Spike Adapts

VINCE BUCCI/GETTY IMAGES
Spike Jonze at the premiere for Adaptation

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When it comes to privacy, screenwriter Kaufman makes Jonze look like J. Lo. Kaufman refuses to be photographed or give his age (he's fortysomething) and won't talk about his personal life. So Jonze had to be the adult in dealing with the studio and the people depicted in the film. Jonze first got in touch with Kaufman after he read the Malkovich script, and Kaufman chose Jonze to direct it because no one else was interested. "When I heard Spike Jonze was interested in me, I thought it was the son of the bandleader who is also a producer out here. I didn't really watch videos," Kaufman says. He came up with the idea of inserting himself into Adaptation when he was stuck trying to write a film version of Orlean's book. He ran the idea past Jonze, who was in the middle of directing Malkovich, and Jonze encouraged it.

That's what Jonze is best at. He has become the big brother nudging other people to do the crazy stunts while he stays at home with his wife Sofia Coppola. The only prank he pulls on me during our entire lunch is when he tells me he purposely and of his own volition canceled the cable TV in his apartment. Like I'm going to believe that one.