Frederick Wiseman
Frederick Wiseman
Frederick Wisemanis an American filmmaker, documentarian, and theatrical director...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionDirector
Date of Birth1 January 1930
CountryUnited States of America
Frederick Wiseman quotes about
audiences believe lots orthodox ways works
There are lots of different ways to make film. I don't believe there has to be any orthodox way to making movies, or any rules. It's what works for the filmmaker, and, theoretically, the audience.
editing choices mind
You have to edit the material. That assumes that some kind of a mind is operating in relation to the material. Not all minds are the same. Every aspect of filmmaking requires choice. The selection of the subject, the shooting, editing and length are all aspects of choice.
drama sadness tragedy
I'm interested in ordinary experience, and regardless of the precise definition of ordinary, and I've found that in so-called ordinary experience, there is as much comedy, tragedy, sadness, as there is in great drama. And I don't invent it, I recognize it.
goal different film
My goal is to make as many films as possible about different aspects of American life.
tired trying attention
In moviemaking, you learn to pay attention to detail, because so much is in the detail. And when you're shooting, you try to be very alert to what's going on, even if you're tired.
doctors lawyer newspapers
Whether you're a newspaper journalist, a lawyer, a doctor. You have to organize your thoughts.
manipulation
Everything about a movie is manipulation.
sentimental busy nostalgic
I'm too busy to be nostalgic, which is one of the reasons to keep busy. I'm not a very sentimental person.
optimistic thinking pessimistic
I think my movies aren't sentimental. I think my movies are funny and sad and realistic. Not realistic in the sense that they're documentaries, but realistic in the sense that they're not idealistic, they're not optimistic, not pessimistic, and not propagandistic. They're an analysis of a situation. I call it as I see it, so to speak.
effort existence
Making movies is an effort, is an attempt to leave a trace of your existence.
addition american-director confuse historians hope next pictures
I hope that not only my documentaries, but everybody's documentaries, last. It will really confuse historians in the next century, because they'll have, in addition to all the print material, they'll have all these pictures to look at.