Joe Swanberg
Joe Swanberg
Joe Swanbergis an American independent film director, producer, writer, and actor. Known for micro-budget films which make extensive use of improvisation, Swanberg is considered a major figure in the mumblecore film movement. His films often focus on relationships, sex, technology, and the filmmaking process...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionActor
Date of Birth31 August 1981
CountryUnited States of America
Joe Swanberg quotes about
build characters dynamic figuring relationship sort trying
In the pre-production process, I am emailing with the actors or jumping on the phone, and we're sort of figuring out who the characters are and trying to build the relationship dynamic and things like that. Then, also, I am outlining.
trying really-weird ifs
My directing is really weird. Everything is based on whether it's working or not. I don't try to fix something if it's not working, I'll just change it.
trying helpful feels
I'm interested in taking things from my relationship that I don't see on screen - or that I feel like that could be useful or helpful if it were out in the open - and trying to put that in the movies as much as possible.
letting-go thinking trying
I think I'll try to keep working in film for a little bit. There's something still kind of magical about it, that I don't want to let go of.
trying actors gaps
It's really easy to finish a movie and sort of immediately dive into the next one, because I love working with actors so much and being on set, my inclination is to try to get back to that as soon as possible. There's just never much of a gap.
people trying want
I want to communicate with people, and I want to make something that works, and that people like. I'm never purposefully trying to be antagonistic or shocking or anything that would push an audience away. I'm always hoping to reach as many people as I can.
people trying actors
A lot of the people I'm working with are not actors, or it's their first time in a movie. I'm not trying to shape performances, coax performances out of them. It's more like I want to put them in situations that naturally work or allow them to be themselves. If it's not happening, I'll just completely switch it up, rather than trying to make it work.
people rein
I'm a pretty hands-off director. I let people try things, and if it gets over-jokey, then I'll try and rein it in a little bit.
films
I learn a lot as a director from acting in other people's films and just in general.
communication thinking people
I think in general I personally have a tendency to protect other people's feelings, and I've noticed that becomes a major hindrance to communication. It's better to just be honest, even if it's painful.
thinking knowing space
For a lot of people, you get cramped making decisions together and living together and every other thing that starts to happen. I just think you have to be vigilant in the relationship to carve out space for yourself. And a lot of that requires knowing what you need and communicating that to your partner, which is hard.
nice missing independence
There's something really nice about missing the person you're with. To have someone be apart enough to force independence and to also look forward to seeing that person.
two people looks
Rather than look at a marriage as two people morphing into one thing, you could see two individuals who are choosing to form a partnership.
atmosphere levels want
I don't want to force somebody to talk about sensitive subjects if they're not into it, but at the very least, even if that's happening off camera, it's allowing everybody to be on the same level, and creates an atmosphere on set that engenders trust.