MG: Yeah, exactly. So to me, that’s exciting. And the way that that those are going to be distributed – you may not be able to distribute them mass market, but as bandwidth and the computers get faster, you might end up with a lot of nice short-subject films traded back-and-forth on computers.
Much like podcasting, I think you’ll find a situation that really allows people to work through and build a book of work that they can really start to capitalize on.
EB: I’ve been absolutely fascinated by the first episode of Project Greenlight, which is being shown on Bravo. That’s the Matt Damon and Ben Affleck project…
MG: They’re doing a horror film this year, right?
EB: Yeah, and it’s just amazing because it goes into how hard it is to make a good film in Hollywood, with how many barriers there are. How it almost happens by accident.
MG: Had you seen the previous two Project Greenlights?
EB: I have not. I’d like to very much though.
MG: Both the movies turned out to be… no good. [laughs] But it was fun to watch.
EB: Right. Who’s the best director that most people have never heard of?
MG: I’m going to answer that a little differently. I think Sam Peckinpah is the best director that none of my friends have ever heard of. And I know that anybody that knows anything about films is going to say, “Hey, wait a minute, everybody’s heard of that guy.”
But the one thing that you really seem to find out is the difference between the people who enjoy movies and people that love movies. I am constantly amazed at how many people haven’t seen some of the films that seem to be ingrained in pop culture. “Mine goes to eleven…” There’s a lot of people who laugh at that but who have never seen [This is] Spinal Tap.
To me, what I like is to talk about a film like Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia. I get a lot of e-mails saying, “I think I heard of that film once,” or “I’ve never heard of that film. I saw it, I loved it, I’m so glad you pointed me to it.”
Another one is Samuel Fuller. That’s a name that probably very few people today even know who that is. And he’s got some tremendous films. Obviously, you can go down arcane little corridors and come up with people that nobody’s ever heard of! But I like the fact that I introduce people to films and directors in which the product is easily available.
Article comments
1 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
great stuff Eric, excellent. Your interviews are compulsive reading, is the truth of the matter. And thank you for introducing me to this reel reviews chancer, who i will inspect.
And hilariously enough, i was hollering his quotes before he was pointing out the truth of the matter.
i.e. "What you mean no-ones heard of Peckinpah!!"
oh, yeah...
"what you mean no-ones heard of Fuller!!"
oh, yeah...
"what you mean no-ones seen the conversation!!!!"
oh, yeah...
and so on and so fourth.
I think he underestimates thew availibility of foreign flicks in this new ultra DVD age. Certainly Hirsohmia... should'nt be at all hard to get hold of.
But then i'm thinking from a UK perspective, i guess.
whatever, great stuff, as ever.
2 - Eric Berlin
Duke - Thanks as always -- I can rest easy knowing that I've reached at least one person!
I get the feeling that Geoghegan wants the films he talks about to be "accessible" in more ways than one: physically getable, and also films that could potentially be enjoyed by a modern, mass audience. Therefore, I'm guessing it would be difficult for a regular bloke such as myself to get immersed in Hiroshima, Mi Amor.
3 - denise
Reel Reviews is DA BOMB! I try to listen to all of Michael Geoghegan's podcasts. I learn a lot from them.
I put The Conversation on my Netflix list as well. :)
4 - Eric Berlin
Denise -- Great to see another podcasting / Reel Reviews fan in the house.
Look out for a few upcoming interviews with super podcasting people. Just met up with Lance Anderson today of Verge of the Fringe, and have another one with a great writer and new podcaster coming up this week.