A Curious Mind
Page 25
“natural” curiosity, 116
NBC, 29
New York Times:
Night Shift based on story from, 102, 281
The New Yorker:
Grazer as “cultural attaché” story in, 23
Newton, Isaac, 193
Nicholson, Jack, 165
Night Shift (movie), 31, 45, 77, 102, 103, 108
Nixon, Richard, 45, 177
See also: Frost/Nixon (movie)
“no”:
and anti-curiosity, 170–71, 172–73
and asking questions, 116
to Dr. Seuss story, 113
fear and, 116
to Grazer, 101, 102, 103–5, 106–7, 114
Grazer saying, 178
in Hollywood/entertainment business, 33, 61, 101–2, 169
as inside your head, 114, 116, 118
persistence and, 109, 114, 118
reactions to, 101–2
Splash and, 103–5, 106–7, 109
ways to beat, 102, 114, 116–18
Noah (movie), 78, 280
Obama, Barack, 13, 207, 209–11, 212
obstacles, Grazer’s views about overcoming, 167–69
open-ended questions, 139–40, 198–99, 261
openness, 181–85, 198–99, 200
opinions, 177–78, 179, 180
optimism, 172
others:
curiosity on behalf of, 162–66
See also: point of view; relationships
Out of Africa (movie), 157
Ovitz, Michael, 121
Page, Larry, 146
painful topics:
and when not to be anti-curious, 175
Paley, William, 204
The Paper (movie), 128
Paramount Studios:
Grazer as producer at, 28–31
Parenthood (movie), 31, 45, 128, 213
Parker, Dorothy, 1, 273
parochialism, 44–45
passion, 172, 173, 180
Penn, Sean, 93
persistence, 108–9, 114, 118
perspective of others. See point of view
physics:
Grazer’s interest in, 89–90
Picker, David, 21
Pink Flamingos (movie), 174
Pinochet, Augusto, 70, 71, 72
Places in the Heart (movie), 107–8
point of view:
curiosity about others, 53–67
and disruptions to your own point of view, 53–67
storytelling and, 35, 45–46
Police Department, Los Angeles (LAPD), 39–40, 41, 46
polio, 153–54
political campaigns:
“opposition research” in, 59
Pollack, Sydney, 157
Pop, Iggy, 174
power, curiosity and, 11, 13, 15, 40, 125, 195–96
Presley, Elvis, 217
Price, Jeff, 111
Proctor & Gamble, 57, 58, 59
producers:
as “boss,” 141
collective persona of Hollywood, 120
job of, 102, 111–12
progress, human, 83–84
Public Enemy, 48
public sphere:
curiosity in, 15, 183–85, 195–96
questions:
and admitting ignorance, 118, 123
answers as point of, 152
and asking questions of boss, 150
atmosphere around, 152
benefits of using, 144–45
in classrooms, 14
complex, 160
creativity and, 37, 55
culture of, 148–49, 150–52
for curiosity conversations, 46, 261, 263, 264, 265
as dangerous, 11–13
disadvantages of asking, 149
and familiarity as enemy of curiosity, 158, 159
fear of asking, 114, 115, 151
freedom to ask, 15
of Grazer as child, 3
Grazer’s management style and, 28, 32–33, 134–37
about Grinch movie, 111
and Howard’s curiosity, 32
as impertinence, 196
importance of asking, 33, 63, 109, 116, 148–49, 193
as instinctive, 32
as intrinsic to curiosity, 10–11
and making the case, 139–40
as management tool, 134–37, 144–53, 161
open-ended, 139–40, 198–99, 261
and paying attention to answers, 9
preparing, 261
purpose of, 62, 111–12, 114–15, 116, 137, 149–50, 152
reality and, 78
and relationships, 158–60
stories and, 35, 37, 137
teaching people to ask good, 63
underappreciation of, 151
unwelcome, 14
as urgent and trivial, 7–8
values and, 144
Walton’s, 56
as way to uncover ideas, 147–48, 149
in workplace, 134–37, 144–52, 161, 193
See also: answers to questions
radio:
“driveway moments” and, 79, 80, 280
reading:
Grazer and, 84–87, 162, 188
Reagan, Ronald, 25, 64
real estate agents:
