The conversation with a famous film director

Journalist: I’m going to write an article about the prize-winning films of the festival and their creators. And I’m very happy to make my first interview with you, Donald. Your new musical got 4 prizes: for the best direction, best female part, best script and best music. You are a brilliant dancer, actor, choreographer and one of the most famous film directors. Your contribution into filmmaking is enormous. I’m a great fan of your work and I think the story of your success will be an inspiration to young people all over the world. I mean, I want your story from the very beginning.

Film director: OK. Well, my mother loved theatre and she was the one who sent me to dancing school. So while my friends were playing football I was taking dance lessons. Then I studied at college, had musical training in Conservatory of Fine Arts, entered the University, Drama Department. I taught at a local studio to pay for my education. I also performed with my brother Fred. We worked hard and after a few years we were ready to go on a dance concert tour. Audiences everywhere adored us. After that I made my way to the Broadway stage and played small roles there.

Journalist: I know you met your wife when you were taking part in one of the Broadway performances.

Film director: You are absolutely right. We met while we were playing in the popular musical comedy “Diamond Horseshoe”. It was my first lead on the Broadway.

Journalist: I heard that Betsy had an accident in that performance. How did it happen?

Film director: One day during the performance she jumped over the table and twisted her ankle. She couldn’t dance after that for some weeks.

Journalist: When did you start working in cinema?

Film director: I was 27 when I got married and we decided to move to California. We rented a flat. I couldn’t find a job. At last I got a role in an action film.

Journalist: What role was it, the main or supporting?

Film director: You will probably be surprised, but I started working as a stuntman. I had a lot of work. My roles in films were interesting and sophisticated. One day a famous producer saw some rushes with my participation, asked the director who the stuntman was and offered me to discuss a contract with MGM studio. My film career began. And I played a lot of different roles – main and supporting, more or less successful, I took part in musical films as a choreographer before turning to film direction and shooting my first film. It was a musical, of course.

Journalist: And now a traditional, but very important question – your next film. Is it true that you are going to shoot a psychological drama?

Film director: Yes, I want to try to film something different. Two years ago my friend brought me his screenplay. It is based on real events. Now I’m working out a shooting script, doing storyboards with the production designer and casting actors. We are going to film most of the scenes on location. I think we’ll start shooting in two months.

Journalist: Is your wife going to take part in this movie?

Film director: It depends on her plans. She is going on a big tour next month.

Journalist: Can I ask you some more questions about your new film project? And can I also talk to Betsy?

Film director: Yes, of course. Betsy is making lunch at the moment. She likes cooking. She thinks it’s very relaxing.

Exercise 28. Tell about the director’s career in your own words.

Exercise 29. In pairs. Make up an interview with a famous director (actor, director of photography, screenwriter, production designer, costume designer, film animator, sound designer, producer) and then act it out. Speak about his/her biography, the beginning of the career, his/her first success, important events and creative work, plans for the future.