Aaron Sorkin Calls Visual Instinct the Hardest Directing Skill to Acquire

Aaron Sorkin stated on October 26 that the aspects of directing he finds most difficult are the elements he believes cannot be taught. Speaking at the Newport Beach Film Festival, the 65-year-old screenwriter discussed his recent film, The Social Reckoning, which he also directed and wrote. Sorkin expressed concern that his shortcomings in visual storytelling represent a form of talent rather than a technical gap that can be closed with experience.

Sorkin described the production process of The Social Reckoning, a film examining Facebook's knowledge of its societal impact and the whistleblower who exposed it. The movie stars Mikey Madison, Jeremy Allen White, and Jeremy Strong. Sorkin noted that he was the second choice to direct the project. He explained that David Fincher, who directed Sorkin's 2010 script The Social Network, was unavailable due to an exclusive deal with Netflix. Sony, which owns the rights to the new film, released it nationwide on October 9.

The financial performance of The Social Reckoning has been modest. The film, which had a production budget of $40 million, has grossed $15 million worldwide. Critics have been mixed in their reception, with the film currently holding a 54 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. Sorkin acknowledged the disappointing results during an interview for The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, where he received the festival's Maverick Director Award.

Sorkin, who has written films for 35 years including The American President and The Trial of the Chicago 7, compared his directing journey to a learning curve that exceeded his expectations. He noted that while he learned much from previous directors like Rob Reiner and Mike Nichols, he struggled with the mechanics of camera usage. Sorkin said, "I have no visual sensibility, it turns out." He added that he was surprised by how little of the technical science of filmmaking he had absorbed despite years of observation.

The screenwriter drew a parallel between his directing efforts and football coaches who credit their teams' efforts after a loss. He suggested that the foundational elements for a successful film are present in his work but have not yet fully coalesced. Sorkin said he wants one more chance to integrate these skills effectively. He also discussed the changing landscape of movie production, noting that his recent scripts would likely be produced for streaming platforms rather than theaters today.

Sorkin also addressed the future of his television work, specifically the NBC series The West Wing. He expressed a desire to return to the show but noted the difficulty of crafting a new story for an aging cast. Additionally, he mentioned the upcoming revival of his 1989 play A Few Good Men at Lincoln Center. Sorkin revealed that he is rewriting the material for this new production, calling it a new play in some respects after being written when he was 25 years old.