"It’s often said that film critics are frustrated would-be filmmakers, and I suppose one might just as easily make the same assumption about cinema programmers. But in my case, it’s simply not true. I’ve never particularly wanted to make movies; simply watching them seems to me a much more enjoyable way of spending one’s time. Besides which I know I could never come close to matching the achievements of the filmmakers whose work has given me the most pleasure. If I know I’m never going to be capable of making a Citizen Kane (1941) or a L’Atalante (1934), an Amour (2012), a The Wind Will Carry Us (1999) or even a Naked Gun 2 ½: The Smell of Fear (1991), then why should I bother taking up directing? It’s just as well, of course, that this attitude isn’t shared by everyone else. If it were, we’d see very few films being made. And it’s just as well, too, for the rest of the world that I myself do have this attitude; otherwise there’d be even more bad films needlessly made than there are already. But if I ever were to take up filmmaking, there’s one thing I know I’d set out to do: I’d aim to get the audience hooked with the very first scene." - Geoff Andrew, Head of Film Programme at BFI Southbank and a regular contributor to Sight & Sound.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Jul 2013 22:52:05 +0000
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