Watch the Best Directors of the Year Talk About Movies for an Hour

The Hollywood Reporter sits down with many of the leading candidates for this year's Best Director award (take your pick of the particular awards show). Here's the lineup: Alexander Payne (The Descendants), Mike Mills (Beginners), Steve McQueen (Shame), Jason Reitman (Young Adult), Bennett Miller (Moneyball) and Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist). There are a lot of terrific moments here:

Some of my favorite quotes/exchanges:

Alexander Payne: "editing is the ongoing process of disguising how bad the film really is."

Jason Reitman: "Watching The Godfather makes me not want to make movies... why would I possibly try to make a movie after watching something as brilliant as that?... The instinct to make movies doesn't come from watching movies, it comes from experiencing life."

Steve McQueen: "I'm running, I"m not chasing... I'm trying to do as much as I can before I fall down. I'm interested in stuff which is in the air, that you can't see. But how can you put it on film? It's like catching butterflies."

Mike Mills: "If I'm going to die tomorrow, this is the best story I've got. This is my best chance to try to communicate something about being human."

I'll let the directors speak for themselves on film school... there is no wrong answer. Any favorite quotes of yours?

[via THR]

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Your Comment

32 Comments

I was hoping for Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay, James Cameron but this one was still good tough

December 2, 2011 at 9:08AM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Same here . . .

December 2, 2011 at 9:15AM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Surprised that David Fincher(Girl with Dragon Tattoo) and Nicolas Winding Refn(Drive) didn't make the cut.

December 2, 2011 at 9:34AM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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I'm sure their selections were limited by who was available...

December 2, 2011 at 9:41AM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Ryan Koo
Founder
Writer/Director

It said "best directors" so how does Michael Bay fit in there?

December 2, 2011 at 5:25PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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maghoxfr

I sincerely hope his being sarcastic. Michael Bay, OMS.

December 3, 2011 at 12:43AM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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WIll

Why? Their perspectives on filmmaking are well documented in hundreds of other places (BTS extras, magazine articles, etc...) Better to hear from fresher voices... and not ones who are part of the highest echelons of the Hollywood elite.

December 5, 2011 at 9:43AM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Jesse

Really wish it had subtitles :/ but thanks Koo for typing some of the quotes. Really appreciate it.

Just posted a couple videos that started some of today's best director's careers- http://artofthestory.com/?p=923

December 2, 2011 at 9:13AM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Looks great, to bad I have to go to an editing session today... for tonight though.

December 2, 2011 at 9:18AM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Angelo

I want hear something from christopher nolan , HE is my all time favourite director !! :) ..

December 2, 2011 at 10:29AM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Raj

Agreed but he didn't make a film this year so...

December 2, 2011 at 11:07AM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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"Most directors make films with their eyes; I make films with my testicles." - Alejandro Jodorowsky

December 2, 2011 at 11:09AM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Matheo

This. Haha.

December 2, 2011 at 1:29PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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After watching El Topo... I believe it.

December 2, 2011 at 3:15PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Ryan Koo
Founder
Writer/Director

And during "The Holy Mountain," you live it with him…

December 2, 2011 at 7:58PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Jay

The host asked some kind of awkward questions... I almost wished they would have just had the directors sitting around talking maybe with a few prepared questions... or at least have an actual director host it, this way the questions aren't the same "what's your influence" type questions they get asked by everyone all the time.

He reminded me of this guy a little bit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsn0rAMpFlI&feature=player_detailpage#t=83s

December 2, 2011 at 11:30PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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O'Ryan

That is the worst interview I've ever seen. This should be required viewing for all people interested in doing interviews!

December 5, 2011 at 7:45PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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c.d.embrey

Public access is much worse, but this is still pretty painful.

December 8, 2011 at 12:56AM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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chris

What was the french dudes name? I'm interested in seeing his silent film..

December 3, 2011 at 1:24PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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David

Wait never mind, it's up top!

December 3, 2011 at 1:25PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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David

You may not like his work, but Michael Bay should be considered one of the best at the moment.

December 4, 2011 at 7:15AM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Agree, with 'Armageddon' 100% ;-)

December 9, 2011 at 8:48PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Pravin

I enjoyed the panel. Some great filmmakers with some interesting insight.

December 4, 2011 at 3:37PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Michael Bay can be perhaps considered on of the best pyrotechnics, But overall I could´t place him even close to the top of current directors. I had never fallen asleep while watching a movie (even terrible films, as I always find myself learning something, even if its ´not´how to make a film) until I watched the recent transformers. Fireworks are great for 15 min tops, but without a good story it grows old really quickly, when there isn´t anything to be emotionally invested in or attached to. I haven´t made a film yet, but when I finally do I hope it isn´t like a Michael Bay film. I understand the appeal they have however, but find them very shallow investments.

December 4, 2011 at 6:40PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Michael Bay is a studio's dream: anything he touches as a director or producer has made the budget back in the box office (not to mention the insane amount of tail end money all the films make). It's lowbrow but he picks his projects carefully and knows how to entertain an audience. He's the McDonalds fast food of directors but I still give him respect for that.

December 6, 2011 at 12:26AM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Angelo

it's kinda funny how two of those directors have the same name as two other celebrities, Steve McQueen(Actor), and Mike Mills (Bass Player for REM) lol. Aside from that, there're really all talented in my opinion.

December 7, 2011 at 12:59PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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adrian

Is it me or do all these guys seem like assholes?

December 7, 2011 at 2:44PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Its definitely you.

December 8, 2011 at 2:24PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Zahi

I haven't even watched this yet, but it's insanely depressing to pull up an article that says, 'The best directors of the year' and once again (again and again) see an image full of mostly white dudes.

December 8, 2011 at 1:06PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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Alexandra

So...who the hell is that guy on the far left? An intern? But yeah, very interesting, terrible interviewer...

December 8, 2011 at 1:36PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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rob

Why make a movie after THE GODFATHER? Uhhhh...because I'm a storyteller working in the written and moving image mediums called movies. Because Copolla is an influence and most importantly; with the increasing changes in technology, etc., there's no way I'm gonna let the Nepotism of Hollywood stop me from proving myself.

December 9, 2011 at 5:16PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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MARK11

That is some crappy camera work. Was that wide shot on a wobble cam? And how 'bout some labels so we don't have to figure out who's talking. Still it's cool to hear from these guys. Thanks for posting...

December 21, 2011 at 3:31PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM

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ken.d