David Lynch explains Ideas and Mullholland Drive

An English Teacher asks David Lynch about Mullholland Drive.
David Lynch speaks about ideas, and how he comes up with them.

[@substratic11213]

This man is a genius. Seriously. At a certain point the avant-garde does become nonsense. But everything in Lynch's films have a very well thought out purpose (or occasionally an abstract intention that adds to the otherworldly atmospheres he creates), and every time I watch his movies such as Mulholland Drive I see different angles of the ideas that he is trying to convey. Lynch is not a pretentious poser, he's a post-modern artist

[@johnathanmarcus]

His hand is a creature with a mind of its' own.

[@indecentproposal9473]

it's trying to sign for help.

[@tinaprivitera6669]

"Dr. Strangelove" Syndrome.

[@hallofmirrorsnetwork]

Tina Privitera dr stangeglove

[@Sound8VisionVibe]

Needs to be a character in a film.

[@sexobscura]

the inspiration for the 'blue box'

[@francespdx]

"you do know, for yourself, and what you know is valid."

[@Slarti]

Mullholland drive is one of my favourite films. I love it when people try to explain what it is about in conceptual terms - it cannot be done! The reason the film is so brilliant is because as Lynch says it resonates with deeper parts of ourselves that are beyond words. Try describing the taste of chocolate icecream!

[@Thematrix078]

People can't explain the movie because the movie is total nonsense! And Lynch says that because even he can't explain what that crappy movie is about!

[@lunoxxo8514]

​@@Thematrix078 trying to be different huh? 😂😂😂

[@dagothhyde7297]

​@@Thematrix078it's actually pretty straightforward

[@tinaprivitera6669]

I'm glad that he puts faith in his audiences to take what they will from his movies, be it a fan theory or a confused expression. Find your own meaning.

[@soulscreach]

His air guitar is contagious. I started doing it too XD

[@sendtoanthony]

Spot on. We watch the screen but the story is formed in our minds and given that each brain is unique there are numerous ways to drive Mulholland. For me it's a tragedy filled with all the human drives: ambition (to be a movie star), lust (for Camilla), fear (of the person behind Winky's), envy (of Camilla's success), jealously (Betty loses Camilla to the director) , resentment (because Betty cannot have Camilla), hatred (envy + jealousy + sadness) & revenge (Betty contracts to have Camilla murdered). A powerfully poignant film.

[@oldgoldtop]

I am glad Lynch keeps his personal creative views to himself . He allows the viewer to undertake their own journey of discovery. Many will find their own, some will remain lost and some may ultimatly uncover something truly wonderful if they throw away their preconceptions and enter into the mysterious world of the mind. Mulholland is much more than a story but a deep and creative moral tale of human behavior. Bravo! Thank you David Lynch!!!!

[@modjohnny]

To my taste his films are more humorous, frightening and creative than most others i see. If you consider his ideas eccentric, that's a valid point of view. I feel like his ideas tap into something deeper in me than other films do. Every emotion conveyed resonates more. That effect alone makes them "Successful" to me. I think of his films as visual and audio "Puzzles". The pieces may not be placed the way we are used to, but the combinations that Lynch comes up with are unique and beautiful.

[@Theevil6ify]

I believe Lynch when he says that he didn't necessarily know what Mullholland Drive "meant" in the conventional sense, since I read it was originally going to be a pilot for a full series, but simply got made into a movie instead. He likely was just setting up many ideas to develop further in future episodes without fully knowing what they'd develop into, which is why there are so many different scenes in the movie (especially in the first half) that don't appear to connect very much with each other (the hitman killing people, the director's bad marriage, the shadowy underworld and the cowboy, etc.). However, I DO think that the second half of the movie (after Naiomi Watts "wakes up") was made to "answer" many of the vague, independent set-up scenarios in the first half after it was clear it wouldn't be a full series. That would also explain why there is a "second part" that is so distinct and separative from the first. And since the second part "answers" the questions from the first part, that gives a theoretical "meaning" to the film as a whole. As for what the meaning is, you can look up a video on youtube that deeply analyzes it, and I think that it's the one that makes the most sense out of all the other analyzations of it.

[@SpaceTraveler86]

Mullholland Dr is about failure. It's basically a dream.

