As we prep for Park City, we thought it would be fun to interview all the people that are interviewing us. So here’s the first installment, Jennifer Wood from MovieMaker Magazine.
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Mike: What is your name, where do you work?
Jennifer: Jennifer Wood, Editor of MovieMaker Magazine and MovieMaker.com
Mike: Many journalists who write about film are filmmakers themselves – is this applicable about you, and if so – how would you describe the kinds of films you make or aspire to make?
Jennifer: Oddly enough, I’m just about the only person who writes for MovieMaker who is in fact NOT a moviemaker myself. What I am is a serious cineaste—not just interested in the end result, but fascinated by the process of making movies—everything from the genesis of an idea and the writing process to editing and soundtrack selection. As a moviegoer and movie magazine editor, I’m most interested in ingenuity—whether in the writing of a script of the pioneering use of a new film technology. I also love a modern twist on classic film genres or techniques—something like what Spike Jonze just did with Where the Wild Things Are or Wes Anderson with Fantastic Mr. Fox. (Wow – I guess I should add that I like kid’s movies.)
Mike: What are the top three things a filmmaker should NEVER do when being interviewed about their film?
Jennifer: 1) Give one-word/yes-no answers. An interviewer is looking to connect with the interview subject and the easiest way to do that is to properly express your passion for your project.
2) Seem bored by the questions. We all know that junkets suck – and the subjects are often asked the same question 100 times in one day (regardless of how witty the interviewer thinks s/he is). When it comes time to edit down – or out — stories, these will be the first interviews to go.
3) …Give… really… long… pauses… (and then forget what the original question was in the first place)
Mike: Aside from Michael Mohan, who was the raddest person you ever interviewed and why?
Jennifer: Hmmm… aside from Michael… I have been doing this for almost 10 years, so it’s really difficult to pick a favorite. Have spoken with so many interesting moviemakers of so many disciplines—and moviemakers I admire. Actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman and Steve Buscemi; editors like Walter Murch; screenwriters like Ed Solomon and Billy Ray; cinematographers like John Toll and Owen Roizman; even novelists like Bret Easton Ellis and Russell Banks; documentarians like Barbara Kopple and Albert Maysles. Honestly, the pieces I enjoy most are the ones where moviemakers give their opinions on movies—the best, the worst, etc. (The worst are particularly fun.)
brilliant
I heard that he was to eager do a Eastenders appearence Lol. do you know if this is true? There’s a bit of me that kind of wishes this is not true lol.