Hawk Koch Archives - Kevin Goetz

Don’t Kill the Messenger welcomes legendary producer, Hawk Koch.

Managing Editor - AB — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 19:15:16 +0000

In this episode of “Don’t Kill the Messenger,” host Kevin Goetz has a lively and enlightening conversation with legendary Hollywood producer Hawk Koch. With over 50 years in the movie business, Koch has countless stories to share from his prolific career working on classic films like Chinatown, Marathon Man, Heaven Can Wait, and Wayne’s World. He offers a rare insider’s perspective on working with icons like Clark Gable, Ingrid Bergman, Jimmy Stewart, and Barbra Streisand. Koch has worked on countless classic films and with many iconic talents. He gave host Kevin Goetz a rare insider’s perspective, sharing entertaining stories and hard-earned wisdom. Here are some highlights from their conversation:

What’s in a Name?

Koch talks about changing his name at age 50 when he was bar mitzvahed, taking on the nickname “Hawk” to establish his own identity apart from his famous father, producer Howard W. Koch.

“I just realized for 49 years I’ve had my father’s name. I want my own name. And then he said to me, the words that changed my life, this amazing rabbi said to me, you can have your own name.”

Riding Horses with Clark Gable

Koch reminisces fondly about getting his first horseback ride as a 4-year-old from Clark Gable on a movie set. He describes feeling Gable’s warmth and humanity even in that brief 30-second interaction, as the iconic actor picked him up and put Koch in front of him on the saddle.

Working with Legends

Koch shares his experience early in his career working with and being in the presence of classic actors like Jimmy Stewart on the set of Fool’s Parade. He was awe-struck, barely able to speak in Stewart’s presence and realizing he was working with a legend. Koch also describes a similar feeling when seeing Ingrid Bergman for the first time during wardrobe tests for Cactus Flower.

Icon Lightning Round

When asked for rapid impressions, Koch gives funny and candid takes on industry figures he’s worked with like calling Roman Polanski the best technical director he’s worked with, Warren Beatty a procrastinator and perfectionist, and noting Faye Dunaway was the toughest actress he ever had to work with.

Getting His Start in the Music Business

Hawk discusses his start working in music thanks to a chance dinner meeting. This led to him touring with The Dave Clark Five in 1964 and getting to watch recording sessions with legends like Frank Sinatra, describing the awe he felt seeing Sinatra perform live.

Taking Care of “Family”

Koch talks sincerely about his dedication to the Motion Picture and Television Fund, an organization that provides assistance and care for people who have worked in entertainment. He shares why supporting this charity is so important to him – they take care of “their people,” the crew members who become like family during productions.

“It’s the only charity I know of that is specifically to our industry…we take care of our own.”

Taming Faye Dunaway’s Hair

Koch tells a funny anecdote about shooting Chinatown, where director Roman Polanski pulled Faye Dunaway’s hair out in frustration when it kept sticking up despite efforts to fix it. This led to a blow-up argument between the director and actress.

Best Advice Ever Received

Hawk stresses the vital lesson he learned over his many years in the business – the importance of telling the truth and not trying to mislead people. He says any deception gets found out quickly on a movie set, so clear communication is everything.

“If you try to get around something on a movie set or with an actor or with anybody, you get in trouble because they can smell it…I found that communication on a movie, whether it’s in prep or in shooting or in post, communication’s everything. And as the leader, as a producer, if you’re not telling the truth to everybody, it gets found out.”

The full interview features many more colorful stories and insights. Hawk Koch proves to be a captivating storyteller who provides a rare look inside Hollywood over five incredible decades. To hear the full discussion, check out the Hawk Koch episode of “Don’t Kill the Messenger.” It’s an entertaining and enlightening listen for any fan of great moviemaking tales.

Don’t Kill the Messenger, hosted by movie and entertainment research expert Kevin Goetz, brings his book Audienceology to life. This bi-monthly podcast takes a peek behind the filmmaking curtain as Kevin talks with famous filmmakers, studio executives, stars, and other creatives about movies, filmmaking, audience test screenings, and much more.

For more information about Hawk Koch:

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawk_Koch

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0462242/

Magic Time: https://magictime.pictures/

For more information about Kevin Goetz:

Website: www.KevinGoetz360.com
Audienceology Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Audience-ology/Kevin-Goetz/9781982186678
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @KevinGoetz360
Linked In @Kevin Goetz
Screen Engine/ASI Website: www.ScreenEngineASI.com

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Inside Hollywood & Behind the Book WITH HAWK KOCH

Managing Editor - TF — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered how audiences can change the course of the final cut of a film? Kevin Goetz, who the LA Times called one of the 100 most powerful and influential people in Southern California, is the “go to” person when filmmakers and studios need insights into how to fix or market their pictures. He is also an Emmy-award winning producer. Join Hawk as he interviews Kevin about his new book, Audience-ology: How Moviegoers Shape the Films We Love.

The post Inside Hollywood & Behind the Book WITH HAWK KOCH appeared first on Kevin Goetz.

PRIVATE LAUNCH PARTY IN CELEBRATION OF AUDIENCE•OLGY

Managing Editor - KC — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 05:56:24 +0000

Los Angeles, CA, December 1, 2021 – Celebrating the release of the new book Audience•ology: How Moviegoers Shape the Films We Love, Sherry Lansing, Peter Chernin, Hawk Koch, and Gary Lucchesi join the Motion Picture Television Fund (MPTF) in hosting a private launch party at the home of the author, Kevin Goetz on Saturday, December 4^th, 2021. The cocktail party will include comments by Hawk Koch, MPTF CEO Bob Beitcher, and Sharon Stone, followed by an interview with Goetz moderated by Ben Mankiewicz of Turner Classic Movies.

Over ten years in the making and released through Simon & Schuster, Audience•ology chronicles how real people have written and rewritten America’s cinematic masterpieces through the secretive process of audience testing of Hollywood movies. Complete with first-hand stories from famous filmmakers, studio chiefs, and stars, this fascinating book has enough humor, drama, and surprise to entertain everyone from film aficionados to anybody who loves movies.

“Whether you sit behind the camera or in front of it, in film school or in an office on a studio lot, or just face a screen as a movie lover, Audience-ology sheds light on how moviegoer feedback holds a special place in the final stages of filmmaking,” says producer and former Chair of Sony Pictures Amy Pascal. “The explanation of how the test screening process works is illustrated with fascinating stories that are the lore of Hollywood. I only wish this book had existed when I first started out in the business.”

Kevin Goetz has been at the center of what Hollywood calls the movie research industry for more than thirty years. His firm, Screen Engine/ASI, conducts research for a majority of all movies that are widely released in America and around the world. With decades of experience, Goetz has worked alongside all of the major film studio chiefs, network and streaming platform executives, and production company decision-makers.

The Los Angeles Times Magazine counted Goetz as one of the 100 most powerful and influential people in Southern California. He has also produced twelve movies and brings both a marketing and filmmaking perspective to the interpretation of his research findings. He is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and several other distinguished organizations: Producers Guild of America, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Qualitative Research Consultants Association, and the American Marketing Association.

Audience•ology: How Moviegoers Shape the Films We Love, by Kevin Goetz with Darlene Hayman, is on sale now on Amazon or wherever books are sold and is available in hardcover, ebook, or audiobook formats. Kevin Goetz will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book to the MPTF.

For additional information about Kevin Goetz and Audience•olgy, please visit www.KevinGoetz360.com.

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