Christopher Nolan is known for his visionary filmmaking, especially his ability to depict the future with stunning accuracy on screen. But when it comes to smartphones, he takes a different approach. While everyone else is caught up in the frenzy of new releases, Nolan stays away from the chaos. Instead of the latest gadgets, he sticks to a simple burner phone. It’s an interesting choice, adding a mysterious touch to the director’s persona. All thanks to The Wire!
Why Christopher Nolan Still Uses a Burner Phone?
Christopher Nolan might just be the only one in Hollywood who doesn’t actually own a smartphone. In a conversation with Stephen Colbert on The Late Show, the director revealed some intriguing details. During the rapid-fire section of their talk, Nolan was thrown questions about his online identity, and he simply replied he didn’t have one. He explained,
“I don’t have an email address. I’ve never used email,–And I don’t have a smartphone. I will carry a pay-as-you-go dumb phone thing.”
It’s widely known that the director enforces a strict ‘no phones on set’ policy. When discussing this during a conversation, the director disclosed the reasoning behind it, offering insight that listeners to this conversation would find intriguing. He revealed,
“I was inspired by The Wire, definitely,”
The HBO hit series The Wire is a gritty story, covering topics like the drug trade, government bureaucracy, education, and media. And in this show, characters often rely on burner phones for their shady dealings, which has made these disposable devices quite popular. Thus, given their chat, Colbert also jokingly quipped, “Are you working with the cartels?”
Whether Nolan’s secretly in cahoots with the cartels remains a mystery, but his contempt for phones is widely known. So much so that Robert Downey Jr. is also afraid at the thought of whipping out his phone in his presence!
Robert Downey Jr. is Afraid of Bringing Out His Phone in Front of Christopher Nolan
It’s no secret that Christopher Nolan dislikes phones on set. His determination to stay unplugged not only from social media but also to avoid smartphones, in general, is something that further proves this point. Recently, Robert Downey Jr., who worked with the director on Oppenheimer, disclosed how strict Nolan can be on set, especially regarding cell phones. He revealed to Vanity Fair,
“If I see Chris Nolan, I throw my phone, He’s not like one of those dads that you’re afraid of–It’s more like…to have the word ‘disappointed’ uttered would be the most crushing blow.”
But why so? The director provided the answer in the aforementioned Colbert interview, he explained,
“I don’t allow cell phones on set — I try to minimize distractions on set. Even though we’re engaged in this absurd process where this wall is real but there’s lights and there’s a guy with a microphone and whatever, you’re asking the actor to focus in on the reality,–So everything you can do — like wearing the correct shoes, not changing your trousers… it’s for the cast and it’s for me. I’m in there. Y’know, I’m in there with them, trying to concentrate, trying to really see the reality of it, so anything we can do to keep that reality, kind of keep that bubble intact.”
The director is always on a mission to keep distractions to a minimum on set. He believes in keeping actors fully immersed in the realities of their characters, even during downtime, showing a touch of old-school charm. Moreover, he’s not a fan of unnecessary spending, going as far as banishing chairs on set to save money and keep everyone on their toes both literally and figuratively.
