John Waters: on stage with the ‘Pope of Trash’ (Extended) | BFI

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Auteur John Waters joins season curator Justin Johnson to talk about his film career. Moved by the fact that his work attracts younger viewers as his career progresses, Waters pays tribute to like-minded friends he has used as actors and discusses the inspiration behind his vibrant creativity.
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[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

What a gift for an interviewer - just start saying a few words and John will take it away with a 10-minute string of anecdotes. The man was born to be interviewed.

[@tinycmo]

I thought that too. Not your Phoenix interview for sure

[@marcallen4532]

Fame maintenance!

[@jeremyely]

I could listen to john waters talk all day.

[@Pinkranger87]

Me too

[@julie5310]

Me three. His persona is the person I wish I was (were?).

[@skanenoise354]

And night

[@DanburyDK]

lol I just said that in a post on another John waters video 😊

[@jptwentyfour887]

Certainly talks about people’s skin color a lot.

[@DianaRussia531]

John Waters has a quick wit and really sharp sense of humor. Steve Buscemi should play him in a story of his life

[@dialecticalspectacle]

He will.

[@GhANeC]

I shall whole heartedly share, sign and donate on that petition!

[@thebirdman4324353]

Waters straight up said he wants Steve to play him

[@swampdonkey4919]

yas!!!!

[@HarlequeenStudio]

Great casting!

[@SerialGothQueens]

His interviews, his books, his live appearances, are always amazing. If I could pick one celebrity to sit down and have dinner and a conversation with, it would absolutely be John!

[@gretchenbaker7435]

SerialGothQueens he is my first choice for the old 5 people you could invite for dinner. And if dead people were an option I'd pick Divine for him and Jackie Kennedy

[@gretchenbaker7435]

Should be a comma after "old" my apologizes

[@totallybored5526]

You missed out the main thing. His *FILMS*

[@SerialGothQueens]

@@totallybored5526 Not at all. His films go without saying, since they're how I was introduced to him.

[@rabidrabbitshuggers]

He gets funnier and more brilliant the older he gets.

[@charlescrossman2225]

HE IS AN INTERNATIONAL TREASURE. I HAD A CRAPPY DAY BUT THIS RESTORES MY SPIRIT. ROARING LAUGHTER REPETEDLY WILL DO THAT. TY JOHN

[@josephedwarddowling5919]

This is by far this best interview ever. The Audience loves him.

[@jaynetaylor6048]

John Waters is a legend. Love him so much.

[@mrhotpocket]

That John Waters is amazing doesn't surprise me. But can we also give props to this interviewer? He's fantastic in this role.

[@mojohood]

Female Trouble is my favorite movie of all time. Long live Dawn Davenport and John Waters.

[@13ivanogre13]

Desperate Living!

[@rocco_productionsmannott31]

My favorite John Waters films are 1.Pink Flamingos 2.A Dirty Shame 3.Serial Mom

[@shawnchristopherwhite3271]

John Waters is the most modest humble person in the world!

[@atbglenn]

John's got the greatest sense of humor. I love the guy and his movies.

[@foxgloved1]

a true Baltimore treasure

[@gretchenbaker7435]

I love Jon waters! And The interviewer was so good too! He really knew his stuff and let the story come without interruption

[@Drymouth555]

Hilarious and fearless, a soul crafted from both the seediest shit and the purest gold.

[@britishfilminstitute]

Thanks for your comments!

[@sexobscura]

sort of like rolling a turd in glitter

[@13ivanogre13]

Although I have seen and enjoyed his earliest movies I like the actual person so much more. He's a good story-teller and a nice person who seems grateful to the Universe for his existence and I am glad for him.

[@chrisgeorgatsos1416]

John Waters is an American icon!

