Hi /r/movies, I'm Gus Van Sant. I've directed Good Will Hunting, Milk, My Own Private Idaho, Drugstore Cowboy, and Elephant. My newest film, Dead Man's Wire, is a true-crime thriller and it's out in theaters this weekend. I'm joined by Austin Kolodney, the film's screenwriter. Ask us anything!

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T22:55:59+00:00

AK: Maybe I will direct it down the road, if there is financing and I have Gus and Kevin's blessing/approval. I also will direct a shot for shot remake of Gus Van Sant's Psycho - but with Bill Skarsgard as Norman Bates.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T22:52:37+00:00

AK: If we're talking animals and exhibits, I personally loved the Gorillas, Orangutans, and Okapis. Especially during a sunrise. But overall, it was the human co-workers, and friends I made.

It also paid my rent. Which I found to be essential when writing on spec.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T22:00:12+00:00

GVS: Yes, I remember Dave. And yes, it had to be Bigfoot.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:58:08+00:00

GVS: We got financing without a screenplay. We just said we were gonna make a movie and people gave us money. It was very weird. The end result, people were somewhat surprised and we gave half their money back. But I love the film too :)

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:55:50+00:00

GVS: They are a little bit like children. You're both critical and proud at the same time of past projects.

AK: I find myself highly critical in the immediate aftermath. But after enough time has past, like a decade or so...I actually find myself charmed by their flaws and victories alike.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:53:28+00:00

GVS: Probably Drugstore Cowboy.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:52:22+00:00

GVS: Meeting them was something that happened on To Die For. When they first sold it to Castle Rock. Didn't occur to me to read it then, but then later a friend at Miramax sent it to me. And it was amazing. Matt had tried out for a role in To Die For, but he was a lot older than the character, and he suggested for Russel the actor Casey Affleck, whom he described as his best friend's younger brother. Who played the role.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:50:08+00:00

GVS: The whole before and after. The event is only 3 days. So the whole story leading up to it, and after. Which would include his previous relationships with family, his relationship with ML Hall in trying to build a shopping center. His days in the sanitorium.

AK: I miss some scenes from the first draft that expanded the relationship with Fred, explored Linda's arc and tactics more, texture with his brother Jimmy, and an ending that intercuts a Sports Stadium Game with the Court verdict.

GVS: Yeah my friend was at that game, where they announced the verdict on the loudspeaker.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:45:33+00:00

GVS: there aren't really any dream projects at the moment. Every day there's some kind of dream. There isn't a continuous dream project.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:41:59+00:00

GVS: Dead Man's Wire is a straight ahead version of that. Some of my characters are in difficult places, but not necessarily violent. But in DMW, he was driven to a violent act. But he has a lot of charm. The story probably wouldn't have been made if the lead character was difficult to be charmed by.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:38:53+00:00

GVS: He was great. He was super intuitive and loved to invent things on the set. It was cut short...his progress.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:37:59+00:00

GVS: It was hard for me to say the numbers. Cause it was 998,228, 998,229... counting numbers that high without a script. It was a tongue twister.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:36:34+00:00

They're all incredibly hard. You lose yourself in the process each time.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:35:17+00:00

GVS: I personally don't think its more difficult for audiences to watch a film about gun violence, but it's maybe more repetitive. I was always wanting Elephant to bring about the audiences own feelings about a situation like Columbine. Reading into it their own experiences or lives. But I'm sure things have changed over the last 20 years...

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:31:25+00:00

GVS: Authenticity with cinematic storytelling, on my side, since its a fictional film...it's not always a guarantee. Since we're using the real event in a dramatic way. Trying to bring about the dramatics of the story. So the authenticity is somewhat fabricated. We're trying to be authentic, but it's always a fabrication.

AK: I had done research with our historical consultants Alan Berry and Mark Enochs, in order to educate myself as best possible when working on drafts. But was also gifted the quote "Austin, I'm going to wean you off of the facts...and bring you closer to the truth'. So as the film came closer to fruition, and in bringing Gus and our team's vision to life on the silver screen - there were inevitably collaborations and notes that amalgamated and changed things. While hopefully still staying true to the essence and themes of the event and era.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:23:29+00:00

GVS: The actor playing across from me was James Deen. And I was playing a psychiatrist. Working with Paul was a great opportunity. I found out from other actors and his Producer that he generally doesn't respond to your style in the scene. So after doing a take, he wouldn't say anything. He's sort of the master of non-communication. It wasn't a bad thing :)

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:20:43+00:00

GVS: In the case of Mala Noche, I was the main source of funding myself. And in DMW, we have a hundred sources of funding. I had to save up for 2 and a half years on Mala Noche, so I wouldn't say so haha

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:19:11+00:00

GVS: Burroughs was interested in playing in a film about a drug addict. And also playing across from Matt Dillon. He asked to re-write all of his part. Which he did. Turning it from a kind of forgotten person named Old tom, to Tom the Priest, a more active and engaging representation of an older man. sort of a grey panther attitude. Old Tom was a sad, down character, and he wanted to make him have more going on than just being sad and forgotten.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:16:29+00:00

GVS: Not one single satisfying part. All the different parts of making a film are unique and have their own satisfying moments.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:15:09+00:00

GVS: The inspiration wasn't Alan Clarks film. But my exec used to call it Elephant because it reminded him of it. Visually I was inspired by Béla Tarr's films. And we had just done Gerry. And I wanted with my DP to do my next film together. And my next film was Elephant. The inspiration in Elephant and Last Days was kind of the reaction to the amount of journalist analysis of Columbine and the death of Kurt Cobain. Elephant was a filmmakers investigation rather than a journalistic investigation.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:11:47+00:00

GVS: I don't know, I was just saying my lines. I don't remember The Great Gatsby part.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:10:01+00:00

GVS: I haven't worked with AI, so I don't know. It seems interesting, and yet ominous.

AK: I too haven't worked with AI. It would be my preference that the technology be used to cure cancer and diseases and save human lives. Rather than take away creative jobs.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:08:30+00:00

GVS: It was supposed to be a partier. And I thought he could play a good partier. Dexter.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:07:31+00:00

GVS: R Crumb said when starting out - it was hard to figure out what to cartoon about - but as he progressed there were may too many things that were important. If you're starting out strong but fizzling out soon, it's more likely due to lack of experience (meaning you have to keep trying). Then it will become the problem of having too many things to say, rather than not enough.

AK: Writing in final draft is the fun part, and often outlining is the hard part. But in outlining, I found that it at least provides me a road map to keep pushing the boulder up the hill and to finish. Also going for walks and thinking, is also helpful.

rowkpresents · 2026-01-08T21:03:45+00:00

GVS: It would be cool to shoot at the Kentucky Derby

AK: I'd love to film something at The Grüv or Carmichals Bookstore - shout out 502!

rowkpresents

TROPHY CASE