Richard Linklater on being a self-taught filmmaker

[@blackops14141]

This may seem really strange, but that first minute of commentary really shocked me. I'm currently in business school and I really feel out of place. A lot of the people I talk to in my program seem fine with going down the regular route of life. Get a decent job, work 9-5, have a family, retire, die... But I really want to do something different, I feel like there are endless opportunities and I for one feel a growing passion for film, I spend more time researching movies and film-making fundamentals as opposed to studying for Economics. I need to work hard to push my limits and do what I want with my short time on this Earth. Richard Linklater, you understand me without even knowing me.

[@josephdtin]

this guy... this guy understands me.

[@Ralesidebottomfilms]

Your job is to make visible that which, without you, might never have been seen. -Bresson

[@CraigFlintmslamt]

How much does it pay?

[@marceloariassouto8545]

The are few filmmakers in the world who talk about his work and cinema with Linklater's energy and enthusiasm. He's such a lively and humane person and director. One feels the same way when you watch all the remarkable films he has made over the last 23 years (Slacker, Dazed and Confused, Before Sunrise, The Newton Boys, Waking Life, The School of Rock, Before Sunset, Me and Orson Welles, Bernie, Before Midnight). And I'm looking forward to watching Boyhood.

[@Paperbagman555]

Linklater is awesome, so chilled. I find just hearing him talk about him growing up, pursuing film etc. is fascinating

[@dagmantv]

Inspired, what I needed to hear.

[@JohnHolser]

This is such an honest look into how much work it takes to be a real filmmaker. Spectacular!!

[@akhan727]

It really felt like we were in his head as he discussed his personal truth and insight. Great interview!

[@Eeveefall]

i just wish there was a club for like minded individuals on filmmaking. :/ im debating on whether i should go to film school or not. i live in LA and can apply for LAFS just that i feel i wont really need it considering i freakin love the ideas i have for film. so going to film school would be just for the connection thing, meeting like minded people who are willing to help out or even i can help with.

[@filmschoolcomments]

Film school would be a good ground for making connections, sure. Any place where there are like-minded individuals is better than trying to find those connections. I think in that regard film school is a perfect place. You can always go for a semester and 'feel it out' in terms of the education you're getting or the people you're meeting. Then bounce. You don't have to always stay if it's not for you.

[@Eeveefall]

***** thanks yeah i decided i am going to film school to get the feels, picking up lingo used in the film industry would be great. especially when i need to communicate ideas to others honestly i was worried that i would be taught a "formal" way to make films in film school and it would like kill my creativity. but now i feel like it would be really cool to bounce off ideas with other people who aspire to the same. :)

[@HotelBedSheets]

EeveeFall I feel you so much on this. I really feel like I can do what I love without having to go to school for it, because it's been my passion since I was a child. I had applied for two colleges at different points in the year, and even though I was accepted in both of them I refused to go because I had felt like I truly didn't need film school; and I've felt that way for the longest time, way before graduating High School.

[@nictheartist]

If film school isn't for you, maybe consider starting your own film club. All you need is advertise on film forums (similar to shootingpeople.org) for likeminded people, meet up informally in a public place like a restaurant or a park (if the weather holds up). That way you don't invite potentially dodgy strangers into your home and maybe make new friends/colleagues. There must be loads of people who'd love to do all aspects of film making...?

[@tikonius]

So intimite and honest, thanks!

[@gregmcknight5183]

I love his Thoreau like philosophy

[@nuksfilms]

This is amazing, wow. Thank you to everyone involved for sharing this inspirational talk

[@Network_51]

Absolutely amazing how our energy is connected....

[@arricammarques1955]

Prospective film-media students beware. Don`t believe the hype about diploma qualifications. The industry doesn`t give a toss, plenty of qualified grads, fishing for work. Self producing, & experience superior to degrees. `Its not what you know, but who you know that counts``

[@fastenbulbous]

If nothing else, film school is an opportunity to focus on developing your perspective. Some people don't need the structure of a school to do that, but some do.

[@GuusOnline]

These are really great,- not even the educational aspect of them, but that I could come across a clip like this one, see some key similarities between my and his life, and think: well at least im kinda sorta on the right track

[@vallerikameiren3168]

Great Interview! Bookmarked!

