Another ingredient, special effects, has sky-rocketed in technological advances since Mr. Howard’s 1987 fantasy, Willow. A major reason why The Grinch became such an exciting project for him to do, was because of the seemingly limitless opportunities new technological advances offers. He contends, "The rules for making a special effect movie just ten or twelve years ago were so much more rigid than they are today. Now you can be much more creative with your camera work, and you can do so much more, thanks to digital."
As one of the foremost directors in the country, with tons of potential screenplays being thrown on his desk daily, how does Mr. Howard choose what he will direct? Basic instinct. "There’s no magic formula, but if I hear a story that sounds interesting to me, and if it piques my curiosity, or if I think it offers something for the audience that is going to be really great to watch, like The Grinch, starring Jim Carrey, then, people are going to want to see it!" Fortunately, Mr. Howard’s "basic instinct" hits right on the target of what audiences want to see.
Mr. Howard is a director, an actor, and a producer, but most of all, he is a father. For him, his family plays the biggest role in his life. Being a father of four, coincidentally red-haired children, he feels strongly that morals and a sense of pride should be enforced in his children’s lives. But as many may contend, the entertainment industry in which he is so heavily immersed, is full of not so pure and morally correct ideals. The problem of explicit sex and overly dramatized violence in the media is really a "push and pull situation," Mr. Howard admits. He told us that while it is valid to say that watching certain types of behavior on the television screen might promote bad artistic sense, there is a totally well-founded counter argument. He said, "On the other hand, as a director, I am concerned about the first amendment. I am concerned that you can’t legislate and begin to dictate how artists can express their ideas." The real questions is, when does a director draw the line with graphic sex and violence. Mr. Howard confessed, it really has to do with per-sonal taste.
With the unique ability to captivate all audiences through his films, his cheerful disposition, and his down to earth essential being, Mr. Howard is certain to be entertaining audiences with good sense and good films for generations to come.
Ron Howard with Rachel Stockman
