Sorkin Says He Lacks Visual Instinct for Filmmaking

Aaron Sorkin told The Hollywood Reporter he lacks the visual instinct required to direct films.

The 65-year-old screenwriter made the admission during an interview at the Newport Beach Film Festival in October. He was there to accept the Maverick Director Award for his new film, The Social Reckoning.

The movie explores Facebook’s internal knowledge of its societal harm. It features Mikey Madison as the whistleblower and Jeremy Allen White as the journalist. Jeremy Strong plays Mark Zuckerberg. Sorkin wrote the script, which serves as a sequel of sorts to The Social Network, the 2010 film he wrote for director David Fincher.

Sorkin noted that he would have preferred Fincher to direct the new project. However, Fincher has an exclusive deal with Netflix, while Sony owns the rights to this film. Sony released The Social Reckoning in theaters on October 9. The production cost $40 million.

The box office results fell short of Sorkin’s expectations. The film has earned only $15 million worldwide. Critics have been mixed, with the movie holding a 54 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. This stands in contrast to the acclaim received by The Social Network.

Sorkin has written films for 35 years. His credits include A Few Good Men, The American President, and The Social Network. He won Academy Awards and Golden Globes for several of these screenplays. He has also directed four films in the past decade, including Molly’s Game and The Trial of the Chicago 7.

Despite his writing accolades, Sorkin said he has faced criticism for his directing. He expressed concern that his weaknesses are innate rather than skill-based. "I’m very worried that the parts of directing that I’m not good at are those parts that you can’t learn," he said. He compared these unteachable elements to talent.

Sorkin admitted he has "no visual sensibility." He was surprised by how little he understood about the science of filmmaking. He clarified that working with actors was not his main struggle. The challenge lies in knowing how to use a camera effectively.

He compared his current state to a football coach after a loss. He said the elements for a win were present but did not come together. "Just give me one more chance, and one of these days I’ll be able to put it all together," Sorkin said.

During the same interview, Sorkin discussed the possibility of reviving The West Wing. He said he misses the cast and the show. However, he noted that the cast has aged and that he needs a strong story, not just dialogue. He also mentioned a new Lincoln Center revival of his play A Few Good Men, which he is rewriting after 30 years.