Robert Eggers | BAFTA Screenwriters’ Lecture Series

[@baftaguru]

Have you watched The Lighthouse yet?

[@anthonymartensen3164]

I love it. But I can understand if people don't get it 😉

[@stephenburnage7687]

Worst movie ever

[@willreznicek4202]

@@stephenburnage7687 Have you only watched two movies in your life?

[@stephenburnage7687]

@@willreznicek4202 No. And what a dumb question.

[@willreznicek4202]

@@stephenburnage7687 Why bother trolling a movie you despise by commenting on a fucking BAFTA hour long talk?

[@CWRardin]

I wish there was a way to buy stock in Robert Eggers.

[@marv1264]

@@TheodoreGrevers-bg3zw Unfortunately A24 is a privately owned company. I definitely would've bought stocks if they were a public company.

[@assassin51000]

Samual literally the one way looooool

[@chopin65]

@@TheodoreGrevers-bg3zw Don't laugh. This kid has a future.

[@CPUAlexis]

Pretty sure that’s just called being a producer.

[@franmartinez3317]

@@CPUAlexis You produce a movie, not a director.

[@burpie3258]

"The Witch can't just appeal to people who are alive in the 1630s and The Lighthouse can't just appeal to people who are alive in the 1890s because there's not enough graveyard screenings for that to be profitable" I love his sense of humour.

[@chopin65]

It's like being present at the beginning of Kubrick's career. He is an amazing talent.

[@logan_nowicki]

I'm excited to see where Robert Eggers, Alex Garland, and Sean Baker go in the next 10 years. With the right funding they are in line to make some great master pieces

[@reyesjr.5987]

@@logan_nowicki Don't forget Ari Aster and maybe Damien Chazelle

[@logan_nowicki]

@@reyesjr.5987 for sure. I'm ijterested to see where Aster goes with horror. He's not much of a slasher/jump scare sort of guy so I'm not sure where he will fit in to the big blockbuster horror films

[@poopmaster6952]

Logan Nowicki well the few jumpscares in Hereditary gave me a heart attack lmao

[@rifway22]

More like bergman

[@matthewsnyder674]

All this time he's detailing his process I can't help but think... *Why'd ye spill yer beans...*

[@Brind-amour]

Hahaha! 😄

[@one_man_community]

@@Brind-amour HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@josefacundo6140]

Just made me spit out my drink. 10 out of 10 comment!

[@XYouVandal]

Robert Eggers is the chosen one that can bring "Blood Meridian" to the screen.

[@jadenwaz9585]

wow actually yes

[@prestondaniels3890]

Plenty of other directors are capable of that feat

[@howiespancakeshack]

No.

[@erickbolden2584]

Brah

[@manasbansal7946]

Willem Dafoe deserved the Oscar more than Brad Pitt

[@eminemisthegoat2466]

Manas Bansal a million times over.

[@devanshkamdar5442]

Yep

[@NeroWalker]

@@LancasterDodd well better than jokers performance let's be honest..

[@garydubbbz4557]

thisX100

[@bigstunna2049]

Definitely

[@blakeandcamp]

One the best directors working today. Two films and they're both masterpieces. Can't wait to see what he does with The Northman.

[@jamesbradley8290]

Me too. An incredible talent being boosted by a great studio.

[@renancsampa]

IMAGINE the historical accuracy depicting the armors, clothing and weaponry of the early middle ages, pre-christian scandinavians so juicy

[@alexsunsin]

He is a master. No one can deny that.

[@MM-jc7uv]

The Witch was pretty good but I wouldn’t call it a masterpiece. Great debut, The Lighthouse on the other hand was incredible and I’m looking forward to the Northman

[@_femto_101]

@Cooper the time has come

[@sidework1]

A24 must be treating Eggers & Aster like thier Kobe & Lebron

[@pranavk3418]

Also safdie brothers

[@darnellsimpson3826]

As they should. Eggers, Aster, and the Safdies attention to detail and story telling are on a completely different level.

[@fugu_3467]

*they're sorry... it's been lonely down here

[@god47398]

god what if they teamed up man

[@xixie5854]

@@god47398 the films they make are too different. Would be worse than them working in solo projects.

