It?s not often I get the chance to interview a director after their film has hit theaters (unless, of course, it?s to discuss the movie?s release on DVD). However, fortunately for me, writer/director Neil Burger is still ready and willing to talk about his second feature film, The Illusionist, more than month after the film was released.

The Illusionist has earned rave reviews from critics with some even mentioning the likelihood of Edward Norton picking up an Oscar nomination for his work.

In addition to the awards buzz, Burger has every reason to be pleased with the way The Illusionist has performed at the box office. While other mid-August releases have come and gone, The Illusionist has earned a place on the weekly Top 10 charts since its August 18th appearance in theaters.

Neil Burger on the Box Office Success of The Illusionist: August isn?t historically a great time to release a character-driven drama but The Illusionist not only didn?t get lost amid the summer popcorn movies, it actually exceeded expectations. Burger admits he was a little uneasy about launching the film in theaters during that time of year. ?Initially I was but then the more I thought about it, it seemed to make really good sense. It seems to have paid off.?

Burger?s relieved by the film?s success but not surprised by how it caught on with the public. ?I always felt it was a commercial movie. People say, ?Oh, it?s an art house movie,? but I didn?t think so. I just think it?s a good story. I think it?s like a real yarn, and a good mystery and a good puzzle.

I thought that would appeal to people.?

The Sale of Distribution Rights to Yari Film Group: There was a lot of buzz surrounding The Illusionist following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, with Yari Film Group eventually picking up the rights. Was Burger concerned when it didn?t go to the independent arm of a major studio? ?A little bit,? answered Burger. ?Universal wanted it and but I think Bob Yari just wanted it more and he saw an opportunity. We were a little bit concerned but they?ve shown themselves to have done a very good job. They?ve proven themselves. They really nurtured it.?

Neil Burger on Adapting the Short Story: Burger explained why he believed the short story Eisenheim the Illusionist by Steven Millhauser was a good starting point for a feature film. ?Well because as a filmmaker, I?m interested in that moment when you come face to face with something unexplainable or incomprehensible and kind of how that blows your mind, how that rattles your perceptions about everything. The story had that and I wanted the film to have that. I wanted a film that had that kind of energy to it.?

Making Magic Believable on the Big Screen: Audiences are so used to CG effects and other tricks used to make the unreal appear real in films. Burger admits it was difficult to figure out the right approach to filming the magic tricks performed in the movie. ?It is difficult because doing a film about magic - the problem is cinema is magic. People are so familiar with how the trick of cinema is done; they?re familiar with editing techniques and digital effects and all the rest of it. But to me the magic in the movie was less about how he does the tricks and more about the sense that nothing is what it seems. Again, coming into contact with something that blows your mind.?

The Tone of The Illusionist: There?s an otherworldly, fairy tale feel to the film and Burger says that?s what he was shooting for. ?Absolutely. Look, it?s set in 1900 Vienna, but to me it?s not your particular period piece. I wanted to be true to the time but not trapped by it. What I wanted, my goal was to have a movie and have it set in a realm of dream and mystery. That really was the tone I was after.?

Page 2:Neil Burger on Research and Casting The Illusionist