A Filmmaking and Screenwriting Masterclass with Oscar® Nominee John Sayles // Indie Film Hustle

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Today on the show we have legendary independent filmmaker and Oscar® nominated screenwriter John Sayles.
John Sayles is one of America's best known independent filmmakers, receiving critical acclaim for films including Lone Star (1996) and Men with Guns (1997). He's also written screenplays for mainstream films such as Passion Fish (1992), Limbo (1999), The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) and did a draft of Jurassic Park (1993) for Steven Spielberg. John has been named by American critic Roger Ebert as "one of the few genuinely independent American filmmakers", which John modestly denies!
John has directed over 20 films and written well over 100 screenplays throughout his career. Two of his early films, The Return of the Seacaucus Seven (1978) and Baby Its You (1982), were selected by the United States National Film Registry for preservation in 2012. John was born outside Scranton, Pennsylvania and graduated from Williams College.
John is a talented screenwriter as well as director; he made his first professional short film TSR: Thirty Seconds Over Reims (1971) after winning a talent competition with a script for the film. John's work often touches on social issues - including unemployment, inner-city violence and war - which John believes make excellent material for stories due to complex personal relationships involved with these topics.
John Sayles is an example of someone who supports the independent film movement. John's films Lone Star (1996) and Matewan (1987) were both nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and John himself has been nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
John and I had an amazing conversation that was full of knowledge bombs. It was truly like being in a filmmaking and screenwriting masterclass, hence the title of the episode.
Sit back, relax and get ready to take some notes. Enjoy my conversation with John Sayles.
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[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

What a get! Great filmmaker, great interview subject...

[@IndieFilmHustle]

It's an amazing conversation!

[@christophermoonlightproduction]

Great discussion. I liked the segment on working with actors.

[@mickeyaugrec7560]

Brilliant! Expected the most from Sayles, he is always locked in. Terrific interview!

[@girafingo9280]

Brother from another planet - EPIC film by an amazing director.

[@JoanneWinfield]

Thank you. I am trying to write my first screenplay . I only have the premise so far,

[@RAYMONDFORCHIONFILM]

Absolutely tremendous interview. Not only the wisdom and honesty that John shared with us, but also the great questions that you asked him. Very very helpful. Take care and keep rolling...

[@daisyguerra2780]

SUCH A FANTASTIC INTERVIEW!! Enjoyed it very much!!

[@IndieFilmHustle]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@RJGilman1967]

Great stuff, thank you. Sorry I missed it live. Back in the day, Secaucus Seven (The Return of) was this idea of so many things it was an american independent film, hope, a chance, democratizing, to a filmmaker back in the late 70's early 80's. . . ahhh, I could never contextualize what a film like that meant, you had to be fully immersed in that world and then to see this film, man. You'd check the local paper of the closest city that had an indie theater, looking for the ad that said, "The Return of The Secaucus Seven" Coming Soon. And every week you would look and then finally... next week! And then to know it was this new kind of "movie" - - yea, different time.

[@CarlosSaldivia]

Wow Alex, what an excellent and valuable spot with John, thank you!..

[@IndieFilmHustle]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@hellyworld9325]

The Howling!!!

[@barrycook6603]

I want to be John Sayles when I grow up.

[@indyvoter3134]

lol! Return of the Secaucus Seven (which heavily inspired The Big Chill) is listed in the video as "Return Walker 7"!! 🤣 Shows how attune Alex is to classic indie movies.

[@MisterSifuentes]

John is an honorary Tejano - Lone Star