[@giggles7179]

Growing up in a small Wisconsin town, I discovered John Waters in my teens and it always felt like his most notorious films were a secret I was privvy to. I loved few things more than watching my friends' faces as I forced them to watch "Pink Flamingos." I loved trying to spot the surviving Dreamlanders in each new film and mourned them as their numbers gradually dwindled. It's been endlessly surreal in the years since to see how there were clearly many others like me out there who were equally in love with his work. Who would have thought "Hairspray" would become one of the most beloved new musicals of the new millenium with John Travolta playing Edna Turnblad in the remake? Who could have predicted "Pink Flamingos" would be considered culturally significant enough to be selected for preservation in the National Film Registry? God only knows what the future holds for his material even after he's gone. The lesson we can learn from this? Never underestimate the number of people out there who are willing to hold a drag queen eating dog $#!t in the highest regard.

[@jeffdawson2786]

What a career. This is inspiring. Follow your bliss, no matter what anybody says.

[@kensalazar5986]

I had no idea John Waters could be so fascinating and funny I could listen to him for days. I really miss Divine what a Wonderful Charactor he was

[@chazzdurden]

I'm a movie buff, I love cinema and if someone would ask me which director I would like to be the most, I would definitely choose John over Kubrick or even Coppola in a split second, that's how much he has influenced my art, my life and his vision of women is absolutely stunning and remarkable! he killed misogyny in cinema!

[@Geometroid1]

I never really liked his movies... but he is one of the most entertaining people I've ever seen

[@suginami123]

A brilliant man. I’d love to him talk with Pedro Almidovar about each other’s films.

[@jahan442]

not just a film maker also one of the biggest thinker.

[@josephedwarddowling5919]

He truly seems like the happiest man on Earth. A freind of mine met himi at a rest area when he was hitch hiking across the country. See POLYESTER . The best JOHN WATERS movie.

[@tablature6121]

Seen it. Loved it. Polyester is the one where he introduces "Odorama" -- a scratch and sniff card with ten scratchy spots, cued in the movie when to scratch. Of course, one was an old man farting in bed. You know John. LOL

[@josephedwarddowling5919]

One of my old friends in Alabama had about a dozen of the original SCRATCH N SNIFF cards from when he saw it at the theater. Being from CT the part when Cuddles yelled "' God I wished I lived in CT!!'' cracked me up.

[@sliverscreen]

Just saw John Waters 2018 Christmas Special at The Neptune Theatre in Seattle, Washington. Legendary performance! Hope someone was able to get a recording of it. It’s a must see!

[@ClarenceFisher]

The story of filming the spoof of the Kennedy assassination is one of my favorite Dreamland stories.

[@rjddurhamnc]

John Waters = National Treasure

[@frankgonzalezofficial3010]

He's attitude is amazing

[@oomybeauty]

Yes, making art, independent innovative art with film, photo, ... was difficult, hard, a real labor of love.

[@lukaserik]

John Waters looks so good for being 73. He has a brilliant mind ! His movies became a classic. Always loved his mustache and my favorite color orange looks great on John .

[@GhANeC]

The man is just non stop interesting!

[@mickeefreeman2898]

John waters .....my hero..8 years old I watched female trouble. Made me the happy artist I am today ... what a wonderful man Xx.

[@marcushoglund4301]

Genius beautiful guy!!! My Hero

[@michelsurprenant4799]

John's movies are a big part of my life. Very smart with a twisted mind. I love him.

[@staceyboomboom8031]

The one famous person I would fan girl over if I ever met. John Waters.

[@calabiyou]

I went to see him tonight in melb. Unfortunately I got the dates fucked up and he was on the week before. I hope he comes back to melb.

[@QueerSwede1]

this is so amazing, i saw john live in his a filthy world show when he was in sweden, it was fab!

[@rogerdale5451]

I love the outfits...(the host) Black on black on black, with black, and Orange is the new black. Where- do you get an ORANGE! suit coat? I love John Waters. So unique.

[@mcnallyaar]

I love how Mr. Waters is, at root, a good boy. Just an ambitious kid who looks at the world and wants to be a proper scout.

[@chrissystewart6268]

I'm looking forward to meet John Waters talk business & want advice about making films

[@sharpenuptheknives4938]

John Water is Amazing!!

[@pinkmoon5332]

Thank you, John Waters. I was one of those majority people.. and was just.... "pissed off". And you helped me find ground through your comedy, through counter culture.

