by Brian Grazer
as threat, 11–13
as tool for discovery, 132
undervaluation of, 10, 11, 192
as urgent and trivial, 7–8
as way of changing the world, 195
and when to stop being curious, 175
and willingness to act, 9
yin-and-yang of, 190–93
See also: specific person or topic
Curiosity (Benedict), 195
curiosity, types and uses of:
accountability, 182, 183–84
emotional, 24, 31–32, 76, 90–91
facing fear, 97, 100–101, 114–16, 117–18, 123, 124, 125, 151, 280–81
management, 28, 111–13, 134–52
open-ended, 7–8, 139–40, 150, 181, 191, 198, 199
scientific, 7–8, 13, 191, 193–95
social, 8
targeted, 182
curiosity conversations:
amount of time for, 260–61, 263
asking for, 260, 262–63
beginning of Grazer’s, 22–23, 25–28
beginning of, 264
benefits of, 23–24, 28, 44, 46–47, 90–91, 123, 259
connections and, 127
and Curiosity Dinner Party, 265
daylong, 156–57
and developing taste, 181
emotional curiosity and, 24–25, 90–91
every conversation as, 127–66
as exposing ignorance, 123
fear and, 100–101
follow-up to, 262, 264
goal/purpose of, 23, 24–25, 47, 66, 260, 261, 263, 264
gratefulness for, 201–2, 262, 264
hardest part of, 264
how to have, 259–65
importance to Grazer of, 87, 90–91, 201–2
learning from, 91, 261, 264, 265
list of Grazer’s, 231–58
listening during, 261, 265
motivation for, 32
note taking during, 264
openness of, 181–82
opportunities for, 91
planning and preparing for, 99–100, 261, 262–64
prevalence of, 265
questions for, 46, 261, 263, 264, 265
respect and, 260–61, 263
rules about, 22–23, 47
Salk’s proposal for expanded version of, 156–57
sampler of Grazer’s, 201–29
starter, 259–62
as stories, 91
with strangers, 262–64
“systemitized serendipity” and, 59
takeaways from, 264–65
thank you for, 262, 264
tips concerning, 260–64
who to approach for, 262
and your own stories, 261, 265
See also: specific person or topic
A Curious Mind (Grazer):
Koons’s cover for, 220–21
The Da Vinci Code (movie), 31, 119
da Vinci, Leonardo, 193
Dafoe, Willem, 174
Dalí, Salvador, 216
Dallas (TV show), 274
Damon, Matt, 90
dates, first:
curiosity on, 158, 159
daylong curiosity conversations, 156–57
de Negri, Veronica, 24, 69–76, 79
“deconstructive” process:
curiosity as, 191–92
Deep Throat (movie), 168
Def Jam, 48
DeMille, Cecil B., 220
democracy:
and curiosity, 183–84, 185
Democratic National Convention (2004):
Obama address at, 209, 211
Depp, Johnny, 174
determination. See persistence
Diana (British princess), 226–29
DiCaprio, Leonardo, 50
different, confidence to be, 119–23, 125–26
Diller, Barry, 29
dinner parties, curiosity, 265
diplomats:
curiosity of, 54
directors:
as “boss,” 141
See also: specific person
Disney, 17, 29, 107, 129
doctors: curiosity of, 53–54
doing nothing, 129
Donahue, Troy, 174
The Doors (movie), 164, 172
Dr. Strangelove (movie), 64
“driveway moments”:
radio and, 79, 80, 280
drug cartel, Mexican, 93–94
Dumbo (movie), 66
dyslexia, 84–85, 86
Eastwood, Clint, 50
education, 13–14, 21, 84–86, 193
Edwards, Betty, 157
8 Mile (movie), 36, 47–48, 49, 168, 169
Eisner, Michael, 29, 129
Eminem, 47, 48, 49
emotional curiosity, 24–25, 31–32, 90–91
empathy:
curiosity as creating, 133, 157
engineers:
curiosity of, 55, 57
