John Magaro & Tim Fehlbaum interview: Navigating the true events of 'September 5'

John Magaro in “September 5.” Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

The power of media is at the center of “September 5,” a new film that tackles the real life hostage crisis during the 1972 Summer Olympics from a unique point of view. This dramatization focuses on the reporters who delivered the brutal news to the world in real time, mostly told from the confines of their control room.

Director Tim Fehlbaum and actor John Magaro (“Past Lives”) knew the monumental task they were signing up for and jumped in head first alongside other cast members including Peter Sarsgaard and Ben Chaplin. Magaro plays ABC sports reporter Geoff Mason and according to him, meeting the decorated journalist was crucial to his research. We recently spoke to Magaro and Fehlbaum about their meticulous process making “September 5,” which included more in-depth research than they imagined. This is a transcription of that conversation.

Q: What was your research process when you began to craft this film based on true events?

Tim Fehlbaum: First we had to broadly research what happened on that day because we wanted to know as much as possible before we even started to write. Then we did a lot of research specifically in that direction, we talked to three eye witnesses. Also, a big part of our research was studying these original tapes that we got, all of the original material. Studying that and trying to imagine what would’ve happened in that control room. What would’ve happened in that moment based on that footage.

John Magaro: For me it was a conversation with Geoff Mason and he was very helpful. It also became abundantly clear that the most important research was learning how to call a show. It felt like learning an instrument. So that meant getting into as many control rooms for as long as possible.

Q: I’m assuming the methods you learned in those control rooms had to be time specific since the film takes place in the 1970’s.

Magaro: Not really. It’s very much like conducting, some things may change but once that language is set it’s pretty much the same anywhere.

Fehlbaum: They still say “roll tape 5” even though it’s not tape anymore. It’s still the same language.

Q: The events of “September 5” have been depicted before in other films like “Munich” and “One Day in September.”  From this film’s inception, were you trying to get away from those titles as much as possible or have this be more of a companion piece to them?

Fehlbaum: We got confronted with that question a lot when we started working on this movie, especially with “Munich.” But “Munich” is more about the aftermath than what happened on that day. We have a very specific perspective that hasn’t been told, the role that the media played on that day. We found a very interesting angle. “One Day in September” was a big inspiration for this movie.

Q: John, you were in “Munich” so there’s that connection.

Magaro: (laughs) Barely. I was barely in that movie.

Q: But even playing a small role in “Munich,” did that cause any hesitation on your part to be in another film that covered similar ground?

Magaro: Not at all, I was a background actor in “Munich.” That was a young actor who was fresh off the boat trying to make a name for himself in his career.

Fehlbaum: (laughs) I know which film I’m watching tonight.

Q: It’s a smart decision to keep the bulk of this film confined to the control room. Were there ever any discussions to have more of the story take place outside of it?

Fehlbaum: In the very beginning, yeah, but once we decided to tell the story from this angle it immediately became clear to me that we shouldn’t leave the studio. I’m fascinated with movies that have that strong concept. Movies that draw a strength from a certain limitation of space.

Q: John, you’re obviously in very close quarters with a lot of your fellow actors in this film. Was there any kind of bonding experience prior to shooting to get the cast in a rhythm or comfortable mood?

Magaro: We just jumped into it. Unfortunately with indie filmmaking there’s not a lot of time to have the actors get together. Peter Sarsgaard was in the middle of a TV show at the time and I was in the middle of promoting “Past Lives” at the Berlin film festival. I arrived with Covid so I couldn’t even participate in pre-production. We did a table read with Ben Chaplin and Peter but that was it. But when you have a good cast it doesn’t really matter. People who know what they’re doing and are willing to play and leave their egos aside, which is what our cast did, are great to work with.

Q: Is there something about this film that you haven’t been asked yet on this press tour and would like to highlight?

Felhbaum: That’s a great question.

Magaro: That’s a really good question. This is a movie about media and journalism can only cover certain things. We live in a world where the flashier stories can suck up a lot of air but this is an important film and I hope people see it. We are grateful to all the journalists who are getting the word out on a little film like this one. We made it with passion, love and care and I hope people are intrigued to go see it.

“September 5” is now playing in theaters nationwide.