[@heatherwilcox9901]

I just watched Multiple Maniacs for the first time yesterday and loved it. On KZbin trying to find Its a Filthy World but this interview is just as entertaining. John would be a lovely lunch date

[@dennis.kovalev]

This is hilarious. Even though they both are talking to each other, it seems like they are separated by ages. British Film Institute's curator is like an archeologist trying to assign meaning to a find, and to guess what it was used for from his perspective on art, at the same time missing the very essence of John Waters, the sheer pure drive of youth and freedom of a loved child being unrestrained in his perception of the world. John Waters is here, and you're missing him entirely) I loved John on Roseanne, just because she was really in the moment with him, like a peer.

[@jayham____fromgeorgia]

A very excellent interview. Thank you BFI..

[@gilwood7530]

WE LOVE YOU JOHN !

[@rocco_productionsmannott31]

gil wood I want to meet this man!

[@ClarenceFisher]

39:49 - It took me a few plays to figure it out, but Waters made a reference to a line in Serial Mom which would get a big laugh in light of what's happening in the news - it's Bill Cosby. AN old hag rents a Bill Cosby movie, Ghost Dad, or something like that - anyway, it was funny enough 20 years ago to show someone being really uptight about masturbatorially hanging onto "family values", but NOW - the fact that this uptight old lady LOVES a guy who did what he's accused of. The BEST IRONIC LINE EVER!

[@vanessanorton455]

I love JW. On a bad day, I find clips from those PF and FT and ... instant anti-depressant.

[@toddtr5520]

I love John waters

[@gilwood7530]

I saw JOHN this week in Palm Springs ...WHAT AN AMAZING SHOW !

[@silentdecay]

thank you john, Justin & audience. a fantastic interview. truly fun & excellent, fully.

[@CannibalWHORE22]

“Yes there is and you can help me find it” lol

[@jc6594]

Happy 75th Birthday John Waters

[@DanJackson1977]

So Gene Siskel wanted to see a live snuff film? Wow... that's a guy who REALLY liked to party.

[@SuiGenerisAbbie]

At what timepoint did Waters mention this one? (I think I missed it ...)

[@13ivanogre13]

Gene's brain...

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

I think he probably wanted just to expose whatever he found - after all, the man's favorite movie was Babe.

[@YouTubeSpareTime]

Man. I wish Gene and Roger were still around, they both died of horrendous illnesses.

[@nikkig5597]

He is a treasure.😎

[@ryebread9641]

this outfit is legendary

[@SkeeterNYC]

Please John go for Jessica Lange instead of Ms. Meryl. Although, I did love her recent Golden Globes speech. A smart, talented woman with good heart and humour.

[@bazzhancher8436]

Just Brilliant

[@DungeonStudio]

I wish John could make just one more BIG movie. Nothing against Tarantino, but honestly 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' forever will sound like a John Waters film. But at the same time, I'm glad John's taken a back seat. As everything is so lubricious now with Trump as President, political correctness and legalized weed, LGBTQRSTUV - and sometimes Y, terrorism vs. mass shootings. Unless John were to remake Clambake with an all Asian cast, he just can't stand out anymore. Even then, die hard fans might giggle, say WTF, buy the soundtrack on vinyl, and say it's still better than Eyes Wide Shut at least.

[@jackieradley1025]

Seriously. Life is horrifying enough. A cancelation of John Waters (cause inevitably, that's the direction people would go) is unacceptable.

[@stormtrooper253]

Thank you for uploading this! 💖

[@zartdart]

I'm so happy this interview is happening in England - in America audiences always have to clap after every title they recognize. Drives me nuts.

[@FreejackVesa]

That doesn't always happen, it kind of depends where you are it's almost a regional thing. It is very strange though.

[@jellyfishrage33]

I love the look my family gives me when I talk about John Waters being a big influence on my work. "The Pink Flamingos guy?" You bet your ass.

[@jamesmiley3831]

John Waters can get it any day in my book.

[@nickmorrell3559]

One of my favourite people in the world. .him and divine ..

[@Anteroization]

2019 thanks for uploading !

[@Motoroil20xx]

Cecil B. Demented, to me is a spiritual companion with Pecker, where they both comment on independent art but from very different perspectives and tone.

