If you think of the base morality of the place (America) it's about guns, money and religion and the mix of it is sometimes not a very good cocktail. |
In 1905 Albert discovered Relativity, in 1906 he invented Rock and Roll. |
In a kind of a way there's a bit of that happening now so we have to be careful to preserve our culture. |
It was always easy for me. I was born very rich and lucky. |
It would probably be the greatest industry this country could ever have because entertainment is the biggest thing in the world. |
It's an infinite creative universe to explore so why chase conservative options? |
It's because we are so flooded with American culture that we're startled when we see ourselves up there on the screen. |
It's not the Olympics that are the problem, it's these big, horrible, formula, factory American comedies that are out there bashing our tiny, little film industry and when you're trying to celebrate the Australian culture you've got all this trash coming in there. |
Making your first feature film is actually impossible. |
Movies are a complicated collision of literature, theatre, music and all the visual arts. |
Movies are usually difficult, often insane, constantly challenging and always strangely amusing to make. |
My background was art school, documentary director and surfer with a keen interest in thrilling acts of life threatening stupidity. |
Now both my films have been number one at the Australian box office and it took about two years just to get the finance for this film, so if it's hard for me then God help everyone else. |
So we have to be careful because if you don't protect your culture you won't have it for very long. |
The American formula things are out there but they don't have any stories to tell - we have all the stories to tell - but they're all formula. |