Alex Winter
I'm one of the few people who really like Eyes Wide Shut.
I'm not trying to be some kind of underground renegade.
I'm not saying it isn't frustrating that my films haven't gotten a bigger release, but I'm really happy with them and if you just keep cranking and eventually, if you have a certain sensibility, some of your movies will hit and some just won't.
I'm kind of happy to say I make weird movies - that part of it I'm really proud of.
I'm a huge Solaris fan. It's one of the greatest movies of all time and I don't see why anyone should remake it.
I'm a huge Python fan.
I think my first and foremost advice is to have a very realistic understanding of what making movies is; how much work it is, how unglamorous it is, how much tenacity you have to have.
I think movies are good for getting into dream states or exploring weird alternate states of thinking.
I think it's the greatest art form in the world, so I'm always encouraging to people.
I think filmmakers want their movies to be seen.
I take a lot from everywhere. I take from music, architecture, novels, and plays. Anywhere that hits you.
I really love sort of classical cinema where people were telling stories with very little dialogue, and people were using the camera in a really interesting way.
I mean, there are certain Spielberg movies I really like, but clearly they're very different directors and I much prefer Kubrick to Spielberg.
I like Kubrick a lot, Coppola, Lynch - I guess my favorite modern director is David Lynch.
I just like movies that somehow expose the world in a way that's different than you imagine it.
I get very driven by certain themes and ideas.
I direct a lot of TV commercials and music videos.
I actually did use to sell shoes.
Hitchcock had to fight to the death to make his movies.
Coppola has problems getting financing, so why should I not have problems getting financing.