WHERE DO YOU WRITE FROM?
My desk--which transforms into my drawing space when I feel like sketching, and into my library when I run out of time to clean it. The truth is, I kinda like the clutter.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO WRITE ABOUT MOVIES?
It's more like who made me want to write about movies. In this order: Steven Spielberg, Andre Bazin, Christian Metz, Andrew Sarris, J. Hoberman, Pauline Kael, Steven Spielberg. And now, an explanation for the circularity: As a kid, Raiders of the Lost Ark stoked my interest in movies, simply because I couldn't find the same degree of excitement anywhere else. I ended up writing every open-ended high school paper assignment on the medium, which lead to my sudden discovery of film theory. Several year of elitism followed, causing me to turn my nose up at anything remotely populist or devoid of subtitles. I've since returned to Earth (although I never lost my fascination with avant garde cinema). Writing about the bloated arena of American pop culture is just as enticing as studying more eccentric forms of creative expression, and I've learned that it's important not to champion one over the other unless you really know your stuff.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE GENRE?
Depending on my mood: Classic Hollywood romantic comedies, horror, independent animation, classic studio animation and American Jewish cinema.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MOVIES?
Brazil, Cemetery Man, I Walked with a Zombie, Sullivan's Travels, Stroszek, Dumbo, F For Fake, The Jazz Singer, Touch of Evil, Dr. Strangelove, Life of Brian, Les Cousin, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Manhattan, City Lights.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE DIRECTORS?
Woody Allen, Frank Capra, Steven Spielberg, Preston Sturges, David Cronenberg, Jonas Mekas, Orson Welles, Stanley Kubrick, George Miller, Todd Haynes, Roman Polanski, Sidney Lumet, Val Lewton/Jacques Torneur,
Chuck Jones. Also, Barbara Loden, if she'd made more stuff.
WHAT'S THE CRAZIEST COMMENT YOU'VE EVER GOTTEN?
"Are you a hipster?" --Ditzy out-of-towner visiting New York for the first time, sitting across the table from me in Soho
WHAT ARE THE BEST PERKS OF THIS GIG?
Allowing the thrill of movies to become externalized, forever contained in the written word. Also, seeing stuff for free is nice.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT WRITING FOR CINEMATICAL?
Engaging with a readership, rather than looking down my nose at them from an ivory tower that doesn't exist. God bless democracy, if not this great nation.
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