[@shimtest]

he tells it in a homespun way but he says something very intense to the lady: YOU DO KNOW ALREADY. that would give any introspective person nightmares

[@elyes_nort9687]

This guy is fucking crazy. I recently discovered his movies and I was blown from how much he gets it. He's an absolute genius.

[@fez287]

David Lynch is such a creative genius without being at all patronising or pretentious about it. I love his answer here... he really believes and appreciates that every person will have their own valid interpretation of his films which is important to them.

[@xpez]

He is discussing how cinema is full of meanings and interpretations. Lynch enjoys this special kind of writing/language that a fillmmaker employs to convey ideas. These ideas are never discrete but are fuzzy and overlap many other interpretations depending on the experience of each individual.

[@ACnear14]

excelent, and it is so good to have access to the ideas of such a great master and artists, out of his own mouth (and hands). and it is soothing to hear him relate art and inner knowledge, hear him empower his observers and encourage them to accept their own understanding of what he had offered. it is such a beautiful statement: "and you know it. and when you know it, it is valid." bravo, david lynch. thank you for all the wonderful gifts.

[@lonelyone]

I think this is the most direct answer Lynch has ever given. And it's somehow very satisfying to know that not even he knows what the hell his abstractions mean.

[@goneill451]

This is a great explanation/justification for any abstract art. If ever one was needed. Some people digest abstractions in their art diet like bread and water, other people it goes down like sour milk and hot sauce. I appreciate whenever Lynch says everyone's opinion of his work is valid since he works more with pure sensation than stories.

[@mikebasil4832]

Thank you, David, for your own quite unique language for the cinema. 👏🏻

[@65CA]

Unfair that people don't do their homework to understand abstraction before they interview this genius. He is very patient and articulate in explaining the unexplainable. Turn the descriptive words such as Bizarre into amazing or thought provoking and you are headed in the correct direction. Truth and where you derive it.... pure sources are best.

[@ShermerIllinois]

For me Mullholand Drive was the most clearly articulated representation of a dream state I had ever seen. In the way that, when you have a very involved dream with lots of scenarios happening, when you wake up and remember them they seem like nonsense. Yet, for a time, you remember how meaningful those things were to you when you were dreaming them. At least that's the way I felt after watching it years ago. You walk away with nothing concrete, but a huge sense of abstract meaning.

[@kamealex]

Someone give a guitar to this guy. Those fingers are hungry of rock.

[@augustusdes]

America should be proud of this great artist..

[@dANIELhasMDD]

Every interview by David Lynch can be summed up by just simply saying, I make movies off ideas that come to me. He doesn't need to go into detail, an idea is just simply an idea. No need to confuse or make people think you are having this divine experience. If i wan to go to a baseball game my idea starts, first i need money, once i have my ticket i have to think about expenses, food, parking drinks, then just directions to and from my destination. Its not complicated David, its just an "idea".

[@plasticweapon]

tell it to the people who always ask where his films come from.

[@m00nracer]

right, and he affirm that the abstract is a part of HIS visual language, and that in itself is a pertinent to understand his work from his point of view. That the narrative isn't explainable in language alone is in my view a satisfactory answer.

[@alxleiva]

Oh those English teachers and their damn metaphors

[@S2Cents]

Eraserhead is my favorite too. It astonishes me. Stanley Kubrick said it was his favorite movie.

[@stevesan]

Yeah, that's exactly how I see them. See them as nightmares and dreams, and suddenly they make sense. And just like nightmares/dreams, they can be interpreted in so many ways. They're beautifully and masterfully realized.

[@Dr.TJ_Eckleburg]

What a great guy. Totally unpretentious. Too many artists and art critics (especially in film) are quick to beat you over the head with the 'correct' interpretations of art. Lynch is truly groundbreaking in making things so abstract that they're open to many different layers of interpretation, then validating the viewer by telling them that whatever they take away from the experience is correct. Then he goes a step further by even admitting that he himself doesn't always get it.

[@S2Cents]

Ohh, I'm glad, so glad she had the guts and why not? You ask questions to learn and you got to start somewhere. In any case, just to hear Lynch respond to these type of questions that at some point EVERYBODY must wonder for at least a moment.

[@NeverSaySandwich1]

The jist of it is that he doesn't like explaining his work because he thinks that there isn't a clear cut answer. He wants viewers to interpret his work and find what it means to them.