[@Persephonie22]

I am glad that John Waters said that in high schools they cast Tracy Turnblad skinny or other race. Years ago at a high school play that I took my mother & grandmother to see Hairspray. And we notice that this Tracy was skinny & we were like why is she thin? 😦

[@jeffclement2979]

Love that man!

[@ClarenceFisher]

11:00 - I LOVED "Snuff"

[@simonlebrit8651]

I thought this was the extended version.. yet the questions cut out at the same point. Will we ever get to see the full version please ?

[@mrminer071166]

"Get a cold." OMG. That one got me like 5m later....

[@nirvanafatal]

He is my idol

[@Back4Fungame]

Really enjoyable

[@pianonotes1010]

The fact that Gene Siskel wanted to find a snuff film set is pretty unnerving.

[@FreejackVesa]

Siskel and Ebert had some really bad takes back in the day. I was never a huge fan of Siskel and while I never really agreed with all of Eberts critiques - but I have to say that Roger Ebert was an absolutely fantastic writer when it came to writing about themes and the ethos of movies. Have a lot of respect for him because of his writing.

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Fantabulosa...

[@dashfatbastard]

May he live forever

[@joemckibben7757]

He’s the funniest man who’s ever lived!

[@federicoborghesi1949]

Thanks Dog for John Waters

[@Horror_N_M3tal]

Snuff. the urban legend of horror always talked about. always sort after but never found.

[@msfair3625]

He always reminds of Curry as Rooster from Annie.

[@JeffRebornNow]

THANK GOD he never did A Confederacy of Dunces with Divine. It would have been terrible. John Candy would have made an excellent Ignatius.

[@emmaduncan2991]

where's his Kennedy center honors? well with the GOP in office, it will have to wait. the man is an American treasure!

[@wevans2012]

The man is a GOD

[@greyedgerton2890]

Did John ever work with Ed Wood ?

[@lolabow5421]

Oh I was at this and had a question about dog shit. I wonder if it’s kept in!

[@altohippiegabber]

did "Eat Your Make Up" ever get a release on VHS/DVD?

[@ClarenceFisher]

Not yet. But Divine's JFK assassination spoof is featured in "I Am Divine" on DVD.

[@altohippiegabber]

thanks! i love it when people answer and help eachother out

[@coalhalo]

You can find them here on KZbin

[@violetbrown2372]

Art Linkletter was horribly emotionally abuse to Diane, he threw her off his "family" shoe, because he deemed her "too fat and ugly." he pretty much drove her to suicide, primarily because she refused to tow the family party line, and was a bit to liberal for him.

[@carlcraft9237]

That' orange is awesome

[@jessemacias2]

Wonder why “Lust in the Dust” hardly gets mentioned.... great film.

[@paulbrown6464]

It’s not a John Waters movie

[@ampallang7]

I missed John in Briz, is he still in AUS??????, get him to contact me, lets make a movie together, i was given the same shit as a man back in the day unfort as a straight guy; a hero in most ways than one, my friends would make a great film as 'misfits' of a new time with good hearts. Passsssionate about film I want to work with some of you.

[@Thisisspacemusic]

so funny

[@thomasbinninger1355]

Listen to his comments on the mommy dearest dvd.its a scream.

[@arthurfleck816]

thomas binninger yes it is. One of my favorite of all his DVD commentaries

[@bradfordmiller637]

I loved connie and Raymond marble John waters best film. Though some Scenes are a little much for me.

[@Thisisspacemusic]

sucks they cut out the clips

[@unitedamericans8587]

The John Waters/Ed Wood style of film making continues with the free KZbin movie NIGHTMARE IN ZOMBIE CITY!!!

[@MURUR1025]

John Waters barely ever comments on Danny Mills (Crackers in Pink Flamingos). Does he ever explain why Danny Mills only acted in that one film?

[@destroyernoah]

In the commentary track for the DVD, John says that Danny isn't very happy to talk about being in Pink Flamingos

[@hatelovebowel4571]

Oh the interviewer is very Divine coded

[@applet4rts639]

Fat?

[@Turtl289]

John knows the ninja turtles..... i knew i liked him lol

[@syxsyx9780]

"let's get naked n' smoke"