Aaron Sorkin After ‘The Social Reckoning’: “I’m Very Worried That the Parts of Directing That I’m Not Good at Are Those Parts That You Can’t Learn”

Key Points:

• Aaron Sorkin directed and wrote The Social Reckoning, a film about Facebook's societal impact and whistleblower revelations, but he was originally the second choice to direct, preferring David Fincher who was unavailable due to a Netflix deal.
• The Social Reckoning, released by Sony with a $40 million budget, has underperformed critically and commercially compared to Sorkin's earlier Facebook-related film, The Social Network, holding a 54% Rotten Tomatoes score and grossing $15 million worldwide.
• Despite a celebrated screenwriting career spanning over three decades with multiple Oscar and Golden Globe nominations and wins, Sorkin has faced criticism for his directing efforts and admits to struggling particularly with the visual and technical aspects of filmmaking.
• Sorkin expressed a desire to continue working with great directors and improve his directing skills, likening his current challenges to a football coach who has the pieces for a win but hasn't yet put them all together.
• He also discussed potential projects, including a West Wing revival contingent on having a strong story, and reflected on the changing landscape of mid-budget films, suggesting many of his works would now be suited for streaming platforms rather than theatrical release.