Tell Them Who You Are is probably going to be one of the most personal films that comes out this year. You cant get much more personal than director Mark Wexler doing a documentary on his father, the famous cinematographer Haskell Wexler. The film is basically Mark taking a DV camera and interviewing his father and many of his contemporaries such as Milos Forman, Dennis Hopper, George Lucas, Martin Sheen and many more. Not only does this documentary put Haskells career in perspective but also tackles the rocky relationship Mark had with him.
Check out the official site for Tell Them Who You Are
Daniel Robert Epstein: Did you know going into this film that it would be such an emotional journey for you?
Mark Wexler: My dad and I have always had a very complex relationship. Hes an artist so hes a complex and difficult guy so I didnt think it would be any different onscreen. I hoped that the film would be a way of reconciling with him and bringing us together, which it has.
DRE: Was it only possible to reconcile with him by having a movie come out in theatres?
MW: I thought it was either make this movie or go into massive therapy. I thought making the movie would be cheaper but I think I miscalculated.
DRE: Did the movie work like therapy?
MW: Yeah I think the film helped us both talk about issues that we wouldnt talk about otherwise. Also we are both familiar with cameras so we had that to talk about which helped us talk about other things.
When you make a documentary you have to pick subjects that you feel passionate about because you are not doing it for money. Ive always been interested in father/son relationship particularly my own since its been complex. I wanted to explore our relationship. So being able to go into the editing room and watch my dad was a real education.
DRE: I heard your father was giving you advice on shots.
MW: He is a gifted filmmaker so he has specific ways on how he thinks things should be shot and he has no qualms about expressing those ideas to anyone.
DRE: Did you find investors for this movie?
MW: No I self funded. I wanted to do it the way I wanted to and I thought I could sell it.
DRE: How has it been for you having to answer hundreds of journalists personal questions about your relationship with your father?
MW: Its pretty much out there in the movie so I dont know if there is anymore to say but it is pretty interesting.
DRE: When you see the final movie can you watch it without emotions?
MW: Yeah because now I think about if the print looks good and technical things like that.
DRE: From what I read your politics fall on the right and he is obviously more of a leftie, so do you argue politics?
MW: Yes we do. He is very political and likes to express his beliefs. His movies have been about issues which are very important to him.
DRE: Jane Fonda is interviewed in your film, is it just a coincidence that this is coming out around the same time as Monster-In-Law.
MW: That is interesting but its just a coincidence. She actually wasnt expecting it to be such an emotional film and she got wrapped up in the subject matter.
DRE: Did any of your interviewees say anything about your dad that surprised you?
MW: I didnt know he was colorblind.
Also as Jane Fonda says in the film, its a childs responsibility to approach the father about reconciliation and to do that before its too late. Life is short and thats why its important to make a connection with a parent before they are gone.
DRE: Did you ever think about doing a straight documentary about your father?
MW: I didnt want to do that because its been done. I wanted to talk about his career but I didnt think the whole film would be just that.
DRE: When did you realize that your father had a rocky relationship with many of the people he worked with?
MW: I kind of knew it growing up because he was fired from two or three movies. But I didnt know the extent of it or the details. My dad got along with some people he worked with but not everyone.
DRE: What is your favorite film of your dads?
MW: I liked American Graffiti mostly because I was a production assistant on it. I liked the casting and music as well. But as a work, Medium Cool, because it was his directorial debut. It was a personal film which tackled the issues of what is reality. You see him getting tear gassed so he was part of the film as well.
DRE: What is it about cinematographers that makes them unique people?
MW: I think cinematographers are passionate about what they do because most of them enjoy their work. Its a pretty small group.
DRE: How are you getting along with your dad now?
MW: Good, we just spoke on the phone yesterday. He really liked the film and praised it. He didnt ask for any changes.
DRE: Were you there when he first saw the film?
MW: Yeah, I even taped him watching the film for the DVD. Waiting to see what he said about the film was probably the most nerve wracking experience of my life.
DRE: What else will be on the DVD?
