Bright Lights Film Journal

From the editor and writers of Bright Lights Film Journal

Action! Interviews with Directors from Classical Hollywood to Contemporary Iran
(Anthem Art and Culture), by Gary Morris (Editor), Bert Cardullo (Introduction), Jonathan Rosenbaum (Foreword). London and New York: Anthem Press, 2009.

"I dare anyone to squeeze between two covers a more varied, useful and flat out entertaining sampling of the personalities that make the seventh art the liveliest."
— David Hudson, IFC.com

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Damon Smith

New York, NY, USA

Damon Smith is a New York-based writer and regular contributor to the Boston Globe. His articles have appeared in Time Out New York, Senses of Cinema, The Boston Phoenix, and elsewhere.

» Just Say Oui: an Interview with the Yes Men (BLFJ 66 – November 2009)

"I'm shitting bricks, thinking he's onto me."

» Books: Michael Winterbottom, (BLFJ 65 – August 2009)

by Brian McFarlane and Deane Williams

» Return of the Obsessed: James Toback Steps into the Ring Again with Tyson (BLFJ 64 – May 2009)

"And then he said, 'It's like a Greek tragedy. The only problem is, I'm the subject.'"

» The Last Mistress: An Interview with Catherine Breillat (BLFJ 62 – November 2008)

"When I make movies, nothing is limited."

» Think Globally, Role-play Locally: On Olivier Assayas' Thriller Boarding Gate (BLFJ – August 2008)

"Its failures are what make it so watchable."

» The Kids Are Not All Right: Larry Clark on Wassup Rockers and More (BLFJ 61 – August 2008)

"For me it was like, How do I manipulate this kid so he can do this and he's comfortable?, which is all part of directing."

» A Quiet Storm: Charles Burnett on Namibia and His Post-Killer of Sheep Career (BLFJ 60 – May 2008)

"Each film requires for me its own approach."

» Rebel, Rebel: Gregg Araki Reflects on The Living End and His Totally F***ed Up Career at Sundance 2008 (BLFJ 59 – February 2008)

"My whole thing, all my life, was march to your own drummer."

» Made in China: Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky on Their Travels Across Manufactured Landscapes (BLFJ 58 – November 2007)

On Black Book and his recent Hollywood defection

» Back to Basics: Talking to Paul Verhoeven (BLFJ 57 – August 2007)

On Black Book and his recent Hollywood defection

» Our Time of Troubles: Ken Loach on War, Irish History, and The Wind That Shakes the Barley (BLFJ 56 – May 2007)

"But I was accused of enjoying walking up and down the red carpet! Their rage knew no bounds."

» Spirit in the Dark: Barbara Kopple on Filming the Group That Wouldn't Shut Up & Sing (BLFJ 55 – February 2007)

"Just put your sneakers on and go. Go on the journey."

» Reflecting the Theoretical Beyond: The Quay Brothers Talk About Art, Life, and The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes (BLFJ 55 – February 2007)

"It's hard to be intuitive when you've got 42 crew behind you and they're like, 'Look, they don't know what to do here. They're panicking, look at them!'"

» Acts of Revenge — Director Park Chan-wook Discusses Lady Vengeance and More (BLFJ 53 – August 2006)

Grand Guignol, Korean style

» Thinking (and Talking) It Through: Arnaud Desplechin and Kings and Queen I (BLFJ 49 – August 2005)

"Is there anything more dazzling than the possible?"

» The Human (Tragi)Comedy: Talking to Arnaud Desplechin (BLFJ 49 – August 2005)

Of Kings and Queen and other subjects