It was like taking a ten minute film school in everything from lighting to lenses to rehearsal to editing.

When I think back on your film, I cant not see that colour palette.

Im glad you noticed that.

Colours do create a feeling, an ambience.

The courtroom is very monochromatic, theres a lot of control inside of that environment and its cooler.

This small town had a certain feel.

Those different colour palettes are important.

I think sometimes its more about removing colour than adding colour.

And the colour you removed was red!

[Laughs]

But then it punches.

Theres that shot of the flag and it really pops.

It grabs your attention.

Then, when something gets used it means something, it has a significance.

For me, the hand held camera in this movie happens at very specific times.

Its usually when theres real human drama.

Do you remember your first discussions with your director of photography about this?

Sometimes these perceptions are right, sometimes they are wrong, but theyre ours.

Eventually, Ill venture to block the scenes in rehearsal rooms so I can prepare for certain things.

Of course Twelve Angry Menwas his first movie, andThe Verdict, which we watched.

Yes, I was understating the case a little bit there.

For this, it was the acting.

They just need a space, right?

But creating that space and the understanding takes a lot of work.

Eventually, what Im looking for is behaviour.

That takes a lot of work.

Thats what I shoot for.

Of course, of course.

But I cant imagine Downey lacking confidence in any minute of any day.

Oh, my god.

He never lacks confidence.

Thats part of whats great about him.

Hes willing to take crazy risks.

There must be surprises coming from around every corner.

Its so much fun.

Thats whats great about directing him.

And he never pays attention to being likeable.

He does not pay any attention to the audience responding to him.

Because of this, its very exciting to direct him.

The bar scene with the guys who want to get into a fight with him.

But once we got it tuned up to what his intention was, if that makes sense ?

Thats when it started to come alive.

Downey is a brilliant guy, and we were always given incredible material to work with.

Sculpting that was another part of the process.

David Dobkin, thank you very much.

The Judge is in cinemas across the US and the UK now.