[@iR3vil4te]

NeverSaySandwich1 he thinks there is a clear cut answer he just won’t reveal the mystery he wants to viewer to figure it out for himself.

[@tangerinesarebetterthanora7060]

​@@iR3vil4tehe's openly admitted to not understanding the plot of his film inland empire.

[@desertdispatch]

someone needs to introduce the camera operator to what tripods are used for...

[@Survivethejive]

doubt he was allowed a tripod in there

[@litgirlgamer7914]

My dude this is a phone

[@sergividal661]

Be thankful he/she recorded this

[@PhilbinVideos]

Maybes he’s trying to reinforce to the audience that what we are watching is a dream

[@freeedward8]

But why the hell didn't he (you hear HIS voice) HOLD THE DAMN CAMERA/PHONE STEADY!!!! Ruined

[@MrDanbloom]

The is a new nervous habit hand gesture with his fingers, he never did this 10 years ago, then is new. It's just a neurotic and eccentric way for him to express his feeling and ideas with his fingers almost playing a guitar or a piano keyboard as a creative way for him to connect his feelings with his brain with his body. Very cool. If you look at earlier videos from 1990s he never did this before. I love it!

[@elskerikke]

I love when he moves each fingers, It such a weird movement XD

[@geesycreesy]

lulz to the walls. If you ever purchase the DVD, be sure to look at the "Helpful Hints" for solving the mystery in Mulholland Drive (maybe to parody the feature handouts for his earlier sci-fi mainstream production, Dune?). It's a nice elbow in the rib about the "abstract(ness)" of the film. I like Lynch's response in this clip about personal validity from said abstractness.

[@MrDanbloom]

Q. What is that gesture David Lynch does with his hand? Why does he do it? kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZysgqxmnsefh6c twitter.com/davidlynchhand A. The is a new nervous habit hand gesture with his fingers, he never did this 10 years ago, then is new. It's just a neurotic and eccentric way for him to express his feeling and ideas with his fingers almost playing a guitar or a piano keyboard as a creative way for him to connect his feelings with his brain with his body. Very cool. If you look at earlier videos from 1990s he never did this before. I love it!

[@chest002]

Understand that David is first and foremost an artist. An artist works with ideas and feeling. His ideas or expressions are to him as paint is to an artist. It is up to the viewer to draw their own interpetation of the finished piece. His films are whatever your mind tells you they are. Dont expect to watch David's films looking for a solid story line. His stories are like a Piccaso. A Piccaso may not make sense to some, but it will provoke a feeling from the viewer. Lynch is art.

[@SummerUpdate]

That has got to be the most muscular hand on the planet.

[@kuriosity89]

"The coffee place" he refers is the Double R Diner. I hear they have great huckleberry pie to go with your hot cup of black coffee. And Bob.

[@Hard_Boiled_Entertainment]

This is what I like about David Lynch. He basically told the audience in this clip that there IS a legitimate answer to the question of What Happens in the film--but he respects our intelligence enough to say, "I'm not giving away the answer--you're capable of figuring it out." Figuring out a Lynch film is half the fun. And he's generous enough to give us "clues" such as the insert to the Mulholland Drive DVD--or his describing Inland Empire as a "mystery film" about a "woman in danger".

[@geeezzzberger]

The key to most of Lynch's movies is pretty simple - from Eraser Head to Mulholland Drive just know that you are in the main character's head and experiencing the dreams (or nightmares) and wishes of that character while at the same time trying to reconcile reality. They are brilliant and beautiful character studies and my favorite films.

[@adamgoldsteintv]

David Lynch is so infinitely fascinating. If he never made a single film he would have accomplished so much in his life by simply being him.

[@nichmiller455]

eraserhand

[@indecentproposal9473]

Mulholland high-five

[@anirudhvyas6069]

beautiful answer

[@ambrose_mensch]

Lovely man, and such a generous answer. Have you got any more besides this one and 'David Lynch - How to Translate an Idea into Reality'?

[@FistfulOfGabagool]

I've been chomping at the bit to ask him where he gets his ideas from..

[@theshaw2000]

Awesome camera work by the way.

[@KajiCarson]

Art will always make sense, that's why it's art.