[@durden2480]

He’ll definitely win best director one day. Like that award matters anymore

[@joshuafletcher4501]

Reef2480 you didn’t think Bong Joon Ho deserved it?

[@CipherSerpico]

Joshua Fletcher That’s not what he/she said. The award *doesn’t* mean anything anymore. It never really did, but it means even less now. Like everything else, it’s become over politicized, politically correct nonsense. Parasite did deserve the awards it got, but it still probably would’ve gotten those awards if it didn’t deserve it.

[@quasifunk]

@@CipherSerpico dumbest comment I've seen in a while

[@omarlittl3]

@@quasifunk lol, he is right. you mind explaining your point of view?

[@risavsahu4666]

@@quasifunk Way to become hostile without making any sense yourself whatsoever. Clearly you're the dumb one here

[@jackd.ripper1489]

Bad luck to kill a seabird.

[@ba6561]

Why?

[@anshulbhandari9870]

@@ba6561 watch the film

[@ba6561]

@@anshulbhandari9870 nooo youre supposed to say ENNEMS THE SOULS OF SAILORS!

[@anshulbhandari9870]

@@ba6561 what?

[@ba6561]

@@anshulbhandari9870 in the movie dafoe says bad luck to kill a seabaird! And robert pattinson asks why and dafoe says innems the souls of sailors!

[@dorkle9085]

As a screenwriter, this man inspires me to write. And write BETTER. To make me research, masterpiece writer and director!

[@GG-yp6kd]

Wrote anything you like since this comment?

[@dorkle9085]

@@GG-yp6kd What the hell was I on back then when I wrote this comment, still like his movies but I wasn't anything close to a screenwriter

[@gerunkwon2598]

Massive thanks to his brother for pushing for the seagulls. They were one of the best parts of the film.

[@vicaldama9314]

He's humble too! We need artist like this .

[@fhowland]

Within two minutes it’s apparent that this man is extremely intelligent. It’s so exciting to think that he’s only at the beginning of his career.

[@jameswatts6464]

I'm so happy knowing there's people like this making cinema, a genuine talent that will become one of the greats

[@tmsskits]

The man is a genius. The Lighthouse is an underground gem and will become a classic in the future

[@NickSmith-qv4lh]

underground?

[@MoviesandGameslover]

It already is a classic, it just need it's time to be known by many

[@ericrenquist6494]

@@NickSmith-qv4lh Yes. I had to go to a small indie theater to see it because it wasn't playing at any of the commercial theaters in the state.

[@NickSmith-qv4lh]

@@ericrenquist6494 they sold copies of it at Walmart dude it's not underground lmao.

[@ericrenquist6494]

@@NickSmith-qv4lh You're right. I mean, maybe it's not 'selling homemade copies outside the gas station' underground, but it's a lower budget indie.

[@bluesroad9606]

He will be on the greatest directors of this generation!

[@AGoodJoe]

The Lighthouse was the best film of the last year and at the very least deserved more attention.

[@ryandeshazo]

Parasite was amazing, but I agree The Lighthouse and Midsommar deserved some more recognition. Although I would say they are both very successful regardless.

[@andree2449]

Uncut gems was a beast of a movie too!

[@mxyzptlk...]

Can't wait for his next film!

[@UncannyValleyVideos]

I've been reading The Lighthouse screenplay while listening to the soundtrack.

[@8ballstreet]

And drinking kerosene mixed with honey I assume?

[@ericrenquist6494]

That's a good idea.

[@ETAFan]

Janus Poulsen neat fact. I thought the first few times I watched it they were drinking kerosine and honey. On my fourth or fifth play through I paused on the label of that pail they were drinking out of and it was actually labeled turpentine. I guess turpentine mixed with honey is an old recipe by loggers to get drunk/high, which makes sense because Ephraim made it.

[@dorkle9085]

You better have been eating lobster lad.

