SUBMITTED BY Timbo

November 12, 2003 — The New York Times has an interesting piece on "Master and Commander", looking at how the studio wooed director Peter Weir and at the risks it takes in mounting such an unorthodox production.

"This was quite something to push through the studio system," Mr. Weir said. "You couldn't have made it without a studio executive at the top of the tree who loves the material."

Three years ago Tom Rothman, then Fox's production president, seized an opportunity. Mr. Weir was dropping by the studio to see what projects it might have for him. He had directed only 12 movies in 26 years, including "Gallipoli," "Witness," "Dead Poets Society" and "The Truman Show." This director, who has received three Oscar nominations, was notorious for turning things down, including "Gladiator," for which Mr. Crowe won an Oscar for best actor. Mr. Weir had even passed on "Master and Commander" seven years before, when Mr. Rothman was at the Goldwyn Company. Fox was now developing the project, so Mr. Rothman decided to try again.

"It's a rare property, and it took a rare director to do it right," he recalled. "Peter for the length of his career has been able to enliven a genre with character, which is exactly what Patrick O'Brian did."

At the end of their meeting Mr. Rothman reached behind his chair. "What I really think you should do," he said, pulling out a mock captain's sword and presenting it to the director, "is take command of the Surprise." Mr. Weir asked if he could keep the sword.

Read the whole article at the link below.