The Help Behind “The Help”

“I can understand the validity of showing people the ugliness of the world, but I also think there is a place for movies to leave people with a sense of hope. If your film isn’t going to do that, I just don’t think it’s worth making.”
Producer/Director/Writer Chris Columbus

Last weekend “The Help” again took the top spot at the box office and just a day or so ago crossed the $100 million mark. It’s not only the surprise hit of the year, it’s that rare film that does terrific at both the box office and in reviews—and does it without car chases, explosions, exploitation, and over the top special effects.

I have written about the creative team of The Help novelist Kathryn Stockett and screenwriter/director Tate Taylor in these posts:

“The Help” Smackdown
Screenwriting from Church Hill, Mississippi
Screenwriting Quote #163 (Tate Taylor)

But there was at least one more person at the core who helped “The Help” become not just a movie, but a DreamWorks production—Chris Columbus. Along with Taylor, Columbus shared producer credit. Columbus has a long track record of hit movies. He wrote Gremlins in 1984, he directed Home Alone in 1990 and Miss Doubtfire in 1993, he produced Night at the Museum in 2006,  but is most well-known these days as the producer and director of several of the Harry Potter movies.

So if you’re wondering how Taylor made the leap from an actor, writer/director, with limited success to the top of the box office, Columbus gives you a clue:

“Tate Taylor and I have known each other for about six years, and I’ve been a big supporter of his and his work. He’d done a short film that I loved and then he did an independent feature… Then a couple of years ago he brought the galleys of this book into my office and said, ‘When I’m going to do my ‘Hollywood picture,’ this is what I’d like to do. The author is my best friend and she said she’d like me to direct the movie.’ He told me a little about it, and my wife read the book that weekend and said, ‘You’ve got to look at this. This is unbelievable.’ I read the book on a Monday – and this was before it was published –called my production company and said ‘We should support this guy and make this movie.’

Fortunately, Steven Spielberg and Stacy Snider at DreamWorks loved the book, loved Tate’s version of the script and felt that if I was going to support him as a director that they would support Tate as a director. And if I would be on the set during the shoot and be a very active producer, they would make the movie. I agreed to do that. I didn’t have anything to direct and I really, really fell in love with the material, and so we all went to Mississippi last summer and made the movie.”
Chris Columbus
PopcornBiz, Even a Hitmaker Like Chris Columbus Had to Fight for “The Help” written by Scott Huver

Every story needs a cheerleader to help it get made into a film and Taylor found one in Columbus (who found cheerleaders in Spielberg and Snider)—but what would have have happened if Columbus’ wife hadn’t of loved the book? Perhaps Taylor could have raised $2 million dollars in a couple of years and eventually  The Help would have become like last year’s Winter’s Bone, a solid indie film that fought for every inch of its slighty under $7 million box office gross.

P.S. Of course, it doesn’t hurt if you have help connected with DreamWorks. But keep in mind that Taylor made the connection with Columbus by being faithful in the little things; his one short film and his one indie feature.

Scott W. Smith