Haskell Wexler: Tell Them Who You Are (2004 - Documentary)

The son of acclaimed cinematographer Haskell Wexler, ASC confronts his complex father by turning the camera on him. What results is a portrait of a difficult genius and a son's path out of the shadow of a famous father.
With Haskell Wexler, Conrad L. Hall, Bill Butler, Milos Forman, George Lucas, Billy Crystal, Michael Douglas, Jane Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Ron Howard, Julia Roberts, John Sayles, Paul Newman, Irvin Kershner, Albert Maysles, Norman Jewison.
For educational purposes only. Non-commercial purposes.

[@kevin6667]

I first met Haskell in Toronto at the IATSE convention and ran into him again at the Chicago and Hawaii conventions and then I saw him every couple years at Roger Ebert’s film festival. He was so intelligent, funny, inquisitive and kind. He was a fighter, a defender against oppression and injustice .. one of a kind, a true mentor and a patriot. It was honor to know and work with him.

[@gmar7836]

But he was a lousy father

[@SouthernRodsandClassics]

I first met Haskell in Montecito CA, I managed the UPS Store on Coast Village Rd. Once he found out I'm a gear head he would bring a different car over from his collection. He brought a white Porsche 911 over with a full roll cage and a small block chevy engine in the rear. When he opened the rear hood and this Morosso air cleaner popped out I was puzzled. The next day he brought his NSX. Then he brought over a Honda Civic with a Jackson Formula 1 engine in it. The red El Camino was my favorite. Had no clue who he was. Then he showed up with a black nylon jacket with the gold Oscar statue embroidered on the left side. I asked what thrift store he found it in. He said it came with the statue. He was a car guy thru and thru and loved seeing someone as excited about his collection as he was.

[@particleboy3584]

Years ago, I was at an event in L.A. for the DVD release of the Hal Ashby film 'Lookin' To Get Out.' The film had bombed at the box office and star Jon Voight had bought the negative and got the DVD released because he considered it to be among some of his best work. That night at the screening, co-stars Ann-Margret and Burt Young were in attendance as well as other stars and luminaries - director Cutis Hanson, casting director Marion Dougherty, actor Michael O'Keefe, etc. But ... but ... it was when Haskell Wexler arrived that it was like Moses parting the red sea. People actually bowed. There was such a feeling of respect for him, as though all others were mere mortals. And that's from the Hollywood community, an entity not known for hallowed grace. Tells you all you need to know about Mr. Wexler.

[@MannyEspinola-q4t]

What an argumentative subject to interview

[@DineshBhadwal]

RIP Haskell Wexler. And, thank you Mark for making this important film. Those who are commenting here that Senior Wexler was harsh to his son haven't watched the whole documentary. That last sequence is what this film is about. Even the toughest and most professional of artists and technicians like Wexler hide an ocean of love within themselves. It's hidden because they get little time to show it. For a person like Haskell, I wonder how he created top class imagery, I would say the best in the Hollywood in films like Matewan and Bound for Glory while being an active participator in the most important movements of our times. I cannot imagine how can someone come up with a film like Medium Cool which is an important document of our times. A film where you are never sure what is fiction and what is real and there lies the beauty of the film. Only an intellectual like Haskell could create such powerful film texts which questions the like film form while questioning the politics of our times. I think most of the directors who found it difficult to work with Haskell were kind of egomaniacs who either could not see or were never able to accept Haskell's intellect as a technician, philosopher, artist and storyteller. All through his life Haskell was looking for respect as a collaborator and not being treated as a slave to someone's whims and fancies. All these pictures would have been much better had these directors listened to Haskell rather than being relentless in their pursuit to treat everyone as their subjects. In this film too, you can see this beautiful chemistry between a son and father as Haskell participates with his camera in filmmaking. That is the beauty of this film. That is the message and purpose of this film and I would like to thank Mark once again.

[@thebrownfilmshow]

Man, that last sequence was heartbreaking.

[@langley8418]

This channel always has good soul food

[@MrCormac1982]

Incredible post. Thanks.

[@kevinmuendo9889]

I mean, is Haskell wrong about Bush and the FBI? if my son grew up loving them I too would be scared

[@gmar7836]

Haskell was also a super left winger. Watch the whole documentary

[@krishnansrinivasan830]

Incredible film :)

[@michaelleader8025]

SOUND Mark: I should have taken their advice and hired a separate sound guy. !

[@mikedaley8119]

He is the master - wex and James Howe

[@EmilyHartley25989]

The greatest two in my eyes also!

[@airclear]

Shalom If u know U know Fathers One Milk and Honey Can’t eat the money

[@JR-py2xd]

Where can I see the Interview with Julia Roberts?

[@nnj6918]

It's so obvious that Mr Wexler is proud of his son

[@gmar7836]

Are you serious? Because I’m watching this now and I got the impression that Haskell is not proud of his son. He’s pretty harsh on his son it seems

[@gmar7836]

Did you actually watch this entire documentary?

[@ritataggart9708]

Mark has lived very well off the association and had access to the people in this film thru Haskell's generosity. Mark did not have empathy for him. Many people were saddened by this film as was Haskell himself.

[@gmar7836]

What?!! Haskell was nothing but insensitive and cruel and rude to mark in this doc!

[@gmar7836]

Complete opposite! Haskell was not empathetic toward his son mark! It clearly shows this documentary, didn’t you watch this entire documentary? I did.

[@sanilalkuttimon1755]

❤️❤️❤️😍😍

[@gmar7836]

I’m watching this documentary and was surprised to find Haskell at times pretty pissy and unnecessarily annoyed at times.

[@ritataggart9708]

He shot for many months with Haskell and missed the man and his love for his art.

[@gmar7836]

@@ritataggart9708 not sure about that, but Haskell is cantankerous, opinionated, pissy and at times just completely disrespectful and cruel to his son mark this documentary. Haskell’s ego is also pretty massive here. I met Haskell one time back in 2000. He came to the company I was working at. I knew who he was when he came through the door. I just had no idea he was this temperamental until I watched this documentary. Poor Mark. I cannot imagine the difficulty of his youth growing up with Haskell as a father. Haskell was just toxic.