There’s a capricious nature to our business that never ceases to amaze me. I can pin my career on my chance meeting of Jon Favreau at a party. A few weeks ago I found creative inspiration for Covert Affairs, from a casual conversation I had with my friend Paul. I was in LA meeting with [...]

The crew and cast of Covert Affairs is fast becoming a family and though I’ve talked extensively about Piper and some of the producers and directors on the show I haven’t said much about a person who has really become a glue to our whole operation, our DP Jamie Barber. Jamie’s worked on every project [...]

In Niagra Falls working on an amazing episode of Covert Affairs. Big action sequence at the falls — what an incredible location. Cannot believe what we are being allowed to do here. You know that feeling you get when you are standing next to a cliff edge, or looking out over a tall balcony? Well, that’s been [...]

I’m going to a premiere party and screening at the Soho House tonight for Covert Affairs and will be keeping up a tradition that I started on Mr. and Mrs. Smith of going on a nighttime sail after my NYC, summer premieres. I know I have a reputation (in my own mind) for being Mr. [...]

My worlds are colliding this week. On Friday I’m going to Washington DC to shoot for both Covert Affairs and Fair Game. After Fair Game’s premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, I had Mike Tronick (my editor on Mr and Mrs Smith) come in and do a bit of re-editing and he cut in a [...]

Last week I took the boat out into NY Harbor with a group of friends to see the Red Bull Air Races. It was great because it combined three of my favorite hobbies: flying, sailing, and cooking for friends. I’ve mentioned before that I own a boat with my producer, Avram Ludwig, but Avram’s been [...]

Now that I don’t have to spend as much time on Fair Game and while I’m getting my next film lined up (which I can’t talk about very much) I’m also turning my attention back to Covert Affairs, the TV show that we are producing for USA Networks which premieres on Tuesday, July 13 at [...]

Everything at Cannes was very formal and mandated. I received this message: “You will have a champagne toast at 6:30p before boarding of cars at 6:50″ the night of the premiere. The lovely Naomi Watts. Jez Butterworth and John Henry Butterworth Naomi, again. Naomi and I with our mothers. Joe Wilson Previous | Post 2 [...]

Giorgio Armani threw an amazing party for us. This was on our way to the Armani Party. The Armani yacht is the one in the foreground. My mother and sister on the Armani yacht. Me with my mother and Giorgio Armani. My mother with Joe Wilson. The two Valerie Plames. Previous | Post 2 of [...]

The morning I arrived at Cannes, I immediately had to go speak at the American Pavilion. I was told that I’d be speaking to film students but it turned out to be an audience that was almost exclusively made up of reporters. I made it to the Pavilion on time but they are so strict [...]

While in Cannes, I rented a sail boat (small compared with the other giant yachts we saw) with part of my team from Fair Game, including Producer Avram Ludwig and his girlfriend. For the most part I stayed at a hotel (making it much easier for me to do business) but I did get to [...]

When I was preparing for Cannes, I realized how tough this film is to talk about. For one thing, my brother, who is fast becoming one of the top lawyers in the country, made it clear to me that if I accuse Karl Rove in the press of committing a crime I can be sued [...]

I’ve just seen Naomi for the first time since my arrival at Cannes. I’ve been quoted talking about Naomi, saying that I think this may be her finest performance yet. I think the reason I feel that way is because her role in this film as Valerie Plame is a truly challenging role because NOCs [...]

Doug Liman blogs about his film Fair Game and working with Sean Penn

I’m packing to go to France for the Cannes Film Festival. I normally travel with a mountaineering backpack. I loathe the rolling suitcase. In fact, it’s such pet peeve of mine that there’s a little tribute to one in Mr. & Mrs. Smith in which I give Brad Pitt a rolling suitcase but it’s filled [...]