested Development film? Joe Matz, TUCSON, ARIZ.

I hope there's going to be an Arrested Development movie because there's this out-of-work narrator who just can't wait to get back to the microphone. If nothing else, just to get people to stop asking me about it.

One of the keys to Frost/Nixon is the interplay between Frank Langella and Michael Sheen. What made you believe no other actors could play the roles? Henrique Amaral, LONDON

Both have done so much to understand their characters, really from their souls. [When I saw them in the play] it became clear to me that anybody else was going to be walking in their shadows, and I really wanted film audiences to see what these actors could bring.

Was it hard for you to be objective toward the subject matter? Jeff Juhnke, RIVERSIDE, CALIF.

Objectivity is something you can strive for, but you'll always fail in making a movie because it's a personal expression. One of my goals was to never apologize for Richard Nixon or David Frost. But certainly with Nixon, who has been so vilified, deservedly so in many ways, I also wanted you to understand what made him tick.

Why are Americans so nostalgic for old TV shows? Mike Ozmun, AUSTIN, TEXAS

When we were doing The Andy Griffith Show in the '60s, Andy used to say, "There's no town that looks and sounds like Mayberry; this is the Mayberry of my childhood in the '40s." I think there is comfort in looking back and reminding yourself that other people were on journeys before us with ups and downs and made it through.

Wreckless · 12-04-2008, 09:32 PM

Great read & great questions. Thanks for posting this Charles. I think we grow to love old sitcoms, because we can grow and feel for the characters, they're almost like our own family, I know the Cunninghams our. I want to share something. Earlier this year and a couple of months ago I did a group project for this adolescent psych. class I had at the time, at my college. We had to deliver a presentation on child stars and how they react as stars as young kids. I was happy to name Ron Howard as one of the positive examples of child stars turning out well. Not only has he had a great life with his career and in general, Ron is a nice, good guy. Glad he is still in the movie business.

12-04-2008, 09:22 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,352	10 Questions for Ron Howard Link You seem to have been one of the very few famous child stars who survived without any disorders. How did you do it? Mark Flowers, LOGANVILLE, GA. I can't take a lot of credit for it. My parents did a fantastic job. The way my father described it to me as a kid, being on television is a career choice. It's a way of working, and you want to do that with integrity, but everybody works. I think that his common sense wore off on me a little bit. Did growing up as a child star help when your own kids wanted to get into the same field? Michael Weaver, HONOLULU I have four kids. Two of them are acting professionally now, but my wife Cheryl and I wouldn't let any of them work as minors the way I had. What I told them was, "If you love the business, then pursue it. But it's going to be your decision as an adult, not something that I decide for you when you're a minor." Do you miss The Andy Griffith Show or Happy Days more? Collin Kaiser, DENVER I'm not a very nostalgic person, and I view the shows differently. When I think of my childhood, I think of The Andy Griffith Show. Happy Days was more like college or the Army, where those relationships are my first adult friendships. Both have important places in my heart, not to be corny about it. Would you ever act again? David Malyn, SALT LAKE CITY Every once in a while, somebody asks me if I would be in something. But at a certain point my wife said, "We're raising four kids. If you're not pursuing acting as a career, please don't take jobs as a kind of lark. If you have a couple extra weeks, give them to us." I thought that was a really fair request. What was the most difficult part about making the transition from actor to director? Matthew Peterson HOT SPRINGS, ARK. For me it was learning to not control everything. When you're directing, of course, you're supervising everything, but if you don't trust the artists you're collaborating with, you wind up tying one of their hands behind their back. My work got much, much better when I learned to let go a little bit. Who do you feel is the best actor turned director, not including yourself? Ismail Atiev, TORONTO Robert Redford's made some amazing movies. Eastwood is stupendous. Woody Allen is bold and artful. Ismail, I'm sorry, I'm going to have to say that I admire them all too much to be able to identify a single individual. Is there going to be an Arrested Development film? Joe Matz, TUCSON, ARIZ. I hope there's going to be an Arrested Development movie because there's this out-of-work narrator who just can't wait to get back to the microphone. If nothing else, just to get people to stop asking me about it. One of the keys to Frost/Nixon is the interplay between Frank Langella and Michael Sheen. What made you believe no other actors could play the roles? Henrique Amaral, LONDON Both have done so much to understand their characters, really from their souls. [When I saw them in the play] it became clear to me that anybody else was going to be walking in their shadows, and I really wanted film audiences to see what these actors could bring. Was it hard for you to be objective toward the subject matter? Jeff Juhnke, RIVERSIDE, CALIF. Objectivity is something you can strive for, but you'll always fail in making a movie because it's a personal expression. One of my goals was to never apologize for Richard Nixon or David Frost. But certainly with Nixon, who has been so vilified, deservedly so in many ways, I also wanted you to understand what made him tick. Why are Americans so nostalgic for old TV shows? Mike Ozmun, AUSTIN, TEXAS When we were doing The Andy Griffith Show in the '60s, Andy used to say, "There's no town that looks and sounds like Mayberry; this is the Mayberry of my childhood in the '40s." I think there is comfort in looking back and reminding yourself that other people were on journeys before us with ups and downs and made it through.
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12-04-2008, 09:32 PM	#2
Wreckless Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 04, 2007 Location: Banned Posts: 9,406	Great read & great questions. Thanks for posting this Charles. I think we grow to love old sitcoms, because we can grow and feel for the characters, they're almost like our own family, I know the Cunninghams our. I want to share something. Earlier this year and a couple of months ago I did a group project for this adolescent psych. class I had at the time, at my college. We had to deliver a presentation on child stars and how they react as stars as young kids. I was happy to name Ron Howard as one of the positive examples of child stars turning out well. Not only has he had a great life with his career and in general, Ron is a nice, good guy. Glad he is still in the movie business.