ST. LOUIS — Once in awhile, in my role as a movie critic, other grand opportunities present themselves and my fortuitous meeting with “Pawn Sacrifice’s” producer at an industry cocktail party rates as one such opportunity.
The St. Louis Chess Club, located in the city’s Central West End, sponsored the party Sept. 3, prior to the St. Louis red carpet premier of the movie “Pawn Sacrifice” starring Tobey Maguire, as American chess prodigy Bobby Fischer.
The film is about chess Grand Master Bobby Fischer’s triumphant win over Russian Boris Spassky at the 1972 World Championship in Reykjavik, Iceland. The film’s producer, Gail Katz, was present at the party to promote the film.
I asked if I could have a couple of minutes to talk with Katz. I was delighted that I had her all to myself for almost a half hour. When she walked in the room, she had the attention of every woman present. She was tall and thin, with long hair peppered with gray, and looked very elegant in a chic black cocktail dress trimmed in black leather.
Katz has a BA in economics from the University of California Berkeley and a MBA from the Yale School of Management. I asked how she ever got involved in the film industry. She said that she thought she might end up working on Wall Street but that she was raised in Beverly Hills and worked at a studio one summer while in college.
She got “hooked on film,” she said.
Katz heads Gail Katz Productions. She has worked at New World Pictures, where she was Vice President of Finance, then Vice President of Production. After leaving New World, Katz began producing films, starting with “Shattered.” She partnered with director Wolfgang Petersen throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, together the two directed/produced many films.
She has served as CEO of Radiant Productions, and as a founder of Red Cliff Productions. She was an executive producer on the ABC drama/comedy “Cashmere Mafia,” which Gail Katz Productions produced. Currently, Katz is an adjunct professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
As a producer, Katz is responsible for everything from conceiving or finding the idea; securing financing; hiring writers, actors, directors, staff and crews; marketing; and distribution.
I asked how she came up with the idea for “Pawn Sacrifice.” She said that in 1972 she worked at her father’s café in Los Angeles and on the way home every night they turned on the radio to hear how Bobby Fischer did that day.
She pitched the idea to two writers who were on board immediately. They came up with the storyline, she recalled.
Tobey Maguire was always her first choice to play Bobby. She thinks he even looks like Bobby Fischer. Liev Schreiber, who plays Boris Spassky, also bears a strong resemblance to Spassky.
Katz hired David Fincher to direct but Fincher had so many commitments that the start of filming kept getting put off, she said. After two years, Fincher graciously bowed out so Katz could hire Edward Zwick to direct.
Katz said that the art director and costume designer did an awesome job of recreating the 1960s. She said that Bobby Fischer was a fanatic about his attire and that, at the time, most chess players weren’t concerned about their manner of dress yet Bobby thought that it was important to dress well to represent the game.
The film was shot in Montreal, Canada; New York City; Santa Monica, Calif.; and, Reykjavik, Iceland. From Katz’s initial idea to the St. Louis premier, it took 11 years of hard work to create and then get “Pawn Sacrifice” to the public.
I was very impressed with Ms. Katz. She is an amazing talent who has brought us not only “Pawn Sacrifice” but also “Airforce One” starring Harrison Ford; “Outbreak” starring Dustin Hoffman; “In the Line of Fire” with Clint Eastwood; “A Perfect Storm” with George Clooney, and many more. I can’t wait to see what Gail Katz is going to bring us next.