[@UncannyValleyVideos]

@@kanirudh4249 I actually found a PDF online: a24awards.com/film/thelighthouse/THE_LIGHTHOUSE_script.pdf

[@RADFLIKINCRRQT13]

Eggers has quickly become one of my favorite new filmmakers. I liked how he got pretty in depth on his book report style approach to writing and crafting his stories. And his thorough research and dedication to historical accuracy seems to be getting a positive response from a ton of big name, talented actors, which is very exciting and must be so pleasing to Robert. I really can not wait to see what Eggers can do next and look very much forward to seeing him grow as an artist and auteur style filmmaker. It's been said a few times in interviews about his work, that his movies give you a sense of memories, that we never knew we had.

[@myself989]

He is brilliant. The moderator was out of her depth so we didnt get the answers to so many great questions that I expected she would ask this guy. He's a great resource for young film makers but BAFTA blew the Q & A

[@MrNewRevolutionary]

I dont wanna be mean to her but she kinda sucked

[@snocoldman]

99% of people would be out of their depth when faced with Robert. Clearly he is meticulous to an almost unmatched standard. I give her respect for even trying, especially with how nervous she was. She even did a good job paraphrasing certain points he was making. I think due to the way Robert writes and directs there will ALWAYS be that one really good question worth asking that was missed.

[@builtforsins]

He is amazingly talented. Cannot wait for his next film.

[@outsideofadream]

I get why he wishes he could have shot The Witch on film, but man, he and Jarin Blaschke made fantastic use of digital's high dynamic range to bring out all the minute details and gradients of shadow that immerse you in the characters' perspectives. Best example is when Caleb comes across the witch in the woods, and the half-light of dusk subtly obscures her features in a way you couldn't quite get on celluloid. Just a blast to hear him talk about this stuff in depth.

[@reubencanningfinkel5922]

By's I tell you we are living in the greatest era of movies, ever. Period. Even A24's roster speaks to this fact: Villeneuve, Robespierre, Glazer, Shelton, Garland, Lanthimos, Kwan.Scheinhart, Arnold, Jenkins, Safdie Brothers..not to mention my two main yeeets Eggers and Aster. Thank you! Thank you film! Thank!

[@SherryNiles1312]

Reuben Canning Finkel yes there are also a lot of non white directors that also make gold

[@jello4479]

@@SherryNiles1312 lol go away

[@rainpeopleperson]

saddens me that people think a24 is the pinnacle of contemporary cinema

[@ibrahimal-rouqaishi5280]

@@SherryNiles1312 Berry Jenkins isn't white though

[@reubencanningfinkel5922]

@@rainpeopleperson why? what other production companies are there like them?

[@markvito746]

I love this guy so modest so easy going love the shots of him Rob and Willem on the set . You can see purely that he is extremely passionate about his projects and knows how to project it with zero fault

[@ScottSullivanTV]

9:16-9:31 Really, audience? That didn't make ANYONE laugh?

[@VijemaVati]

Dark humor is like food, not everyone gets it

[@thebigshep]

@@VijemaVati that's a good one

[@jasondavidcox]

I laughed!

[@ksksk7052]

@@VijemaVati oof!

[@davidbjacobs3598]

This is super useful. I'm writing a period script right now in an unusual dialect, and he makes it sound so doable. Would love to see all the material he had while writing The VVitch. I'm genuinely surprised to hear how much he doesn't like The VVitch, and that there wasn't originally supposed to be a central protagonist. I tend to be very hyper-focused on perspective, so it's cool to see that differing opinion.

[@carsstuffchannel8576]

Are you open to collaborating With an amateur filmmaker? I’m looking for something immersive & period that I could shoot…

[@davidbjacobs3598]

@@carsstuffchannel8576 If you have funding, I'd be open to discussing. Otherwise, I prefer to direct my scripts myself.

[@Toto69584]

He's fond of me lobster, I seen it

[@dorkle9085]

Yer fond of me lobster!

[@nickl9317]

On a more useful note both his final scripts for the Witch and the Lighthouse are available on scriptslug for free and I highly recommend reading them after seeing the films to better understand the process it took to transpose the words to the screen.

[@TheMoviecritic2010]

It's nice to see how humble of a guy he is.

[@impactfulfilms]

Robert Eggers is 2 for 2 with his films. I’m happy to have seen them. He’s becoming one of my favourites along with Ari Aster and Jordan Peele.

