If 'formulaic' is somebody who is unlikely to succeed starting down a process and succeeding - then isn't that what most films are about? And art films are about people who aren't likely to succeed and then don't succeed.
That's the greatest sin a director can commit; to make a film simply because he wants to make a film.
I have this theory that your first film is always your best film in some way. I always try to get back to that moment when you're not relying on things you've done before.
I love acting, every job is a dream job when you're an actor. I'd like to do eventually more film work and to collaborate with the best actors and directors in film.
When 'Mulholland Dr.' was voted the Best Film of the Decade, that was very meaningful for me. That film opened up incredible doors for me, and I believe that that was the reason I was given opportunities to play all kinds of characters.
I don't pay much attention to the press. My films always get good reviews and bad reviews. I just try to make the best film I can.
The best thing I can think of would be to create a union between something as beautiful and powerful and wonderful as Hollywood films and a criticism of the status quo. That's my dream, to make such a German film.
I go through phases when I've been filming where I wake up in the middle of the night and I think I'm being filmed.
If you are going to do a film about the South Pole, the chances are that you will film it in Hawaii! Whatever is most difficult, you will get to do it.
The director is the only person on the set who has seen the film. Your job as a director is to show up every day and know where everything will fit into the film.
In Quebec, we're less inhibited artistically, culturally, politically. We're less focused on box office and comparing our films to the American films.
Whereas European films have traditionally been able to go into adult relationships. I think there's a huge audience in America for those kinds of films.
Harvey Weinstein bought our film, and he's an animal. He's got us out there campaigning and everything because honestly it's a silent black-and-white film.
Nobody got Punk'd and he was still in his season for that show when we were filming. So the kids were very aware that it was filming and that was his show and they were very much on the lookout for that.
I still think like a critic, and I still analyze films like a critic. However, it's not possible to write criticism if you're making films.
Normally as a director, you do look at other films and things that are relevant. But with this film, it became impossible because I became so aware of the camera placement.
I'm like most people. We just concentrate on the present. I live right where the film is going through the film projector and it hits the light.
If I wasn't a film-maker, I'd be a film critic. It's the only thing I'd be qualified to do.
Eventually, in '84, we made a film for a little over a million dollars - with American actors that was shot in English - that was shown in Finland A little action film called Born American.
I've never looked at film-making as a career. I've looked on film-making as an adventure. When you come down the mountain, you get ready to climb again.
Who says that big-budget films are safer than mid-range films? In terms of return on investment, I'd rather have 'Sling Blade' and 'Shine' than 'Volcano.'
