Official "Flight" movie poster (courtesy of Paramount Pictures)

Denzel Washington plays Captain William Whitaker, a pilot who miraculously saves a plane from crashing. Although most consider him a hero, further investigations may cost him his life in prison. After finding alcohol in his system, the law must determine whether or not they will reward or punish a hero.

In an interview with Zemeckis, not only did the Flight director find the screenplay spectacular for audiences’ interest, but also found the visual images just as important for the viewers to enjoy.

He said, “So hopefully there are not effects for effects sake, but they are there to lend texture and power to the story.”

Zemeckis faced challenges producing effects in scenes. He revealed a scene in the film where Whitaker must invert the airplane in order to pull this airliner out of a dive and invert the whole aircraft.

“That was the trickiest to do both from a cinema standpoint and from a physical standpoint because we had to weld the airplane cabin on a gamble and turn all the passengers upside-down,” explained the director. “So that took a lot of design and planning to do correctly.”

The much anticipated film debuts at the New York Film Festival and Savannah Film Festival this month.  Zemeckis found the film rather relatable.

“It was a film that they connected with and it was something that they felt they wanted in their festival, so I assume that they thought it was good,” he said,” I’m very honored that they selected it.”

Zemeckis once stood where we stand today - a student at the University of Southern California. He entered USC as a film student hoping to direct one day. Today, The Robert Zemeckis Center stands as a digital training center to USC film and production students.

Like most USC film students, he found his time at the film school an enriching experience, “I think everything that I learned while I was a student at USC has found its way into all the films that I make.  And my film school education at USC was very crucial to my career and everything that I’ve done.”

Zemeckis wondered, what many students wonder when they graduate college, how do I make a career?

The director explained, “When I first got out of film school, I had an audience with George Lucas.  And I asked them that exact question,” He said, “How do I become a filmmaker—I mean, a film director, George?  How do I do it?  And he said, Somehow.”

He says students need to focus on a key tool in college in order to succeed in the entertainment industry, which is writing.

“Write, write, and write.  I mean, I don’t know if you’ve noticed there is a lack of good screenplays,” he said. “I think that is going to be the best calling card that anyone who’s interested in getting into the film industry can have is a really great screenplay in their possession.”

Zemeckis remarked excitement for the release of his next film and as far as what is to expect from the director, no one can say.

Like most filmmakers, he relies on creative inspirations and spur of the moments to decide what is to produce next, he said, “I don’t have any agenda - I feel like it’s putting the cart before the horse to suggest that.”

(Courtesy of Paramount Pictures)

Reach reporter Lauren Alvarez here. Follow her on here.