[@bencarlson4300]

And now he’s 3 for 3

[@annakay421]

I adore the honesty. Simple as that.

[@moze_-]

God I love the sound of that foghorn. Perfect atmosphere.

[@zleepydude224]

so inspiring. what a humble dude

[@SOLRAY1123]

Only complaint I have is I wish the interview was longer

[@blackphillipppp]

Eggers is the Greatest Thing to happen to cinema in a very long time! imo

[@TheRealMacCabbe]

Mr. Eggers, thank you for sharing your thoughts. Please keep on filming!

[@stephenburnage7687]

Please dont make any more movies like this

[@brandon_Larsen]

Let Neptune Strike Ye Dead @@stephenburnage7687 HAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRK! (THUNDER CLAP)

[@atticuspappin2504]

Hey, Dave Eggers here (using my friends account as i’m locked out of mine). Thank you so much for your comment. Reading itreally made a difference to me as, in spite of my first three critically acclaimed films being lauded as masterpieces and the industry regarding me as the most exciting new director working today , i was seriously considering quitting directing. Even though i’m allowed total creative control while getting rich doing what i love i was about to apply for a job as an accountant. Thank you random commenter, your comment changed my life. Would you like to co-direct my next feature film?

[@kerrybruce760]

Amazing creative force to create such a beautiful, gorgeous and lovely black and white cinematic artwork. I loved the beautifully crafted script with so many twists and turns. There’s a true beauty in the simplistic way that it’s just two very different characters and actors that trade these amazing dialogue set into this awesome mythos that is rare to ever see much anymore. Very Hitchcockian, very cinematically gorgeous that reminded me of like a Nosferatu silent film made amazing in black and white that makes you really feel. This is a film that makes you appreciate cinematic beauty. Thank you Mr Eggars! Please make more like this!

[@sabrinakrisb4672]

Love what he says about reading history in order to understand what's happening today.

[@MrZabersuv]

this dude was the only guy that did his job last year in creating an original and captivating movie love this dude very excited for whats next

[@BruceWayne-zj1kw]

danny ingersoll yeah, the *only* one. fuck everyone else.

[@rebeccamartinez6774]

This movie is not original. There is a movie literally called the lighthouse (2016) that is a European movie with a very similar plot l, the same character names, that is actually based on real events. I want to know why this movie is not acknowledged in any way. I thought the movie was great until I found out about the 2016 one. If he doesn’t own up to this and explains why there is so much similarity I can no longer appreciate his work, because who knows when it might be plagiarism.

[@shotx333]

Robert is proof that the psychological horror genre not gonna die

[@estebban345]

Eggers should release the witch as a novel the way he intended it to be

[@chopin65]

A novela would be great.

[@sabrinakrisb4672]

He's absolutely brilliant

[@RamiroEloy1997]

This guy will most definitely be a filmmaking legend

[@saiganesh7944]

the lighthouse is more than a movie - an experience

[@stephenburnage7687]

A horrible, unnecessay experience

[@stephenburnage7687]

@Nerd Incorporated Actually i did see it (upon release, in a movie theater) but walked out half way through. Out of many hundreds (if not thousands) of movies i have seen, it was the first movie that i walked out of.

[@Naza_SS]

like a theme park ride?

[@Krasniysharigg]

@@stephenburnage7687 if you walked out, then you’ve hardly watched more than one hundred films in whole life.

[@withnail-and-i]

@@Shofixi One could say an experience is more than a movie

[@spaz113z]

Absolutely love both films but I do like the Witch more. It's one of those rare recent horror movies that made me feel like a kid again. Also you can recommend the Witch for people who don't normally watch scary movies. I could show it to my parents and that is saying much because they hate all "super natural nonsense"

[@ccesarLopess]

O Robert Eggers e um diretor fantástico e muito carismático.

[@emmalewisart641]

Such an interesting talk, I love his films. I agree with the Kubrick parallels pointed out by others...soooo much to sink your teeth into, looking forward to Nosferatu...honorable mention to the hypnotic belt styling

[@AshtonGleckman]

This is gold. Thank you for sharing this BAFTA.

