How Food Inspired Joe Russo To Become A Filmmaker (And Marvel Director)
Joe Russo — perhaps best known for co-directing two Captain America movies and two Avengers flicks — recently appeared on Tasting Table's new show, "Shared Tastes." There, he sat down with Joe Isidori — a cookbook author, Michelin star chef, and the owner of one of Russo's favorite restaurants — to talk about their shared tastes in food and film. During this discussion, Russo revealed how cuisine actually inspired him to eventually become the marvelous director he is today.
Growing up in a humble Midwestern duplex, Russo never imagined he would go on to become one of the most famous filmmakers in the world. Back then, he lived just one floor up from his great-grandmother, so he and his extended family would regularly cram into her kitchen on Sunday mornings to share communal breakfast and catch up with each other.
"We'd all sit around a table and eat together, and we'd tell stories to one another about what happened during the week," Russo reflected. "The most entertaining people would tell the longest story. That's where I really learned how to tell stories, sitting around a table with my family, sharing [great-grandma's] food." He also noted how this experience inspired him to pursue writing, then acting, and finally directing. Russo's goal was to recreate that connection he felt while sharing a good meal. But according to Russo, the connection between cuisine and cinema doesn't even stop there.
Russo sees little difference between chefs and directors
Drawing parallels between himself and Isidori, Russo — who once worked as a cook in an Italian restaurant — explained how diners and moviegoers are essentially the same kind of audience. "Trying to recreate the feeling that I had as a kid, sharing things with people I loved, that's why we tell those stories," he elaborated. Russo also believes that running a kitchen and overseeing a set require the same exact skill: Making important choices quickly and efficiently.
Food is important in myriad aspects of Russo's life. Russo finds it imperative to not only get the right food to feed his crew on set, but also to make sure that everybody working on his films is at least sort of a foodie. Every Friday, a crew member gets to choose their favorite restaurant for lunch. Off set, Russo and his co-director brother, Anthony, frequently attend what they call "Pizza Film School," during which they order tons of different pizzas and discuss various movies.
At the end of the first Avengers film — which the Russos did not direct – the titular superheroes famously go out for shawarma in a post-credits scene. Considering how important cuisine is to Russo, it's a wonder the characters didn't go out for pizza after defeating Thanos in "Avengers: Endgame."
Static Media owns and operates Tasting Table and Mashed.