Travolta takes Tarantino tips on directing

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John Travolta recently released his first film as a director, ‘Propeller One-Way Night Coach,’ on Apple TV. The movie is based on a book he wrote in 1997 and features his daughter, along with a brief appearance by Travolta himself. Drawing on his many years as a leading actor, he approached directing by studying the techniques of filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and others he admires.

How did Travolta’s directing debut come about?

This hour-long film tells the story of Jeff, a young boy who loves airplanes, and his mother as they fly to Hollywood. Their trip becomes an unforgettable adventure with plenty of surprises along the way.

I’ve been following this project for years, and it’s clearly a passion piece for the star. It’s based on his own experiences as a pilot, and he really felt he was the only one who could truly bring this story to life, which is why he insisted on directing it himself. He believed he uniquely understood how all the pieces fit together, and honestly, that conviction really comes through on screen.

Travolta takes Tarantino tips

The film first premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where the director received an honorary Palme D’or. Following that, it premiered in Los Angeles. When asked about his directing approach, he explained that after observing directors for over 50 years – both the good and the bad – he consciously modeled his work after the techniques of successful filmmakers like Robert Altman, Mike Nichols, Quentin Tarantino, Tony Scott, John Woo, and Brian De Palma.

He shared that he showed a rough cut of the film to a well-known director, who gave him one helpful suggestion. He didn’t disclose the director’s identity, though.

It seems unlikely that Roger Christian directed the poorly received science fiction film ‘Battlefield Earth,’ which was based on the teachings of Scientology.

Here’s Travolta and his daughter chatting about the making of ‘Propeller One-Way Night Coach’….

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2026-05-29 23:23