[@victorantonioguraiebmartin6304]

I really admire this film maker

[@jmanjman2685]

This guy gets snobbed every time from the oscars. They don't like horror movies and this dude has made one of the best movies of all time.

[@blakeandcamp]

I agree, but horror films also are often snubbed by the Academy unless they tackle a more specific issue (Get Out for example). Hopefully that'll change in the future. Eggers' next film is a viking revenge tale so that may get more award love than The Witch and The Lighthouse did.

[@charlienovacastor5652]

Everytime? He's only made 2 movies.

[@jmanjman2685]

@@charlienovacastor5652 Yeah and he deserved a nomination for the Witch too. So it technically is every time

[@charlienovacastor5652]

@@jmanjman2685 fair enough

[@MulliComMedia]

The Witch is worth watching with subtitles. I don’t say that disrespectfully either, it actually makes you appreciate Eggers’ writing even more. The performances are great, but because our ears aren’t trained to notice some older words in this modern time, you can actually miss out on a lot of small, incredible details.

[@dxnce7593]

HE DESERVE BETTER MORE RECOGNITION FFS NEED HIM TO DIRECT MORE FILMS !! PRODUCERS CHOOSE HIM FFS TALENTED GENIUS LIKE HIM NEED TO BLESS US WITH HIS TALENT

[@vegetableman4619]

This is awesome. My interest in that project he mentioned about slavery and such in the Viking age is at 100%, I can’t wait to see what Egg does with that...I grew up and live in New England and I hope he brings those Vikings across the pond somehow!

[@daveed2589]

He's much more humble and endearingly awkward than I thought he would be.

[@FlemmyMcDuff]

great movie and an engaging script to boot

[@skudface]

EPIC! Eggers is such an absolute unit

[@AnthonyRecenello]

This guy should’ve won a fucking Oscar.

[@timtim3706]

If you’re able, I’d love for anyone to give him the money he needs to make anything he wants. Every movie he makes is my absolute favorite. One after the other.

[@Rampagelil]

What's great about Eggers films truly isn't just his ability and knowledge to work within the subjects of the past, but to carry even the least interested party through the experience despite that. He just sucks you into his films. And low and behold, he's just a sweet, kinda shy guy who just loves stories. Go figure.

[@AndresRuiz-gs8vm]

This man is brilliant. I hope Hollywood execs give him blank cheques 😆

[@MrKaawee]

Great work Robert, looking forward to the next one ...

[@ambassadortothenetherworld9433]

wow, going in I kind of held his artistic process as being in a sphere similar to Poe but after hearing him really knock out how his expressive hydraulics work for 30 min now; I find the process to be more akin to John Steinbeck!? How oddly unique. I have high hopes for this one and feel he wont sabotage any piece of his craft for any golden ticket.

[@Brind-amour]

Well said Mr Eggers, no apologies!

[@OzcarMM]

14:17 Funny how he said a great movie doesn't need good performances or good cinematography while both The Witch and The Lighthouse have outstanding performances and cinematography.

[@Strauss-]

his point was it is enough to have good writing, then you don't need all that stuff, but that these two movies are so light on writing that he has to rely on it, and on costume and set (and gladly does so)

[@BraidyBrown]

6 year writing process for a single screenplay is insane!

[@mrkrussi92]

Why'd ya spill yer beans?

[@LeeBailes]

Lovely! Thanks for sharing!

[@CPUAlexis]

I wonder if it’s a nervous stutter or a natural stutter. I noticed it in some of his interviews, but it’s quite pronounced here. Or it kid be a sort of processing stutter

[@cancontrl]

Any links to his short films? No offense if he already stated.

[@courtneyvaldez7903]

Academy.....WHERE U AT!?!??!?!

[@RatSitnov]

In each of those interviews, whenever he says "crusty, rusty, dusty", "Oh Coal Black Smith" as performed by Current 93 starts playing in my head and I wonder if it's a coincidence or not

[@ricardobezerra2213]

Listening to what he has to say, I can see why he convinced fucking Björk to go back into a movie set after Dancer in the dark. She probably felt the pure, genuine intention his films are made of.

[@crystalskullsucked]

Love you Robert keep.up the kickass work!

[@1995yuda]

Oh my god, it's like he's living in my brain. Wow.