entertainment business:
and audience expectations, 112
“bosses” in, 141
conversation as central to, 19
curiosity as central to, 20
curiosity conversations and, 22–23
Glashow’s curiosity about, 90
Grazer’s initial interest in, 5
Grazer’s views about, 17–18
insularity of, 23
“making your case” in, 137–40
“no’s” in, 33, 61, 101–102, 116–18, 170–71
reality in, 76–79
rules for, 122
self-confidence as important in, 33
See also: Hollywood; specific person
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (movie), 51, 108
etiquette, 87–88, 91, 96
experience:
and ideas, 177, 178–79, 200
taste and, 181, 182–83
F. Lee Bailey’s Casebook of American Crimes (TV series), 26, 27
familiarity:
as enemy of curiosity, 158–59
Far and Away (movie), 141–42, 145
Farrelly brothers, 110
Favreau, Jon, 211
fear, 97, 100–101, 114–16, 117–18, 123, 124, 125, 151, 280–81
financial planners:
curiosity of, 94
flow, state of, 74
follow-up:
to curiosity conversations, 262, 264
freedom: curiosity as path to, 15
Freston, Tom, 125–26, 202
Friday Night Lights (movie), 6, 168, 169, 212–13
Friedkin, Billy, 5
Friedman, Bruce Jay, 105
Frost, David, 45, 177
See also: Frost/Nixon (movie)
Frost/Nixon (movie), 31, 45, 77, 172, 177
Gates, Daryl, 39–44, 46–47, 50, 62, 65, 106, 276–77
Geisel, Audrey, 110, 112
Geisel, Theodor, 110, 113–14, 282–83
See also: Seuss, Dr.
Get On Up (movie), 137–39, 149, 172
Giamatti, Paul, 207
Glashow, Sheldon, 89–90, 91
Golden Globe awards:
Frost/Nixon and, 177
Goldsman, Akiva, 164, 165
“good enough,” 197–98, 200
Good Will Hunting (movie), 90
Google, 14, 78, 146–47, 188, 197, 273–74
Gottschall, Jonathan, 69
gratefulness:
for curiosity conversations, 201–2, 262, 264
Gravity (movie), 78
Grazer. A. Thomas (father), 19
Grazer, Arlyne (mother), 3, 84
Grazer, Brian:
Academy Award for, 165
anti-curiosity of, 172–74
appearance of, 15, 119–23
asking questions of, 150–51
childhood of, 3, 84–87, 187–88
curiosity about, 161
curiosity as habit of, 15–16
and curiosity as instinct, 57–58
education of, 1, 19–20, 21
exercise routine of, 15–16, 28
gratitude for curiosity conversations by, 201–2
hair of, 119–23, 125–26, 205
image of, 120–26
importance of curiosity to, 2–3, 6, 36–38, 132–34, 188
management style of, 28, 32–33, 134–37, 142–45, 182
office of, 275
passion of, 172
personality of, 20–21, 32–33, 134–37, 188–89
as public speaker, 114–16
reading abilities of, 84–87, 162, 188
reputation of, 119
self-image of, 188
Grazer, Corki (ex-wife), 162
Grazer, Riley (son):
Grazer’s curiosity on behalf of, 162–63, 164, 165, 166
Grazer, Sage (daughter), 120
Grease (movie), 174
Great Depression, 108
Grey, Brad, 125–26, 202
Griffith, Andy, 217
habit, curiosity as a, 16–28, 58, 191
hair, Grazer’s, 119–23, 125–26, 205
Hairspray (movie), 174
hairstylists: curiosity of, 95–96
Hanks, Tom, 107, 130, 143, 148, 176, 227–28
Hannah, Daryl, 107
happiness:
connections and, 134
as curiosity sustaining intimacy, 162
“hardest call of the day” when to make, 117–18
Harvard Business Review:
Procter & Gamble story in, 59
Hearst, Patty, 26, 174
Heatherton, Joey, 174
Heinz Corporation, 56–57
help:
asking for, 142–44
Hepburn, Audrey, 228
heroes:
Grazer’s fascination with, 208
