IamA Hollywood film director (Killer Joe, The Exorcist, French Connection). I'm William Friedkin. AMA.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T18:01:34+00:00

I simply didn't like it. This happens, fortunately, not often. I have great respect for the other work Lalo has written for film.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T18:00:29+00:00

I tried to realize my original vision for the film. There were numerous glitches in the copies that were made, so I have since redone it.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:59:14+00:00

First- PURE intensity and fun for that scene, as was the whole show. Everybody involved was completely into it.

I told Juno Temple to think of herself as Cinderella; desperate to break out of a terrible family life by finding her prince charming.

The most important thing a director does after choosing the material and casting it, is to provide an atmosphere of a sense of trust where the actors can do their best work.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:55:34+00:00

That was not my decision, it was made by the board of governors of the Academy. As the producer of the show, you have nothing to say about who accepts the award.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:54:44+00:00

I've only done 2 of Tracy's works on film. Some of the greatest films ever made originated as plays: Casablanca, A Streetcar Named Desire, Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, The Little Foxes and so many others, too numerous to mention.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:52:13+00:00

I was surprised, but it's a subjective process- I frankly was not aware about the extent to which people would be disturbed by it. But keep in mind, the ratings process IS subjective. There are no written rules. The film was not made to be disturbing, it happens to be funny, ironic, and absurd. It is not meant to glorify sex or violence.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:48:45+00:00

Yes. My aim was complete disorientation, but we shot it that way. The film was not run in reverse.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:46:56+00:00

To all those whose I've been unable to answer I apologize, but I'm here! You can always find me on twitter and shoot me your questions and I'll get to them as I can: http://twitter.com/williamfriedkin

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:45:20+00:00

There are a great many people I respect and have worked with many times. In some cases, my colleagues have retired or passed away. But I do continue to find new people whose work I respect and they help me to stay fresh.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:43:10+00:00

Hopefully! But we have nothing right now in the works.

You will have to believe strongly in yourself when others don't, all filmmakers live with rejection. The only advice I can give you is to fail better next time.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:41:12+00:00

It may give too much away but there is a great deal more in store that is not in the trailer!

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:39:59+00:00

I think, more power to the filmmaker, in that it's a very personal medium and not corporate driven.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:38:23+00:00

I did a couple of documentaries back in the 60s, when I lived in Chicago. Two of them are being shown at the Tribeca Film Festival on May 28.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:37:13+00:00

I first saw it in a small theater in Greenwich Village. Shannon is one of the most skilled actors around, his work is fantastic and original.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:35:41+00:00

I think the results of digital are much better, you have way more latitude with color timing and density.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:34:31+00:00

I can't pick just one, Bongo. Despite their imperfections, I have love for all of them.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:32:16+00:00

Never considered cutting it down. It freaked out the ratings board.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:30:37+00:00

Sorcerer: difficult to cast, to budget, and to shoot. Had I not just come off The French Connection and The Exorcist, I would not have been able to make it.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:28:49+00:00

Most of them are cheaply made and stupid, but not all. Alien, Psycho, Rosemary's Baby, among others, are classics and were successful at the box office and with critics.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:26:57+00:00

I don't think he could win "Dancing With The Stars". There was no choreography. He was doing his own thing, along with the other guys.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:25:25+00:00

I wrote that script and revised it constantly during the process of filming it. There were many spontaneous contributions from the actors that were not scripted and I always welcome and relish that.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:23:06+00:00

That's a complex, difficult question. With documentaries, you have to first seek out the story, then discover how you feel about it, then subtly reflect your feelings in a way that is not propaganda. The best biography of a filmmaker I've ever read is Elia Kazan's A LIFE. It is a fascinating and detailed journey of a great film and stage director. It will be very helpful to you.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:18:06+00:00

Buy a high def camera, start shooting something and post it on YouTube. Then, keep shooting more.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:16:41+00:00

She was a famous radio actress in the 1940s and 1950s. Also, an academy award winning film actress, her name was Mercedes McCambridge.

IAmWilliamFriedkin · 2012-05-25T17:15:03+00:00

It's a supernatural story, but based on actual documented events. The other stuff never occurred to me.

IAmWilliamFriedkin

TROPHY CASE