[@dr.dragan]

A future cinema colossus right here

[@CyckOne]

Eggers is rocking the hell outta that watch.

[@LichenAndMoss]

Cant wait for the Viking movie with Dafoe

[@blvkopvl5979]

47:51 brilliant lecture! have many thoughts on this! should share yes #WHATARETHOSE

[@clingclanglarry3327]

This guy is the only reason why the horror genre is alive and kicking!

[@sarakamnani6328]

Ari Aster, Mike Flanagan, Jennifer kent, Na Hong Jin, Leigh Whannel, Jordan Peele, Radio Silence, Rahi anil Barve, Alex Garland, David Robert Mitchell, Jeremy Saulnier, Shyamalan (yes, him too), James Wan ( Hollywood's best studio horror drector?) There's been a Renaissance in the horror genre in last 5 years. And the credit goes to all these great filmmakers in the world stage. Giving credit only to eggers is like spitting on all these filmmakers faces.

[@nicholasbrown7000]

Nani Sarakam so much this! Horror is in a renaissance it hasn’t seen since the 1970’s and it’s thanks to these filmmakers. I can’t wait to see what is in store next.

[@tonywords6713]

dont b gay

[@BosnTV]

robert is amazing

[@imalwaysright]

He’s fascinating

[@bevanmcnicholl2525]

The Lighthouse is insane to me ... I'm just worried it doesn't end up being his best film because its so perfect to me

[@consoulbeats]

I want him to make a film with Yorgos Lanthimos. That would be incredible.

[@syedhaider1675]

Yes!!!

[@sidrockx6399]

I don't see anything common

[@sarahumlaut]

robert I am BEGGING you to adapt the secret history

[@yantrack]

What shoes is he wearing?

[@AVspectre]

Someone else wrote Air Max 720 Horizon

[@heimrheljar]

Anyone know what shoes he’s wearing?

[@CountFernandoPartridge]

air max 720 horizon

[@jakobbarger1260]

8:15 - 11:15 Wait, he's trying to write so that his scripts are authentic? Not anchored strictly to the period they're written in? Not myopically written to be appreciated by a single type of person at a single point in history? He doesn't moralize or shoehorn or rewrite history to conform to the Zeitgeist? Who is this madman?

[@tonywords6713]

Awesome! Thank you

[@luis5697]

It was 'Ye who was snubbed!

[@dorkle9085]

HAAAAARK! Let Neptune strike ye dead academy!

[@joshkier]

NAAAAAAAAOOOOOOO. NOOOOO! I WANT an- AWARD!, I WANT A GODDAMN AWARD, I, if I had an award - oh boy - a rare - a bloody award! I wo-uld fuck it!

[@HeadBangerExtreme]

This film reminds me of Persona. Boxy, black and white, two characters secluded and living together where one 'services' the other. And they eventually go insane

[@Majima897]

Pure genius.

[@pipepaz1670]

ID on his shoes???

[@AVspectre]

Someone else wrote Air Max 720 Horizon

[@pipepaz1670]

@@AVspectre Thank youuuu

[@frostychickenprods]

Such an underrated film.

[@stephenburnage7687]

Awful film. Left after an hour

[@stephenburnage7687]

Such an overrated film

[@jello4479]

@RequiemForaBromance +1, how did you stumble onto the BAFTA youtube page?

[@withnail-and-i]

No, it made #1 of letterboxd's top horror of the decade list. Underappreciated would be a film like Nostos The Return

[@MJGianesello]

@@stephenburnage7687 and that's supposed to make your opinion less worthless how? If you don't know what you're talking about just shut up and watch whatever dumbass shit gets you going, don't go around commenting among people who care trying to validate an opinion that only informs how illiterate you are, it's kind of pointless and laughable

[@helmutsecke3529]

Oh aye and after viewing the works of young Eggers canst thou ever again take in that which flow from the Hollywood without ye retch?

[@klexos2185]

Dear Robert, please make a Bloodborne film.

[@phantomfire8228]

59:09

[@dosesandmimoses]

I thought if given the opportunity to collab with more advanced film makers that I would leave describing light so that the director and producers could visualize it separately to see if we have a similar vision…