Filmmaker Rebecca Miller said she initially had to win over Martin Scorsese before making Apple TV+’s five-part documentary series Mr. Scorsese, even though she knew him through her husband, Daniel Day-Lewis, one of the director’s longtime collaborators. Speaking at Deadline’s Contenders Television: Documentary panel, Miller explained that she first contacted Scorsese’s documentary producing partner, Margaret Bodde, and then wrote Scorsese a letter outlining her approach. After an in-person meeting, the project quickly began taking shape.
The timing, however, was disrupted almost immediately by the Covid-19 pandemic. Miller said Scorsese traveled to her home to continue discussions outdoors, and the shutdown unexpectedly gave him more time than usual to reflect on his life and work. With production halted across the industry, she said Scorsese was able to sit in his study and think deeply about his past, which shaped the reflective tone of the series. Miller described the documentary as a moment in which Scorsese was looking back on his life with unusual openness and honesty.
Miller said Scorsese wanted to express himself in a fresh way and meet her “right where” she was as a filmmaker. Their first interview lasted about four hours, and she was surprised by how candid he was. She said that openness became one of the most valuable parts of the project, giving her a deeper understanding of the filmmaker’s personal and professional journey.
The director also said the documentary gave her new insight into Scorsese’s creative relationships with repeated collaborators such as Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio and Joe Pesci, as well as with her husband, Daniel Day-Lewis. Scorsese refers to these longtime partners as his “key collaborators,” and Miller said the film shows that his work depends not only on visual innovation and complex filmmaking techniques, but also on the trust he builds with actors.
Miller emphasized that this trust extends to women as well as men, noting Scorsese’s record of female Academy Award nominations and the standout performances he has drawn from women in his films. She said he creates a safe environment that allows actors to take risks and push beyond expectations while still feeling supported.
For Miller, collaboration has been central to Scorsese’s longevity and success, especially given his outsider status in Hollywood and the personal struggles that have marked parts of his life. She highlighted key figures who helped sustain his career, including longtime editor Thelma Schoonmaker, manager Rick Yorn, and actors like De Niro and DiCaprio. Miller said Scorsese’s achievement comes from a mix of talent, persistence, persuasion and the devotion of people around him.
She added that Scorsese’s love of cinema remains at the core of everything he does. According to Miller, that passion is so deep that, as DiCaprio put it, he would make films for free.
