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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[@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!!!!

[@cmcull987]

I think about John Waters. Thank you YT how sharp he is and he sees the humanity in people.

[@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.

[@charlescrossman2225]

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

[@rabidrabbitshuggers]

He gets funnier and more brilliant the older he gets.

[@josephedwarddowling5919]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@chrisgeorgatsos1416]

John Waters is an American icon!

[@jaynetaylor6048]

John Waters is a legend. Love him so much.

[@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!

[@foxgloved1]

a true Baltimore treasure

[@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

[@gretchenbaker7435]

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

[@atbglenn]

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

[@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 .

[@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.

[@jeffdawson2786]

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

[@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!

[@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

[@suginami123]

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

[@Geometroid1]

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

[@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.

[@rjddurhamnc]

John Waters = National Treasure

[@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!

[@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.

[@oomybeauty]

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

[@jahan442]

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

[@michelsurprenant4799]

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

[@frankgonzalezofficial3010]

He's attitude 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.

[@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.

[@marcushoglund4301]

Genius beautiful guy!!! My Hero

[@ClarenceFisher]

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

[@jayham____fromgeorgia]

A very excellent interview. Thank you BFI..

[@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

[@sharpenuptheknives4938]

John Water is Amazing!!

[@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.

[@silentdecay]

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

[@gilwood7530]

WE LOVE YOU JOHN !

[@rocco_productionsmannott31]

gil wood I want to meet this man!

[@stormtrooper253]

Thank you for uploading this! 💖

[@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.

[@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.

[@GhANeC]

The man is just non stop interesting!

[@gilwood7530]

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

[@chrissystewart6268]

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

[@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.

[@Anteroization]

2019 thanks for uploading !

[@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.

[@nikkig5597]

He is a treasure.😎

[@jc6594]

Happy 75th Birthday John Waters

[@toddtr5520]

I love John waters

[@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.

[@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

[@CannibalWHORE22]

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

[@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.

[@ryebread9641]

this outfit is legendary

[@jamesmiley3831]

John Waters can get it any day in my book.

[@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 ?

[@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? 😦

[@nickmorrell3559]

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

[@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.

[@jeffclement2979]

Love that man!

[@ClarenceFisher]

11:00 - I LOVED "Snuff"

[@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.

[@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.

[@emmaduncan2991]

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

[@federicoborghesi1949]

Thanks Dog for John Waters

[@Back4Fungame]

Really enjoyable

[@mrminer071166]

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

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Fantabulosa...

[@nirvanafatal]

He is my idol

[@greyedgerton2890]

Did John ever work with Ed Wood ?

[@Geraint3000]

What a tonic he is.

[@joemckibben7757]

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

[@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.

[@LEARSIKCIGAM]

11:17 Um, why was dude looking to be on the set of. A Snuff film?

[@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

[@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.

[@lolabow5421]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@msfair3625]

He always reminds of Curry as Rooster from Annie.

[@Horror_N_M3tal]

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

[@wevans2012]

The man is a GOD

[@SynthesizersForPeace]

sucks they cut out the clips

[@bradfordmiller637]

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

[@unitedamericans8587]

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

[@mark-j-adderley]

40:24 “Cry Baby” was not a success ... 40:39 we had four TONY nominations, (for the resulting Broadway Musical), but it bombed because it got a bad New YorkTimes review ... “ So ONE person’s personal opinion is enough to trash then whole production. How strange that, today, it is considered a cult classic ... 43:25

[@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

[@planetofether5462]

I want him to be my grandfather.

[@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

[@Turtl289]

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

[@stevecox7075]

John Waters chats to the Queen Termite.

[@syxsyx9780]

"let's get naked n' smoke"