curiosity of, 94
reality:
curiosity as connection to, 76–79, 118
Reitman, Ivan:
Bronfman’s call to, 128
rejection. See “no”
relationships:
and benefits of curiosity, 182
Oprah-Grazer conversation about, 225
and purpose of curiosity, 162
respect in, 160, 161
role of curiosity in, 7, 158–60, 189, 192
surprise in, 160, 161
See also: connections; specific relationship
religion, 197, 285–86
Renaissance:
curiosity before the, 194–95
research and development:
curiosity and, 55, 56–57
resilience:
De Negri’s story of human, 72–76
respect:
and culture of curiosity, 193
and curiosity conversations, 260–61, 263
genuine curiosity requires, 160
importance of, 63, 198
management style and, 145
in relationships, 160, 161
Rice, Condoleezza “Condi,” 92–93
Ritz-Carlton Hotel (New York City):
Asimov-Grazer conversation at, 97–100
Roedy, Bill, 125–26, 202
Rolling Stones, 138, 179
Ronstadt, Linda, 157
Ross, Herbert, 106, 107
routine, 55–56
Royal Premieres, British, 226–29
Royalton Hotel (New York City):
Mailer-Grazer conversation at, 222–23
rules:
for Hollywood/entertainment business, 122
for mermaid story, 105–6
Ruscha, Ed, 216
Rush (movie), 172
Sagan, Carl, 23, 106, 167, 183, 284
Salk, Jonas, 24, 25, 50, 106, 153, 154–57
sampler, Grazer’s:
of curiosity conversations, 201–29
Scherick, Edgar, 26
Scheuer, Michael, 49, 277
schizophrenia:
and making of A Beautiful Mind, 163–66
Schwartz, Sonia (Grazer’s grandmother), 3, 84–85, 188
scientific curiosity, 194–95
Seagram Company, 128, 131
Seaman, Peter, 111
secrets:
and purpose of curiosity conversations, 66
September 11, 2001, 48
Seuss, Dr., 45, 110–12, 113–14
See also: Geisel, Theodor
Shadyac, Tom, 110
Sheppard, Sam, 26
The Shining (movie), 165
Simmons, Russell, 48
sin: curiosity as a, 195
skepticism, 167, 1
70, 183, 184
Sky, why it is blue, 274–75
Slick Rick, 48
Slim, Carlos, 25, 276
speeches:
fear of giving, 114–16
of Grazer, 114–16
of Obama, 209, 211
Spielberg, Steven, 108, 128, 178
Splash (movie), 6, 31, 35, 36, 97, 102–8, 109, 137, 155, 218
sports:
curiosity and, 54, 59
See also: baseball
Sports Night (TV show), 77
standardized testing, 14
Stanford University:
creativity and innovation experts at, 60
Star Wars (movie), 157
“Star Wars” program, 25, 64, 65
Stein, Jules, 5
Stephens, James, 97, 123, 280–81
Sting, 71, 74
stories and storytelling:
characteristics of good, 35
curiosity conversations as, 91
emotions and, 83
engaging, 80
Grazer’s passion for, 86, 87, 161
as inspiring curiosity, 79–84, 109
as inspiring and entertaining, 189
learning from, 81–84, 91, 96
public speaking and, 115
purpose of, 115
questions and, 137
reality in, 76–79
as shared knowledge, 82
sharing your own, 261
Teller’s views about, 66–67
and telling stories to self, 74
types of, 34
and uses of curiosity, 34–37, 62, 79–84, 132, 191
strangers:
curiosity conversations with, 262–64
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), 64
Styler, Trudie, 71
surfing:
Grazer’s interest in, 124
surprise:
relationships and, 160, 161
survival:
curiosity as essential to, 82
De Negri story of, 73–76
Sutherland, Kiefer, 48
Sylbert, Anthea, 105–6, 109
Tartikoff, Brandon, 29
taste, 177–81, 182–83
Taylor, Tate, 137
television. See entertainment business; specific person or program
Teller, Edward, 24–25, 50, 63–67, 90, 106
Ten Commandments (TV miniseries), 29, 103
terrorism. See 24 (TV series)
thank you:
for curiosity conversations, 201–2, 262, 264
