Ron Howard
Ron Howard would have "chickened out" of directing Jay Z's movie if he had thought more about it.
The acclaimed filmmaker was approached weeks before the rapper's 'Made in America' festival in Philadelphia last year to document the event and only said yes because he didn't have time to properly consider the offer.
He said: "They asked a few weeks before the festival, so I didn't have time to say no. I'd have chickened out if I'd thought about it too much."
Ron believes he was asked to direct the documentary, which is also called 'Made in America', because he was an "extreme" choice when it came to echoing the messages of diversity in the event.
He explained: "The festival represents the breaking down of genres, race and expectation across America. Inviting me in is an extreme version of that."
And working on the film gave the 60-year-old director the chance to gain a broader musical education.
He told NME magazine: "I didn't know Jill Scott or The Hives. Loved them. Rita Ora was a blast. And Odd Future. I won't listen to them every day, but I was impressed with their energy."
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