At first read, God's Pocket, the 1983 novel by Pete Dexter, doesn't seem like a natural fit for a film. But to actor John Slattery, best known for playing Roger Sterling in Mad Men, it was completely cinematic. He envisioned it looking like the 1973 Peter Yates film, The Friends of Eddie Coyle. To bring his vision to life, Slattery was able to assemble an impressive cast, including Mad Men co-star Christina Hendricks, John Turturro, and Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of his final roles. Slattery talks about how his time working with great directors prepared him for getting behind the camera. Plus, how he allegedly got famed cinematographer Lance Acord (Lost in Translation, Being John Malkovich) to shoot the film.
Banner image: (L-R) Philip Seymour Hoffman (Mickey Scarpato), John Turturro, and John Slattery behind the scenes of his film God's Pocket. Courtesy of Seacia Pavao. An IFC Films release