Steve Papazian | Part One

The exec on bringing christopher nolan and clint eastwood’s films to life

Delighted to share a truly remarkable conversation I had back in April 2019 with Steve Papazian, a Hollywood executive whose career spans nearly five decades and reads like a masterclass in entertainment industry evolution.

When you look at his filmography, you're looking at some of cinema's most defining moments: The Matrix, The Hobbit trilogy, and the Harry Potter saga. He's been the trusted production partner for visionaries like Clint Eastwood and Christopher Nolan across multiple projects, helping bring their creative visions to life on an unprecedented scale.

Steve takes us inside one of the corporate transformations that shaped modern Hollywood: The Warner Brothers-Lorimar merger. He also discusses his strategic move to Universal and reveals the sophisticated decision-making that goes into shepherding these cultural touchstones from concept to screen.

Beyond the business acumen, Steve has a deep reverence for the craft itself. He speaks with genuine passion about Hollywood's golden era and offers profound insights into what it means to maintain creative integrity in an industry often driven by competing interests and immense financial pressures.

Tune in!

xx cg

p.s. Check out Part Two of our convo :p

“You can’t put a square peg in a round hole. You can’t create creativity if it’s not there.”

- Steve Papazian

Episode Transcript