The On-the-Job Film-Schooling of Jeff Nichols

(ominous music)

You all have no clue what you're dealing with, do you?

[Reviewer] The science fiction movie Midnight Special

isn't director Jeff Nichols' first movie.

In fact, it's his fourth.

And in each one, Nichols has taken on

a specific set of challenges,

all in the interest of prepping for ever bigger movies.

(camera shutter clicks)

In 2007, it was Shotgun Stories,

(gun fires)

Nichols' debut. The lesson: frugality.

He wrote what he knew, feuding brothers in rural Arkansas.

Anything happens to one of my brothers,

I'll come after all of ya.

The script is lean, shot mostly with daylight

to save on production costs.

(music and thunder)

The next was Take Shelter, about a father

played by Nichols' regular Michael Shannon

trying to protect his family from a maybe apocalypse.

(thunder)

Lessons: Write a strong female lead --

You want to waste money on a stupid tornado shelter?

(ominous noise)

And make cheap visual effects look convincing.

(ominous music)

Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

(music)

(waves gently breaking)

Ben says it's been here a while.

Nichols' big breakthrough was arguably 2012's Mud.

The lessons here: land big-name stars --

Never said your name.

Mud. You can call me Mud.

That's Matthew McConaughey

and Reese Witherspoon as his ex.

[Reese's character] Can't spend the rest of my life

running away with him.

And learn to use a steadicam,

a classic and hard-to-operate tool

to show dynamic, cinematic movement.

(indistinct voices)

Which brings us to this year's Midnight Special,

It's time, you ready?

The story of a father's super-powered son

on the run across the American South.

(car motor revving)

The lessons here: Work with cross-cutting,

an editing technique familiar to action fans,

and settle into a studio,

where people know how to get a movie

in front of a wider audience.

Dad?

It's okay.

That's how you get a hit.

(throbbing sound)