Director Derek Cianfrance takes on the true story of Jeffrey Manchester in Paramount Pictures' Roofman this October. In the ‘90s, Manchester was a United States Army Reserve member who struggled in life, which led to a life of crime. He became known as the “Rooftop Robber” Because he would drill through roofs to steal money from various locations, mainly focusing on the McDonald’s Corporation, where he was a previous employee.
After escaping from prison, he hitchhikes to North Carolina and lives inside a Toys “R” Us store. Things spiraled out of control as he attempted to create a normal life in unusual circumstances, as depicted in the film Roofman starring Channing Tatum.
Cianfrance has built an impressive resume over the years after making movies beginning at the age of 13 years old while growing up in Colorado. His range includes Blue Valentine, The Light Between Oceans and Sound of Metal.
The talented cinematographer sat down during a recent visit to Chicago to discuss his latest project.
JN: (Jerry Nunn) I worked at Toys “R” Us for five years. I knew there were cameras in the store because my manager rewound the tape when my cash register drawer was short and it was because I gave out the wrong change when I was distracted talking to a customer. Did you find an abandoned store to film in?
DC: (Derek Cianfrance) Yes, because there were no more free-standing Toys “R” Us stores in America. The one that Jeff lived in had become a megachurch. We couldn’t shoot in that one, so we found another one in Charlotte about 20 miles away in Pineville, North Carolina.
The first day we went in there, it was completely empty and a concrete cavernous void. Someone had stripped all of the copper from the electrical systems, so my production designer Inbal Weinberg had to rebuild everything from tiles, fluorescent lights, to shelving units, one at a time. We had to ship truckloads of toys from that time period, like Tickle Me Elmo dolls and candy. It took a lot of toys to fill it.
I wanted it to be a real location because I am not good as a filmmaker if I can’t shoot 180 degrees. I wanted to immerse myself and my actors in that world, so we created a whole toy store.
JN: That’s impressive.
DC: The real Jeff Manchester called me a few weeks ago and he hasn’t seen the movie, but saw the poster with Channing Tatum in his underwear. He wanted to know how I came up with the idea to put him in a floaty with a teddy bear around his neck. I told him that I was setting up a shot in the story and Channing came around the corner dressed like that. I pointed the camera at him and shot him. Jeff said that it made him happy because if someone lives in a toy store for six months, it connects them to their inner child, as it did for Channing.
JN: Speaking of what Channing is wearing…
DC: Or not wearing…
JN: Was the modesty sock involved at all?
DC: I never looked with my own eyes because, as a rule, when doing nudity or a sex scene, I never want to look at my actors because they are not there to perform for a crew. I only look at the monitor, so I only see what the monitor sees. You will have to ask Channing what he did for that. [both laugh]
JN: You brought out strong and natural performances from the players. What helped you to do this?
DC: First off, I love actors. As a filmmaker, I am nothing without my actors. I can write a script for four years and do all of the research, but it’s just an idea in my head at the end of the day. It doesn’t turn into reality until I have actors. I have the utmost respect and admiration for actors.
I used to make documentaries and I could always sniff the difference between faking it and telling the truth.
I encourage them to play, have fun and experiment. I hope the actors in my movies feel open and vulnerable. I would do anything for them and I think they will do anything for me.
JN: I was in Toronto for the International Film Festival there when it was screened. How was that for you?
DC: I have had a lot of great experiences up there. This was my fourth film in the festival in Toronto.
JN: There is a scene in Roofman where Channing is crying in church. I had a pastor tell me people are emotional from music because it’s like praying twice, once with the words and then with the melodies. How was filming that with Uzo Aduba singing?
DC: All of the church scenes we shot happened in the church where Jeff Manchester met Leigh Wainscott. I shot the film down in Charlotte with many of the real people in the movie. Pastor Ron plays the pawn shop owner. I was taken by all of the stories that Pastor Ron told me about that church.
He no longer runs the same church, but his church was very diverse. He would play pop music like The Beatles' song “Can’t Buy Me Love” then preach about capitalism and greed. I was really inspired by what I heard from him.
At one point, I asked him to tell me about the Bible and he said, “The Old Testament is all about judgment and the New Testament is about grace. My life tends toward grace.” It made me think about Jeff and how society had judged him harshly. I wanted the film to take the lead of Pastor Ron and see Jeff with more grace.
That church was huge for me because I wish Pastor Ron’s church were everywhere. It’s an idealistic version of what religion could be.
Uzo has her own background in religion and can really sing. I had no idea in the beginning that she could sing that well. This movie is a low-key Christmas movie. Those kinds of movies are all about nostalgia and about a return home. The theme of this movie is about finding a home. Christmas movies often take place in small towns and a magical event will happen that brings people together. This magical event is Jeff Manchester.
I love Christmas music and one of my favorite holiday songs is “No Room at the Inn” by Mahalia Jackson. Uzo came in to do a rehearsal of the song one day and I heard the ghost of Mahalia Jackson in her.
As I said, the Toys “R” Us store where Jeff lived is now a megachurch called Vision Church. I used the bandleader from that church to orchestrate the choir. It was an amazing group of people with angelic voices. You are right, when you sing religious songs or any music to God, it’s the greatest love songs ever.
It was a joy to be there and the energy was undeniable. I think people will feel that on the screen.
JN: Absolutely. Her background was musicals before Orange Is the New Black.
DC: I didn’t know that until I walked to her on Zoom one day. I told her she had to do that role!
JN: Do you have a favorite musical?
DC: My favorite movie musical is Singin’ in the Rain. It’s a masterpiece. How about you?
JN: I like The Sound of Music. Have you ever worked in fast food before?
DC: No, but I worked at Walmart.
JN: So you worked retail, too?
DC: Yes. I was the fastest checker in the history of Colorado Walmarts. I was also the Menswear Employee of the Month.
JN: Well, we have to take our awards where we can get them.
DC: Exactly.
JN: Roofman is a crowd pleaser. What reactions have you seen from people?
DC: It has been beautiful. I have made a series of heavy movies in my past. While there is some tragedy in this one, there is an equal part comedy and a most importantly, also warm. I took that warmth from these real-life characters that I met. The real-life Jeff is incredibly optimistic, charismatic and a loving person. The people in his life, from Pastor Ron to Leigh, are all amazing, graceful people.
In my real life, I have never met a hero or a villain. In movies, you see that all the time. There are people in the world who have good stuff and bad stuff in them, but usually it’s a mix of both. Jeff makes some bad choices, but what I was interested in was how this community could meet those bad choices with bigger grace and empathy. I think that’s why people respond to the movie so well.
We live in tough times out there. Everything is so divided and this movie is about being together again. There is a yearning for that.
JN: What is your next project going to be?
DC: It’s a television series called Muscle and it’s about bodybuilding. I have been trying to make it for 18 years and I have an interesting cast. I am in the middle of writing the second episode. Hopefully, I start shooting next year and it’s where I put all of my extra time when I am not on the promotional tour for Roofman.
Roofman climbs to new heights in theaters on Oct. 10, 2025.