Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan shared that the innovation of the film industry “has always been and should always be what goes on the screen, not what the screen is.”

Speaking at The Graduate Center for the City University of New York, Nolan and producing partner and wife Emma Thomas spoke with biographer Kai Bird, the co-author of American Prometheus. The book is what Nolan used to based his screenplay for the movie.

Don't buy the speedboat yet

When Bird asked, given the success of Oppenheimer, if Hollywood would be interested in making more films based on biographies, Nolan demurred and said, “I wouldn't buy the speedboat just yet.”

“Any time a film succeeds that isn't expected to succeed, it's an encouraging thing for Hollywood in every which way. It's an encouraging thing for filmmakers,” he added.

On addressing the economics of streaming, Bird asked Thomas if she thinks big screen theaters have a future. “Yes, resoundingly. That's what this summer has really shown,” she replied.

Christopher Nolan: Innovation is what's on the screen

atomic bomb explosion, Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan

Nolan added, “We’re not a tech company. The innovation in our industry has always been and should always be what goes on the screen, not what the screen is.”

“It's what we do as filmmakers, what we put on the screen, that's where the potential is infinite and needs to be explored,” he insisted.

The Pulitzer Prize winning author asked whether they still have hope that theaters have survive economically.

“Well, we'd be making a strange statement, having made almost a billion dollars on the film if we didn't believe that. So clearly it's working,” Nolan responded.

Thomas added, “And by the way, you know, it's also on the studios to keep them going. And the way they can keep them going is by putting movies out. We've been in this very weird position over the last couple of years where they haven't been putting movies in theaters.”

High praise for Taylor Swift

Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan and Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.

Nolan also touched on the success of Taylor Swift's movie without studio backing. He noted that the studios aren't distributing Swift's concert film, but AMC.

“And it's going to make an enormous amount of money. This is a way of seeing things and sharing stories or sharing experiences that is incredibly valuable. And if they don't want it, somebody else will.”