Ignatius Vishnevetsky Talks About Co-hosting Ebert's New Show

By Rob Christopher in News on Jan 5, 2011 4:00PM

We're a bit tardy getting this up. But unsurprisingly, as soon as it was announced that he'd been chosen to co-host Roger Ebert Presents At The Movies, all hell broke loose. We finally caught up with the Cine-File and MUBI contributor and asked him some questions about the new gig.

Chicagoist: How long have you known Roger?

Ignatius: Like all of the critics in Chicago, we both go to the Lake Street screening room, but we'd never talked before he approached me about the show.

Chicagoist: How were you approached initially? What exactly did they tell you at first?

Ignatius: One evening, Chaz Ebert, who's the producer of the show, called me and asked whether I'd like to come and meet with her and Roger. They told me about the show, and Roger told me that he liked my work and was wondering if I'd do a sort of screen test for them. But I was not initially approached as a candidate to host the show; they told me they were interested in me as a regular guest contributor.

Chicagoist: How did you prepare?

Ignatius: I didn't at all, actually, not for the first test. I more or less went in and sat down in front of a camera with Christy Lemire, who is now my co-host on the show.

Chicagoist: Was it a long interview process?

Ignatius: Yes. I was asked back several times, and we did many different kinds of tests, usually involving movies that were in theaters at the time. Of course, as I said, at the time I was being auditioned as a possible guest contributor. Or at least I thought I was -- you can never be too sure, because the Eberts have kind of a mischievous streak that isn't readily obvious. Eventually they asked me to a final audition, where Christy and I did a mock episode of the show. At the time, they were also auditioning many other critics.

Chicagoist: What were your first reactions when you heard the news?

Ignatius: I felt honored. I was surprised, of course. But when someone gives you this sort of opportunity, it makes you want to work harder, to think harder.

Chicagoist: So, the show is to be taped at WTTW, yes?

Ignatius: Yes. We're currently working out the schedules, because Christy Lemire lives in Los Angeles. From the look of it, the show will tape in sessions once every two weeks.

Chicagoist: What do you think it'll be like, having to relinquish some choice over what movies you review? At MUBI I take it you had a lot more say-so. Now you'll be seeing and talking about stuff like Transformers 3 and Meet the Fockers 4.

Ignatius: Well, many of the things I write for MUBI are actually suggested by my editor, Daniel Kasman. And, on At the Movies, Christy and I have input into the show, including which films we'll be reviewing. Ultimately what it comes down to is not which films may be the most popular, but which ones will be the most interesting to discuss. It's not a news show. The basic format of At the Movies is very concentrated discussion and debate about film, whether its one person addressing the camera, or two talking to each other in front of one, and I believe this is something vital, because talking about movies is sort of a gateway into talking about everything else.

We've been putting together the first few episodes, and I can tell you that we vetoed a film that will probably be big at the box office in favor of another one which opens the same week because we felt that, regardless of whether it was good or bad, that the second film would be more interesting to talk about. You could say that it seems to have more at stake. Sure, we give a thumbs up or a thumbs down, but the center of the show is less about rating movies and more about creating a conversation.

And I should add that I would probably end up seeing -- and writing about -- Transformers 3 anyway.

Chicagoist: Will you be addressing the film vs. video/theatre vs. home question on the show at all?

Ignatius: The show as a whole will be addressing it, yes. The format for the new program isn't just the back-and-forth between Christy and me -- there are also segments on various topics featuring Roger and the regular contributors, like Omar Moore, Kim Morgan and Kartina Richardson. Many of them will deal with the changing technology and culture of film.

Chicagoist: How will your life change? Does it mean altering any of your plans?

Ignatius: Well, everything makes you alter your plans. Obviously this will change certain things in a big way -- hopefully for the best. I've been doing nothing but criticism for a while now. MUBI will remain my main gig, and I'm still going to be contributing to Cine-File. And I'm not gonna stop volunteering for Odd Obsession. Okay, now I have to do the laundry. Some things will never change.

Roger Ebert Presents At the Movies debuts on PBS January 21