Thriller (video), 215
Tootsie (movie), 157
torture: in Chile, 70, 71–76
Touchstone Pictures: Splash and, 107
Towne, Robert, 106, 107
traditions:
for Hollywood/entertainment business, 122
of Howard and Grazer, 108, 218
trust, 133, 144, 152, 189
24 (TV show), 48, 49, 132
Twitter, 81, 83, 146
United Artists, 105
Universal Studios, 51, 112, 128, 130, 131, 138–39, 226–27
University of Southern California (USC):
Grazer as graduate of, 1–2
values:
questions as transmitting, 144–45
Vanguard Press, 113
Vanity Fair magazine, 125, 163
Video Music Awards, 47
W magazine:
Grazer’s profile in, 118–19
Wal-Mart, 55–56, 59, 278–79
See also: Walton, Sam
Walton, Sam, 55–56, 57, 59, 62, 278–79
Warhol, Andy, 124, 179–80, 215–19, 220
Warner Brothers:
Grazer overhears conversation about, 1–3
Grazer’s law clerk/courier job with, 2, 3–6, 16–19, 20, 21–22, 26, 50–52
Grazer’s office at, 16–19
movies in the 1970s, 275
“royal offices” at, 16, 17
See also: specific person
Washington, Denzel, 143, 285
Wasserman, Lew, 5, 22, 50–52, 53, 62, 103, 106, 128
Waters, John, 174
web pages: designing, 146–47
Wells, Frank, 17
White House:
Apollo 13 screening at, 129–31
Cinderella Man screening at, 207, 212–13, 221
Wiatt, Jim, 125–26, 202–3
Wilson, Rita, 130
Winfrey, Oprah, 223–25
workplace:
and asking questions of the boss, 150
and benefits of curiosity, 133, 182
connections in, 133–45
curiosity as unwelcome in, 14
differences in, 112–13
job hierarchy in, 150
questions in, 134–37, 144–52, 161, 193
Wyeth, Andrew, 179
Yablans, Frank, 22
yin-and-yang of curiosity, 190–93
Zellweger, Renée, 207
Zuma Beach (TV show), 103
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Copyright © 2015 by Brian Grazer
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Jacket design by Jason Heuer
Jacket image by Jeff Koons
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Grazer, Brian, 1953–
A curious mind : the secret to a bigger life / Brian Grazer, Charles Fishman.
pages cm
Summary: “From Academy Award–nominated producer Brian Grazer and acclaimed business journalist Charles Fishman comes a brilliantly entertaining peek into the weekly “curiosity conversations” that have inspired Grazer to create some of America’s favorite and iconic movies and television shows—from 24 to A Beautiful Mind. For decades, film and TV producer Brian Grazer has scheduled a weekly “curiosity conversation” with an accomplished stranger. From scientists to spies, and adventurers to business leaders, Grazer has met with anyone willing to answer his questions for a few hours. These informal discussions sparked the creative inspiration behind many of Grazer’s movies and TV shows, including Splash, 24, A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, Arrested Development, 8 Mile, J. Edgar, and many others. A Curious Mind is a brilliantly entertaining, fascinating, and inspiring homage to the power of inquisitiveness and the ways in which it deepens and improves us. Whether you’re looking to improve your management style at work or you want to become a better romantic partner, this book—and its lessons on the power of curiosity—can change your life”—Provided by publisher.
1. Curiosity. 2. Creative thinking. 3. Self-actualization (Psychology) I. Fishman, Charles, 1961– II. Title.
BF323.C8G73 2015
153.8—dc23
2014032967
ISBN 978-1-4767-3075-2
ISBN 978-1-4767-3079-0 (ebook)
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