Mike Figgis
Mike Figgis
Michael "Mike" Figgisis an English film director, screenwriter, and composer. He was nominated for two Academy Awards for his work in Leaving Las Vegas...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionDirector
Date of Birth28 February 1948
ideas film failing
There's nothing quite like the idea of failing spectacularly to excite a film maker
humorous world tragic
The world is an infinitely fascinating, tragic and humorous place.
play piano guitar
I might have a guitar or a piano on set to play something for the actors.
theatre film periods
Films take up so much time, and with theatre, you do have to plan a period of time that you can be free.
player interesting trying
You make sure that there's a structure that's interesting for them to play on top of, then do temp versions and try it on the film. By the time the players come to the recording session, I've found what works. So I'm not wasting their time.
plot actors made
In discussing the process with the actors, I made it clear to them that they could improvise but that the sum total of their improvisation needed to impart certain plot points, and schematic material.
healthy actors agents
It's difficult working with very rich actors, because inevitably they become a little spoilt, and the managers and agents tend to control things more than is healthy.
mirrors development way
In a way, the history of jazz's development is a small mirror of classical music's development through the centuries. Now jazz is a living form of original music, while classical music has gotten to the end of its cycle in terms of exploring its form.
musical littles film
I've held onto little musical sketches that I thought could be useful, and the more time that I spend doing them for each film, then the more I have to draw on.
things-i-love cinema range
One of the things I love about cinema is the range.
guitar play piano
I play piano and trumpet. I studied classical guitar.
musical cameras instruments
I like to work my camera as if it were a musical instrument.
trying friendly want
I am intrigued enough to want to continue, and also to try and work with companies like Sony on modifying the cameras and making them more user-friendly and efficient.
years eight missing
Each film is different. Time Code was very quick - a matter of months. Miss Julie has been on my shelf as a script for some seven or eight years. But then the shooting process was very quick - 16 days.