`Rocky' Director Speaks At Hasty Pudding Club

Nearly three dozen students came to the Hasty Pudding Theater last night to hear "Rocky" director John G. Avildsen recall how he made the Best Picture of 1976 in 28 days for under $1 million.

After a screening of "Rocky," which brought the filmmaker an Oscar for Best Director, Avildsen answered audience questions, recounting misadventures on the set and the working habits of such stars as John Belushi and George C. Scott.

Avildsen, whose directing credits include "The Karate Kid," "Joe" and "Neighbors," emphasized the practical side of Hollywood moviemaking. The director said he did not mind being overshadowed by the attention Stallone and other actors received, "as long as the bank gives me the credit."

Avildsen entertained the audience with tales from the "Rocky" set.

"While putting together the last scene of 'Rocky,' we decided the ending we had didn't fit the score," Avildsen said. "So we decided to walk some people in front of the camera, get Rocky and Adrian together and add a couple of 'I love you's, which always work."

Avildsen was the first attraction of the Pudding Theatricals' directors series, a money-making venture invented to ease the organization's financial woes, said Peter J. Ocko '88, a Pudding producer.

John Landis, who directed "The Blues Brothers" and "Animal House," is scheduled to appear next Saturday at the Pudding, said David Lane Seltzer '88, who helped organize Avildsen's visit. Seltzer said future guests will include "Ghostbusters" star Harold Ramis and Sidney Lumet, director of "Out of Africa".