[@necro351]

Many people don't truck with a movie that doesn't have a story, and/or a moral/lesson. However some movies are about a feeling instead, an action movie might purport to have some important message for the kids (e.g., teamwork) but really its about conveying the feeling of adventure, travel, and excitement. Some artists just want to drop the trappings completely, and go straight for the feelings. I don't see what is so wrong with it, you don't have to watch it if you don't want to.

[@Bigdadda20]

He's 100% right. Very well said.

[@erinmerle]

I appreciate your point but I'm not sure what you mean by 'conclusive creative effect'. Putting an idea into a structure (such as conventional narrative form) often kills it before it can develop. I think that's what he's getting at in this clip. He's trying to create a spectator that thinks and doesn't rely on pat meanings and can ruminate on the film after it is over, thereby continuing the process.

[@BGarrett5795]

This is a perfect articulation of my love with David Lynch. He is a storyteller, but a storyteller concerned with the visual potential of celluloid. Lynch doesn't target our intellect, but our subconscious. Don't be upset if I quote you... ok?

[@subsamadhi]

@Davidbasque15 nice to see the David Lynch fans on youtube are so open for a debate and accomodating to people with disparaging opinions about Lynch. Keep up the good work guys.

[@visionmakertv]

I know Moholland Dr and Lost Highway confuses people but to me I understand them completely, it's the mood, thought and rythm of his work that I am thankful and I am a better person and filmmaker because of it. Hint: we sometimes see or act in defferent personas to ease our minds copeing with tragedies and situations. It's our nature

[@iamnothowardhues]

@subsamadhi What do you mean? He obviously stated that his film is VERY MUCH open to interpretation, and that the viewer has the power to see it in whatever way they see fit. He's saying that whatever your interpretation of the film is, is correct. So if you think it sucks, well it sucks. If you think Diane is real and Betty is a metaphor for the fantasy she created, that's the case. If you think (as I do) that it's an exercise in freeing yourself from fear/confusion/pain, that's the case.

[@ShermerIllinois]

Yeah, I'll have to watch it again. I hadn't heard of that interpretation. Sounds very interesting, though, and it makes sense to me now that I think about it. Thanks. I think I was so enamored by the subjective technique and dream-like imagery, at the time, that I didn't pay as much attention to the plot as I would have without it. It definitely deserves a second viewing.

[@S2Cents]

Me too. There is some method to the "madness". Do you know who wrote the script or it it came together for Mullholland?

[@JacksInn]

Wait a second....... a mother saw Mulholland Drive with her son? .......what.

[@rajsrivastav6940]

haha

[@BCS1105]

JacksInn Her son probably isn’t 10 or some shit. He’s probably older...at least I hope he is. Otherwise, that kid is fucked up for life now.

[@Nepente333]

@@BCS1105 How exaggerated all of you truly are. MD's a piece of art... from the very beginning to end. Wow, you sound so... close-minded.

[@ronniebishop2496]

I used to tell my writers if you have to explain a song it’s not good and the audience wouldn’t understand it anyway.

[@thunderclease]

he's actually typing on a computer in his head.

[@RaygunShaun]

Also, anyone who doesn't get Mulholland Drive should see the 'THEORIES' page at the Lost on Mulholland Drive website. It's very obvious that Lynch knew what the fuck he was doing when he made it.

[@Dank951]

You took the words right out of my mouth...I'm going to screenshot your comment and print it out and show those I know who aren't able to comprehend or unlock this film. :)

[@Delpheno2K7]

Have you seen Blue Velvet or Mulholland Dr.? Those are less abstract, and they actually have plots.

[@ninakotyantz7177]

Thank you for this!

[@blondeonblonde1966]

i love how he does that finger thing lol

[@DanielThePoet22]

Fan: What’s the meaning beh- David: oh gosh, here we go again...

[@mimosveta]

This is almost exactly how I tried to explain his movies to friends who get confused by him.

[@hiyadroogs]

timbaone, thank you for the explanation. That film has tortured me for ages! I made the mistake of trying to interpret the meaning through logical progression, rather than trying to see through Davids sub plots, misdirection & red herring. But what about the old couple who drop Naomi's character off at the beginning? & who haunt her into commiting suicide at the end? Are they a depiction of her guilt?