hip-hop music, 47–48
See also: 8 mile
Hitchcock Theater (Universal Studios):
Grinch showing at, 112
H.J. Heinz, 56–57
Hockney, David, 216
Hollywood:
division between businesspeople and artists in, 121
ideas in, 52, 171–72, 176
images in, 119, 121
“making the case” in, 170
“no” in, 33, 61, 101–2, 169, 170–71
reality in, 76–77, 78
as risk-averse town, 103–4
rules for, 122
and types of stories, 34
See also: entertainment business
Hooke, Robert, 193–94, 197
Hoover, J. Edgar, 50
Hotel Nacional (Havana), media executives visit to, 202
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (movie), 45, 77, 110–12, 115, 282
Howard, Ron:
at Academy Award celebration, 108
Academy Award for, 165
anti-curiosity and, 172
Apollo 13 and, 82, 130, 228
A Beautiful Mind and, 164, 165
Cinderella Man and, 207
Cry-Baby and, 218
curiosity of, 32
directing abilities of, 107
and formation of Imagine Entertainment, 31, 119–20, 284
goals of, 31
Grazer compared with, 32, 119
Grazer’s first meeting with, 30–31
Grazer’s movies with, 31, 45–46, 82, 102–3, 106, 107–8, 110, 111, 119, 218
Grazer’s relationship with, 31–32, 127–28, 143, 144, 160–61, 218–19
Grazer’s traditions with, 108, 218
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and, 110, 111
and Imagine Entertainment as public company, 173, 285
in London, 228
mustache of, 217–19
at Paramount, 30–31
personality of, 30–31
reputation of, 119, 218
and running of Imagine Entertainment, 127–28
Warhol’s portraits of, 217–19
at White House, 130
See also: specific movie
Hughes, John, 110
I, Robot (Asimov), 98, 100
ice cream:
Princess Di-Grazer sharing of, 228–29
ICM talent agency, 4
ideas:
anti-curiosity and, 171–72
curiosity as important to finding, 179
curiosity as way to create and uncover, 20, 52–53, 109, 147–48, 149
examples of interesting, 176–77
experience and, 177, 178–79, 200
in Hollywood, 52, 171–72, 176
job hierarchy and, 150
“opinion” about, 177–78
recognizing interesting, 176, 177–79
sources for interesting/good, 175–76, 200
taste and, 177–79
that didn’t work out, 176–77
Wasserman’s advice about, 52–53, 103
what is a good, 171–72
Iger, Bob, 129
ignorance:
asking questions as admitting, 118, 123
fear and, 125
imagination, importance of, 198
Imagine Entertainment:
“boss” at, 127–32
culture at, 148–49, 150–51
and curiosity conversations, 47
examples of movies made at, 45–46, 167–68
formation of, 31, 119–20, 285
and Grazer’s management style, 32–33
as public company, 173
successful and great movies from, 172
Universal Studios partnership with, 128
See also: specific movie
In-N-Out Burger:
Howard-Grazer tradition at, 108
independence, curiosity as path to, 15, 132, 192
Indiana Jones (movie), 157
“information” 4–1–1 service, 273
innovation, 58–62
inspiration, curiosity as sparking, 62, 132
Instagram, 83
instinct:
curiosity as, 32, 57–58
intelligence:
curiosity as different from, 189–90
Internet, 196–97
intimacy:
curiosity as creating, 133
curiosity as sustaining, 161–62
Iovine, Jimmy, 48
J. Edgar (movie), 50
Jackson, Michael, 213–16
Jagger, Mick, 137, 138–39
Jobs, Steve, 54–55, 57
journalism:
curiosity and, 82–83
Keaton, Michael, 45
Kennedy, Jacqueline, 87
Kerry, John, 209
