Director David Oyelowo Asked Mel Gibson for Advice Ahead of THE WATER MAN

Director David Oyelowo Asked Mel Gibson for Advice Ahead of THE WATER MAN

By Movieguide® Staff

Actor David Oyelowo, known for his roles in SELMA and QUEEN OF KATWE, recently made his directorial debut in THE WATER MAN.

“In my twenty-year career, I don’t think there’s a single director, a single film, that I was a part of where I wasn’t gleaning information, gleaning education because I knew I wanted to [direct] at some point,” Oyelowo told Fox News.

“When I got this opportunity, I went back to some of the formative directors in my career trajectory, whether it’s Ava DuVernay, with who I’m very close, or Chris McQuarrie and Will Gluck,” he added.

Oyelowo said he also contacted actors who went on to direct movies.

“I spoke to actors who directed films as well, like Nate Parker, Joel Edgerton, Mel Gibson, just to get [perspective] from them,” he said. “You don’t want to make all same the mistakes. You want to make new mistakes and learn from people who have done it already. And that was something I really took to heart.”

Mel Gibson is known for his movies full of faith content, such as HACKSAW RIDGE, THE PATRIOT, and THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.

In an interview with Movieguide®, the first-time director also shared how Pixar’s focus on family-friendly content inspired THE WATER MAN.

“The inspiration for doing the film was other films that I think do this same thing incredibly well,” Oyelowo told Movieguide®. “One of the things I love about Pixar movies, is the fact that they also ask those questions. Look at a film like UP… look at THE INCREDIBLES … and I think the reason why those films are either classics or are going to be classics is because the whole family can watch them and the whole family can get something from them. And they’re actually about something.”

Oyelowo also shared how his faith affects the way he approaches movies:

In all of my work, I want to address the issue of faith without being prerogatory. You know, without sort of making it what the entire story is about. But it’s such a huge part of my own life that there is not a piece of work I do that doesn’t sort of touch on that in some way. When you have a kid who is basically decided to exhibit sacrificial love for his mom, who he’s on the precipice of losing, I mean, no one exhibited that better than Jesus Christ. And, you know, also the theme of what happens afterwards? And what can you control and not control, and how much just loving the moment you are in because you’re not promised tomorrow. These are all of course, you know, very pertinent biblical themes.

Check out Movieguide®’s full review of THE WATER MAN, available in select theaters and on-demand on May 24.

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What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.