[@7waterknight7]

My dream is to work with linklater

[@Islandfilmer18]

My dream is to become him. Join me? (lol)

[@Paperbagman555]

This is boss! This makes me wanna look more into Linklater, I never knew much about him or his work other than dazed and confused.

[@Ayinall]

I keep getting "try again" when hitting thumbs up.

[@youmeandi100]

This was absolutely great. Thank you! :)

[@GallowaySackett]

Like what you said about making individual films where you studied one aspect of film making. Thanks

[@Kangarilla9323]

Hey richard linkater can we be best friends? K thanks

[@omgpaulthompson]

This gives me so much hope!

[@DavidKingTheGhostWriter]

Thanks for the inspiration

[@pnoplyr14]

Thank you so much for this & all that you do.

[@GiveEmHellMCR]

Paul Thomas Anderson is often described as a prodigy filmmaker.

[@MikelGCinema]

They are simply wrong. Prodigies and geniuses maybe Bresson, Tarkovsky and Bergman.

[@hashanthiofficial]

Kino Cineasta Agreed.

[@filmschoolcomments]

***** The Hughes Brothers were 20 when they made Menace II Society - the youngest to date in terms of mainstream filmmaking, for a major studio. Also a financial success in terms of box office which gave them a career. I'd call that pretty damn "prodigy" when it concerns filmmaking. Obviously the first great prodigy was Welles though.

[@filmschoolcomments]

So I'm curious what you mean by a stretch... what is your definition of a prodigy filmmaker then? Because if we're going by age, pretty much anyone in their early to mid 20's is considered a prodigy filmmaker as the median age of a first filmmaker is about 35. Filmmaking is not an easy medium to grasp and do WELL. Therefore if you are 20 and you've made a pretty decent film, nevermind the fact it's also for a studio AND successful... that pretty much fills the criteria of a "prodigy filmmaker" in my book.

[@filmschoolcomments]

***** Yes I'm quite aware of Linklater's comment. I was responding to your posts and your comments on a "stretch". I'm sure you were going off the standard definition of a prodigy coupled with Linklater's comment... but we have to make a distinction here. Chess or music prodigies vs craft based occupations - which filmmaking clearly falls into. Therefore, chances of a 5, or 10 year old filmmaker are slim to none as the set of criteria to meet in filmmaking are vastly more difficult than that of a chess player or an instrumentalist musician. Which, while still difficult and complex are way easier to accomplish or grasp than filmmaking. Which is by its very nature, collaboration, technology, philosophy, literature dependant. Which require vast amounts of time and practice to grasp. So in that regard if Linklater is responding to the classic definition of a "prodigy" he is correct. But if you look at it from a slightly different perspective - where you take into account all the distinctions I've mentioned... then someone who's 20 for instance and makes their first film, a good, successful film as well - is definitely a prodigy filmmaker, WITHIN the context of that world. But NOT a prodigy in the classical sense, because it's virtually unrealistic and impossible.

[@AlexanderDecommere]

- Lovely series, this 'filmschoolcomments', but you should add somewhere in the info section what film this is from and what year. Keep up the nice work!

[@sawyerdonk2635]

Your god, I feel like he's explaining me. Very inspirational.

[@user-vc9tu2cn3t]

just great!

[@wc3415]

dedication of time

[@intuitiveactions]

thanks !

[@roathripper]

good fuckn vids man, keep em flowing

[@sebastianjankowski7185]

This is awesome.

[@terrencesoon3168]

Which commentary is this from?

[@JohnWesleyKingFilms]

I have to disagree with Linklater when he says there are no "prodigy filmmakers". Has he not heard of filmmakers like Chaplin, DeMille, or Billy Wilder who knew their audience and knew how to entertain so well that they never failed production?

[@marceloariassouto8545]

Obviously, Linklater has heard of those filmmakers. Before becoming a writer and director, he was a cinephile who founded The Austin Film Society, and watched 700 films a year. There are very few "prodigy" directors in the history of cinema (Chaplin, DeMille and Billy Wilder aren't in that group). One of those few prodigies was Orson Welles, who made Citizen Kane when he was 24 years old. And Linklater knows it very well. He actually made a very good movie about him (Me and Orson Welles).

[@jinitjha]

subjective learning path!

[@danielelocci953]

Potete mettere mi piace alla pagina grazie

[@OlymPigs2010]

It's tough to be a film buff considering that 95 percent of the movies are either mediocre cliches or just outright suck!