ketchup bottle, upside-down, 56–57
Kindergarten Cop (movie), 128, 213
King, Gayle, 225
King, Rodney, 41, 42, 43, 276–77
The Klumps (movie), 206
Knecht, Peter, 2, 17
knowledge:
and asking questions in the workplace, 151–52
as dangerous, 13
self-, 58
stories as shared, 82
Koch, Howard, 29
Koons, Jeff, 219–21
Kubrick, Stanley, 64, 165
La Cicciolina, 220
Landis, John, 215
Lange, Jessica, 106, 107
Langley, Donna, 139
law clerk/courier job, Grazer’s, 2, 3–6, 16–19, 20, 21–22, 26, 50–52
lawyers:
curiosity conversation about, 26–28
See also: Liar Liar (movie); specific person
leadership:
curiosity and, 189–90
learning:
curiosity and, 81–84, 96
curiosity conversations and, 91, 261, 264, 265
Grazer’s views about, 86
from stories, 81–84, 91, 96
Lee, Spike, 224
Liar Liar (movie), 27–28, 110, 177
Lichtenstein, Roy, 124, 216
listening:
during curiosity conversations, 261, 265
and familiarity as enemy of curiosity, 158, 159
importance of, 63, 150, 152
and
“making your case,” 139
and when not to be anti-curious, 175
The Little Mermaid (Andersen), 104
Lopez, Jennifer, 224
Lords, Traci, 174
Los Angeles, California:
Rodney King riots in, 41, 42, 43
Los Angeles Police Department. See Gates, Daryl
love:
connections and, 135
Love Boat, The (TV series), 217
Lovell, Jim, 23–24, 75, 130, 148
See also: Apollo 13 (movie)
Lucas, George, 157
Mailer, Norman, 221–23
“making the case,” 137–40, 149, 170, 171, 172
management:
curiosity and, 147–50
Grazer’s style of, 32–33, 111, 134–37, 142–45, 182
and making connections, 134–37, 142–44
questions as tool of, 111, 134–37, 144–52, 161
respect and, 145
manners/etiquette, 87–88, 91, 96
marriage:
and familiarity as enemy of curiosity, 158–60
Marrow, Mia, 153
Martin, Steve, 45
Marx, Karl, 197, 285–86
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT):
creativity and innovation experts at, 60
“mastery,” 73–76
Matsushita electronics company, 128
MCA Studios, 5, 22
See also: Universal Studios; Wasserman, Lew
McCain, John, 206–9, 212
media executives:
Cuba trip of, 125–26, 202–6
medicine:
curiosity in, 53–54, 94
mediocrity, 198
Mengers, Sue, 4, 273
mental illness:
Grazer’s curiosity about, 162–66
mermaid story:
“no” concerning, 103–5, 106–7, 109
recontextualizing the, 104–5
rules for, 105–6
See also: Splash
Mexican drug cartel, 93–94
Meyer, Ron, 130
MI5, 49
MI6, 49
military:
curiosity and, 54
miscommunication, 112–13
Moonves, Leslie, 125–26, 203, 204, 205, 206
Mossad agents, 49
motivation:
curiosity for self-, 132, 174
and making connections, 142
movie business. See entertainment business
movie production executive:
Grazer’s meeting with, 134–36
See also: specific person
movie theaters:
lines at, 108, 218
Murase, Tsuzo, 128
music:
of Brown, 137–39
Eminem-Grazer conversation about, 48
and good taste, 179–80
hip-hop, 47–48, 168, 180
Jackson-Grazer conversation about, 214–15
See also: specific artist
My Girl (movie), 213
Nabokov, Vladimir, 39
Nardino, Gary, 29–30
Nasar, Sylvia:
A Beautiful Mind by, 163, 164
Nash, Alicia, 164, 165
Nash, John, 45, 148, 163–66
See also: A Beautiful Mind
National Aeronautical and Space Agency (NASA). See Apollo 13 (movie)
National Public Radio (NPR), 79, 80, 280