[@bigbowlowrong]

mulholland drive has a very definite story line. it tells a story with a definite beginning and middle and end. it's a very good movie if you're willing to take the time to figure it out.

[@Kevo216666]

This is really interesting, inspiring and cool.

[@xbikox]

everyone is laughing, pretending that they know everything: Bravo to this brave lady...There are no stupid questions (she just asked the question that 99% of audience wanted to ask :)

[@intothewoodsLA]

Mulholland Drive is fairly straightforward.

[@NorbertPSV0000]

such a wonderful man

[@deepmind5670]

Finger wiggling while talking, a classic hypnotic technique. He might not even know that's what he's doing, but his movies strongly suggest that he thinks hypnosis is the way to go, with their dreamlike quality.

[@nurikospecial]

LEGENDFACE

[@luisonly]

I totally agree

[@crypttonite]

it's one thing to want to capture abstraction,another to do it, and he does,it's unreal-the art of cinema,the art of putting expression on film,and of course there is the idea that film is it's own direct language and not a reflective one.

[@mondovich]

thanks for doing this, much appreciated!

[@The64v]

"Cinema is a language that can say abstractions."

[@woodhd]

this man for president

[@NeverAloneForever]

This explains a lot. Don't hate or love the guy. Just understand.

[@lajeteefan]

That is true to some extent. But as I was talking with a friend who is a film student (and not some pretentious jerk stuck in academia), there actually is something behind this. There is a method to the madness. Lynch simply takes abstractions and renders them so thick with image and meaning in order to create a film that the abstractions are both hidden, yet right under our noses. For years I'd wondered if that was the case. The film student friend said to watch Sunset Blvd. for parallels.

[@subsamadhi]

@pelletey still the question begs to be asked: why then would you sit there and do a Q&A when it is totally redundant to do so? I might as well just walk around and ask random strangers what their views of the movie are. Either that or he could just sit on the stage and flip off the audience members every time they ask him something because he really isn't doing a whole lot with this crap for those who are interested in understanding him better.

[@m00nracer]

brilliant answer. Our consumption based society wants to be spoonfed all the answers.

[@pastafantastica]

Love DL , fantastic!

[@sponooch]

i can't watch this the camera is just to shaky.. bummer

[@chypyta]

can someone write what they say, please? i can't understand it very well because english it's not my nature language. thank you.

[@badegg3210]

I always find it encouraging when people learn to think for themselves. I'm aware that David Lynch is famous for hating to explain the meanings of his movies, and how that can frustrate people. But I watched this and felt very encouraged, because of the point he makes at the end "...But you do know, and what you know is valid".

[@tamohara19]

Genio.

[@thegreatreverendx]

@dullath Aw that's gonna drive me NUTS. Now I HAVE to find that sentence!

[@charlescozic3208]

His next film: Jumpy Hand 😊

[@ronniebishop2496]

What was the question?

[@darthbeavis8511]

I think this film is about two people that where together in life, and find each other in death.

[@mondovich]

When asked he said he would never say

[@subsamadhi]

@TheIncredibleBAGMAN Oh, David Lynch has taken many an idea from other movie makers. I know a lot about the guy.....plus he has friends with deep pockets. He hit up just about everyone imaginable around him for money while making Eraserhead. He makes entertaining movies (some of them) but he definitely has the resources going for him. I'm just saying, he's not that great of a director and he is full of himself. He's not the only "artist" to display these traits.

[@CultMovieFreak]

Does anyone know what passage in the Bible David read?

[@gavinplaysbass]

Hahaha man i was staring at his right hand the whole time.

[@subsamadhi]

@TheIncredibleBAGMAN believe it or not, I have movie people in my family and such. I have watched them at my house as a kid writing screenplays and such. True story. Methinks that if I had enough time, I could probably do a pretty decent job at it.

[@ultravulva]

oh lord!, i was just transported to dr. gentile's film class.

[@iamnothowardhues]

@subsamadhi It's all in the ideas, and this film has more ideas in it than any other film I've seen. There are numerous ways to interpret this film, and all of these interpretations have numerous ideas within the film that support them. "We create our own reality" would have been a more direct way for him to say what he's saying here, I guess.

[@BrianKellyisGay]

David is transforming into Dr. Strangelove😂