TMNT II Director Michael Pressman Interview

This week on Movie Lovers Unite, I'm joined by director Michael Pressman for a conversation about his incredible career in film and television. We discuss his work on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, what it was like preserving the spirit of the Turtles for a new adventure, and the challenges of directing one of the most beloved TMNT films. Michael also shares stories from throughout his career, including working with Richard Pryor, memorable experiences in Hollywood, and lessons he's learned from decades behind the camera. Whether you're a TMNT fan, a movie lover, or an aspiring filmmaker, this episode offers a fascinating look at the career of a director whose work has entertained audiences for generations. If you’re a TMNT fan, movie lover, or aspiring filmmaker, this is an interview you won’t want to miss! 👍 Like, Comment & Subscribe for more movie reviews, interviews, and discussions. 00:00 – Introduction and welcome to Michael Pressman 00:19 – Discussing The Godfather and meeting a young Al Pacino on the set of NYPD 03:58 – Preserving the turtle relationships and exploring their backstories in Secret of the Ooze 04:47 – Working with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and the advancement of practical effects 05:25 – Designing the underground train station and technical puppetry challenges 07:55 – Capturing the 90s New York aesthetic and the "pizza culture" additions 09:41 – Directing action sequences, using second units, and the "junkyard" scene 11:11 – The four-person process to bring one turtle to life 13:08 – Adjusting the tone: Injecting more humor and handling the "violence" concerns 15:10 – The story behind Vanilla Ice and the "Ninja Rap" club sequence 17:02 – Working with David Warner (Professor Jordan Perry) 17:54 – Ernie Reyes Jr. and the development of the character Kino 19:15 – The Barbara Walters interview mishap (Donatello’s "water cable" accident) 22:11 – Reflecting on the film’s lasting legacy and its 4K theatrical re-release 27:03 – Working with Richard Pryor: Serious drama and unexpected comedic surprises 32:29 – Michael’s upcoming projects: Directing theater in Chicago and his work on Law & Order 33:41 – Briefly discussing The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training and Quentin Tarantino’s take on it Email Movie Lovers Unite [email protected] To donate ro Movie Lovers Unite click the link below 👇🏼 buymeacoffee.com/Movielovers Follow Movie Lovers Unite on Letterbox https://letterboxd.com/jjd6178791/ To become a Patreon member of Movie Lovers Unite click the link below https://www.patreon.com/movieloversunit ______________________________ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/movieloversunit _____________________________ Follow us on Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@movieloverstvloversunit0 ______________________________ Reach out to Rossie [email protected] ______________________________ Rossie's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mccree123hotmailcom/?hl=en ______________________________ Rossie's Twitter https://twitter.com/RossieLynnBarq1/status/13713107500 Email Movie Lovers Unite [email protected] To donate ro Movie Lovers Unite click the link below 👇🏼 buymeacoffee.com/Movielovers Follow Movie Lovers Unite on Letterbox https://letterboxd.com/jjd6178791/ To become a Patreon member of Movie Lovers Unite click the link below https://www.patreon.com/movieloversunit ______________________________ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/movieloversunit _____________________________ Follow us on Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@movieloverstvloversunit0 ______________________________ Reach out to Rossie [email protected] ______________________________ Rossie's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mccree123hotmailcom/?hl=en ______________________________ Rossie's Twitter https://twitter.com/RossieLynnBarq1/status/13713107500