MW: Hopefully the celebrities talking about their fathers and children.
DRE: What did the rest of the family think?
MW: A mixed reaction.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Check out the official site for Tell Them Who You Are
Daniel Robert Epstein: Did you know going into this film that it would be such an emotional journey for you?
Mark Wexler: My dad and I have always had a very complex relationship. Hes an artist so hes a complex and difficult guy so I didnt think it would be any different onscreen. I hoped that the film would be a way of reconciling with him and bringing us together, which it has.
DRE: Was it only possible to reconcile with him by having a movie come out in theatres?
MW: I thought it was either make this movie or go into massive therapy. I thought making the movie would be cheaper but I think I miscalculated.
DRE: Did the movie work like therapy?
MW: Yeah I think the film helped us both talk about issues that we wouldnt talk about otherwise. Also we are both familiar with cameras so we had that to talk about which helped us talk about other things.
When you make a documentary you have to pick subjects that you feel passionate about because you are not doing it for money. Ive always been interested in father/son relationship particularly my own since its been complex. I wanted to explore our relationship. So being able to go into the editing room and watch my dad was a real education.
DRE: I heard your father was giving you advice on shots.
MW: He is a gifted filmmaker so he has specific ways on how he thinks things should be shot and he has no qualms about expressing those ideas to anyone.
DRE: Did you find investors for this movie?
MW: No I self funded. I wanted to do it the way I wanted to and I thought I could sell it.
DRE: How has it been for you having to answer hundreds of journalists personal questions about your relationship with your father?
MW: Its pretty much out there in the movie so I dont know if there is anymore to say but it is pretty interesting.
DRE: When you see the final movie can you watch it without emotions?
MW: Yeah because now I think about if the print looks good and technical things like that.
DRE: From what I read your politics fall on the right and he is obviously more of a leftie, so do you argue politics?
MW: Yes we do. He is very political and likes to express his beliefs. His movies have been about issues which are very important to him.
DRE: Jane Fonda is interviewed in your film, is it just a coincidence that this is coming out around the same time as Monster-In-Law.
MW: That is interesting but its just a coincidence. She actually wasnt expecting it to be such an emotional film and she got wrapped up in the subject matter.
DRE: Did any of your interviewees say anything about your dad that surprised you?
MW: I didnt know he was colorblind.
Also as Jane Fonda says in the film, its a childs responsibility to approach the father about reconciliation and to do that before its too late. Life is short and thats why its important to make a connection with a parent before they are gone.
DRE: Did you ever think about doing a straight documentary about your father?
MW: I didnt want to do that because its been done. I wanted to talk about his career but I didnt think the whole film would be just that.
DRE: When did you realize that your father had a rocky relationship with many of the people he worked with?
MW: I kind of knew it growing up because he was fired from two or three movies. But I didnt know the extent of it or the details. My dad got along with some people he worked with but not everyone.
DRE: What is your favorite film of your dads?
MW: I liked American Graffiti mostly because I was a production assistant on it. I liked the casting and music as well. But as a work, Medium Cool, because it was his directorial debut. It was a personal film which tackled the issues of what is reality. You see him getting tear gassed so he was part of the film as well.
DRE: What is it about cinematographers that makes them unique people?
MW: I think cinematographers are passionate about what they do because most of them enjoy their work. Its a pretty small group.
DRE: How are you getting along with your dad now?
MW: Good, we just spoke on the phone yesterday. He really liked the film and praised it. He didnt ask for any changes.
DRE: Were you there when he first saw the film?
MW: Yeah, I even taped him watching the film for the DVD. Waiting to see what he said about the film was probably the most nerve wracking experience of my life.
DRE: What else will be on the DVD?
MW: Hopefully the celebrities talking about their fathers and children.
DRE: What did the rest of the family think?
MW: A mixed reaction.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
missy:
Tell Them Who You Are is probably going to be one of the most personal films that comes out this year. You cant get much more personal than director Mark Wexler doing a documentary on his father, the famous cinematographer Haskell Wexler. The film is basically Mark taking a DV camera and interviewing...