William Friedkin
William Friedkin
William Friedkin is an American film director, producer and screenwriter best known for directing The French Connection in 1971 and The Exorcist in 1973; for the former, he won the Academy Award for Best Director. Some of his other films include Sorcerer, Cruising, To Live and Die in L.A., Jade, Rules of Engagement, The Hunted, Bug, and Killer Joe...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionDirector
Date of Birth29 August 1935
CityChicago, IL
CountryUnited States of America
We all wind up the same way, no matter what our goals or ambitions are. We have nothing at all to say about how we got into this world or how are going to leave it.
All the great countries are at odds with one another over something, and yet if they don't cooperate they're going to blow up.
Star Wars is one of a handful of films that changed the zeitgeist forever.
If Star Wars had failed, you wouldn't have 90 percent of what's out there today.
Star Wars gave birth to all the computer-generated superhero films.
I believe today that there is no film and no shot in a film that is worth a squirrel getting a sprained ankle.
If you call yourself a non-believer, you're referring to disbelief in something, and you're acknowledging that there is something to believe in or not.
You are always cheating for the audience.
You don't leave the film alone. You have a new audience, and you have a new medium. Why would you leave it alone? Film is not an antique. It's not a relic. It's not a Leonardo da Vinci. I don't want someone painting over a da Vinci or Rembrandt. But these movies aren't that.
The Blu-ray is the real cinematech of world cinema. That's how it's being preserved. All of these guys that are trying to preserve 35mm negatives? They are wasting their time. There are better ways to see and project this stuff. It's called digital.
Sure, you could go out and make Jaws today. But all of the sequels to Jaws weren't good. They are all worthless. The Godfather II is the only sequel that I have ever seen that is as good as or better than the original.
I'm not a fan of Star Wars. That is not for me. That is for my nephews and nieces. I don't get it.
I have seen lampoons of my work. And I have really enjoyed them. But I would never do another version of The Exorcist.
With The Exorcist we said what we wanted to say. Neither one of us view it as a horror film. We view it as a film about the mysteries of faith. It's easier for people to call it a horror film. Or a great horror film. Or the greatest horror film ever made. Whenever I see that, I feel a great distance from it.