Exclusive Q&A: Producer Tim Kirk talks Room 237 and The Shining

The Shining has been considered one of the top horror movies for decades now, but there seems to be an increased interest in both the book and the film. Stephen King has written a sequel to The Shining that will be released later this year, Warner Bros. is working on a prequel to Stanley Kubrick's film, and a documentary was recently released that looked at possible hidden meanings in the movie.

I recently had a chance to conduct a Q&A with Room 237 producer Tim Kirk, who told me about his first experience with The Shining, and his work on the documentary:

Can you tell me about your first experience watching The Shining? Why has the movie stuck with you so many years later?

Tim Kirk: The Shining was the first Kubrick film I saw in a theater. I had seen and loved most of his other films by then. I saw it at a matinee show at Grauman’s Chinese in Hollywood. A friend with the beginning of a beard bought us tickets and we snuck in. When it was over, they threw the doors open at the back of the theater and the shadows of the people filing out played on the screen. As you know, the sound under the credits is of people at a party, talking and drinking. My mind was scrambling for answers so I thought this was all still part of the film.

How did the idea for Room 237 come about and why did you think it was worth turning into a full-length feature?

Tim Kirk: For several months in my daughters’ infancy, she could only sleep if I was rocking her in my arms. During this time, I finished the internet. Late one night, I found a mind-blowing theory about The Shining. I sent it to Rodney and the phone rang 10 minutes later. We started talking and the film just grew from there.

Do you believe all of these theories mentioned in Room 237 were intended by Kubrick? Which theory do you think is most likely true?

Tim Kirk: As we were researching the film, we found so many theories. When I first read each of the theories featured in Room 237, there was a moment of revelation mixed with fear when I discovered I was believing them. We tried to capture that in the film.

What were some of the theories that didn't make the cut?

Tim Kirk: People really need to read the Mstrmnd’s work on this subject. It is dense and intense. Also, Rob Ager out of the UK has been writing about this film and others for a long time now.

Now that the film has been seen around the world, have any new theories come up that you find particularly interesting?

Tim Kirk: In every country that the film has played, someone has come up after the screening with an idea or theory. Like our interviewees, these people are intelligent, passionate and engaged. I like people like that!

Have you received feedback on the movie from anyone involved with The Shining? What did they have to say?

Tim Kirk: We haven’t had any direct feedback from anyone involved in the making of The Shining. From the very start, Rodney and I were clear that we wanted to focus on what happens to a film after it leaves the filmmaker’s hands. So we rigorously avoided contacting anyone involved in the production. Now that’s all done, I’d love to hear from Jack Nicholson about that Playgirl!!

Now that you're done with Room 237, is there any interest in tackling some of Kubrick's other films? Are there any other movies in general that you'd like to take a similar approach to?

Tim Kirk: It’s hard to imagine another filmmaker whose films we could spend 3 years thinking about 14 hours a day. Maybe David Lynch. John Ford? Of the Kubrick films, the real comer in the world of emerging theories is EYES WIDE SHUT. There is a ton of new thinking and writing going on about that film right now.

---------

Room 237 is currently available on VOD and digital download services. Visit the links below to check out our recent coverage of the documentary:

• Review
• Posters
• New Trailer