“I identified with the idea that nobody but yourself can lift yourself out of the darkness.” – James Cox
Welcome James:
We’re joined on the Starline by a director, producer, writer, author and most importantly new dad. You’ve seen his work in “Highway” “Billionaire Boys Club”, “Wonderland” among other projects. He now moves from film to paper with his debut thriller “Grand Theft AI”. We welcome James Cox.
James, let’s go Beyond the Mic. Grand Theft AI began after AI AlphaGo beat a Grand Master in the game Go. Why was this project of writing “Grand Theft AI” as a book instead of a screenplay important for you?
So how has your greatest defeat helped spur you today?
The book is a love story at its base with a damaged pair of two souls trying to survive. What makes Baz and Ria’s story the one that needs to exist in this damaged world right now?
Are James you still in a jail cell of your own construction?
The Rockin’ 8:
It’s time for the Rockin’ 8, 8 random questions, answer with the first thing that comes to your mind. There is no Pressure.
1. Best place at UC Berkeley?
2. The first lyric that you wrote at Atlantic records that touches or means the most to you today?
3. Best thing about your daughter?
4. Last 49ers game you went to your dad was against who and did they win?
5. Which film festival is underrated?
6. Opening the 1st box of books, how did holding that 1st hardback (like the ones behind you) what emotions did you experience?
7. One thing your fiancé always depends on you for?
8. Movie that people would be surprised that you love?
The Back Half:
Your character Otto says in the book “Because we become what we hate.” How has AI helped and hurt creatives today?
Don Winslow shocked you and fully endorsed your book telling you to “Stick to your guns, James. Stick to your guns.” What’s your message to creatives who have an idea but are struggling to get it on film, paper etc?
When you started reading from the book at the Village Well, how hard was it and how hard was your chest pounding?
Who would you cast if you could for the movie version of Grand Theft AI and will you direct it?
As you move from behind the camera to behind the table at book fairs, comicons and libraries, what is the biggest lesson you had to learn?
“AIs all want justice. They’ll fight until the day they’re deactivated in a war against the elites.” What’s justice to you?
How did Robert Towne influence you and how did he change the way you see yourself as a filmmaker?
AI:
“You and I both know the reality to an AI’s true nature.” What do you see in the future for AI and what worries you about the future that might be like your book or worse?
So private interests control scare you about the future?
How has the evolution from screenwriter, director to writer change you and the way you see cinema and books as a whole?
Sooo what’s coming up in the sequel?
James, when in the world creation stage, what are the most important things for you, those concrete things that you base everything else around?
Working with Talent:
As you work with Academy Award and Golden Globe winners and nominees, how did you balance egos and the vision you are creating for the audience?
In the same way, how do you balance the egos in this book where their actions are counter dictating their own best interests?
The Impossible Question:
Who are the 3 best directors in 20th and 21st Century?
How do you want to be remembered?
Bonus Questions:
What’s does it mean for you when someone buys your book or a ticket to a movie you’ve directed?
How do you handle it when in one hand you might have a great review, and in the other you have another where they say it sucks?
What’s the one story you want to share with everyone?
When was the last time you talked with him?
The Wrap:
The best place at UC Berkley is at Strawberry Creek, loves his daughters smile and thinks the Hamptons is an underrated film festival. His book is Grand Theft AI, James Cox thanks for taking the time to talk with us today.
And that my friends is Beyond the Mic XL.
Check out James Cox as his website here.
Listen to other Beyond the Mic conversations with directors here or with authors here.