Noted film director Ken Russell showed clips from his filmmaking career, screened a new 20 minute film, Boudica Bites Back, and answered questions at UCF on March 30, 2009.
Films that Ken Russell recommended:
Metropolis (1927)
La Belle and la bete (1946)
10 Canoes (2006)
I Vitelloni (1953)
L'Atalante (1934)
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997)
Favorite filmmaker:
Fritz Lang
Least favorite filmmaker:
Steven Spielberg
Mr. Russell is proud of making films that he "believed in." He loves the power of music. And making motion pictures about music.
In response to questions from students, Mr. Russell was pithy and unpretentious.
Biggest obstacle? "Lack of money."
How did you get started? During WW2, in aid of the Spitfire Fund (there was an airplane factory just down the road), young Ken Russell charged sixpence admission to his father's garage where he screened the only films available, silent German masterworks. "While the son's of Siegfried bombed the shit out of us, I showed Siegfried. I didn't appreciate the irony then."
How to get into the film business today? "Get a camera. Push the red button."
