Alex Gibney

They were going to let me do anything I wanted. And they pretty much did. Yeah. David felt he had landed in bizarro world. It was like where the execs were encouraging him to engage his own creativity and to lean in to all the things that were important to him as opposed to, you know, invest in the stereotypes that had become so successful. The Sopranos was not a confected corporate product.

They were going to let me do anything I wanted. And they pretty much did. Yeah. David felt he had landed in bizarro world. It was like where the execs were encouraging him to engage his own creativity and to lean in to all the things that were important to him as opposed to, you know, invest in the stereotypes that had become so successful. The Sopranos was not a confected corporate product.

They were going to let me do anything I wanted. And they pretty much did. Yeah. David felt he had landed in bizarro world. It was like where the execs were encouraging him to engage his own creativity and to lean in to all the things that were important to him as opposed to, you know, invest in the stereotypes that had become so successful. The Sopranos was not a confected corporate product.

I mean, it wasn't at all in terms of its artistry and all of that, but it didn't come about because David thought, how can I make a lot of money? It came about because David was like, I'm obsessed with my mother.

I mean, it wasn't at all in terms of its artistry and all of that, but it didn't come about because David thought, how can I make a lot of money? It came about because David was like, I'm obsessed with my mother.

I mean, it wasn't at all in terms of its artistry and all of that, but it didn't come about because David thought, how can I make a lot of money? It came about because David was like, I'm obsessed with my mother.

To work out their own personal shit about their mother. I totally agree. And that, to me, was the beauty of the moment. You came across a network that was like, fuck it, let's roll the dice.

To work out their own personal shit about their mother. I totally agree. And that, to me, was the beauty of the moment. You came across a network that was like, fuck it, let's roll the dice.

To work out their own personal shit about their mother. I totally agree. And that, to me, was the beauty of the moment. You came across a network that was like, fuck it, let's roll the dice.

You know, what have we got to lose? But a lot. But a lot. I mean, it is true, and they were scared, too. I mean, because after they shot the pilot, they waited... six, seven, eight, nine months before they made the decision to go ahead and order the series. They were terrified.

You know, what have we got to lose? But a lot. But a lot. I mean, it is true, and they were scared, too. I mean, because after they shot the pilot, they waited... six, seven, eight, nine months before they made the decision to go ahead and order the series. They were terrified.

You know, what have we got to lose? But a lot. But a lot. I mean, it is true, and they were scared, too. I mean, because after they shot the pilot, they waited... six, seven, eight, nine months before they made the decision to go ahead and order the series. They were terrified.

Because, like, how can you have a mobster who's the... Yeah. Somebody who kills people for a living is going to be the protagonist of this family drama, right? And they were really nervous about it. And one argument that David had with the creative executives at HBO was over Tony killing somebody on camera. And they were worried that they would turn viewers off. But David convinced them.

Because, like, how can you have a mobster who's the... Yeah. Somebody who kills people for a living is going to be the protagonist of this family drama, right? And they were really nervous about it. And one argument that David had with the creative executives at HBO was over Tony killing somebody on camera. And they were worried that they would turn viewers off. But David convinced them.

Because, like, how can you have a mobster who's the... Yeah. Somebody who kills people for a living is going to be the protagonist of this family drama, right? And they were really nervous about it. And one argument that David had with the creative executives at HBO was over Tony killing somebody on camera. And they were worried that they would turn viewers off. But David convinced them.

He said, look, we're making a show about a mobster. If he doesn't kill the guy who was the snitch, then what are we doing? We're just making bullshit. And so they move forward.

He said, look, we're making a show about a mobster. If he doesn't kill the guy who was the snitch, then what are we doing? We're just making bullshit. And so they move forward.

He said, look, we're making a show about a mobster. If he doesn't kill the guy who was the snitch, then what are we doing? We're just making bullshit. And so they move forward.

Very violent and grisly, yeah. He literally chokes him to death with a wire.

Very violent and grisly, yeah. He literally chokes him to death with a wire.