The Team spirit displayed by Oppenheimer makers Christopher Nolan and producers Emma Thomas and Charles Roven for the last 20 years makes for some great corporate lessons
Oppenheimer Team Christopher Nolan with producers Emma Thomas and Charles Roven were on the Oscars 2024 stage on March 10 holding their Best Picture trophies.
Oppenheimer was nominated in 13 categories and won the statuette for seven among them – Best Director for Christopher Nolan, Best Actor for Cillian Murphy, Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr and Best Editing and Best Cinematography. During the acceptance speech Emma Thomas, wife and co0producer credited Nolan and said he was the reason this movie was the movie it was. She also spoke about teamwork and said, “The thing that’s fantastic about our jobs is that it’s about teamwork. And, our team was just incredible on this movie, so thank you to all of them.” The feeling was echoed when Raven said, “They are a fantastic team, and just to be part of making movies with them has been completely thrilling.”
Charles Roven has been making working with Nolan and Thomas for the past 20 years.
Emma Thomas married Nolan in 1997, and has produced every one of Nolan’s films since the time they were in college. Tenet, Inception, Prestige, Interstellar, Dunkirk, The Dark Knight. She has produced them all. And, theirs is said to be one of the most successful partnerships in Hollywood.
Nolan is not particularly known for making conventional films. However, his films have been hugely successful and as producers they are guarantee enough for Warner Bros to willingly fun any amount that they sought and also distribute many of their films until Oppenheimer.
Christopher Nolan with producers Emma Thomas and Charles Roven
Despite this advantage Thomas and Nolan worked a team and not once did their budgets time over shoot. Emma Thomas is known to run a tight ship and Warner Bros know this. And as co-producers Nolan is very much involved in the pre-production, and once he begins to direct, she takes over and facilitates a conducive environment for him to realise his unconventional vision.
Corporate Lessons for Teams:
And this is possible from understanding each other’s strength and complimenting them as they go about their work. While Emma says she keeps giving Nolan books to inspire his creative – he mentioned in one of his interviews on how its important to surround oneself with people who understand and support what it is you are trying to do, but unafraid to criticise.
And, Charles Roven made for the perfect team mate. He complemented with his experience, and as he mentions in his interviews – he mostly discusses production issues with Thomas before involving Nolan.
And most of all he isn’t afraid to give credit. He is confident of himself and said on several occasion that he knows he is a great produce, and he also invests his belief in Nolan’s vision, and works towards helping Nolan execute the vision.
Qualities of the Best Team:
In short – the reason this Oscars winning team’s success is that it is made up of amazingly skilled individuals who believe in themselves and trust the others on the team. They are not afraid to give credit to the deserving, and revel in the success of each other.
The Oppenheimer team is working for the past 20 years making some memorable films together display the qualities of a good team at workplace and that makes for some great corporate lessons
