The Film Festivals Server presents
Live at the London Film Festival

Question : You received so much attention after 'Sex' does that help or hinder a director...ga
Answer : In my case I think it helped.., provided me with many opportunities that I am still taking advantage of. ga

Question : What attracted you to The Underneath as a project?
Answer : I liked the idea of a protagonist..who is unable to live in the present and a film that has the same dilemma. ga

Question : Steven - can you tell us about your new film, what is it about and who stars in the lead roles?.
Answer : Its about a man trying to reconstruct a relationship..with his ex-wife but ends up being invovled in a crime...because of this desire to revisit the relationship. ga

Question : You have worked with Peter Gallagher a lot, what do you look for from your actors?
Answer : Intelligence, flexibility, humour...and, ah, nice clothes.

Question : Is there anyone you would particularly...like to work with?
Answer : Yes.

Question : who?
Answer : Alan Rickman.

Question : What projects do you have in the pipeline?
Answer : I'm working on a series of ultra low-budget..experimental films..ga

Question : Have you moved ...out of the mainstream then? ga
Answer : Yes.

Question : Your films often have a dark humour about them? Do you ever feel the urge to do 'straight' comedy? ga
Answer : As a matter of fact, the film I am working on now is a comedy...although not a straight one.

Question : Which other young film makers do you admire?
Answer : Its not something I think about a lot..I'm always happy to see a film that I like...but, admiration is not something I really concern myself with. ga

Question : Who were your influences then? ga
Answer : Numerous - Howard Hawks, ...Mike Nichols,..Bunuel..

Questions : Here's a question from Reading!...Both of your films focus on the trauma of relationships...is this something that you enjoy exploring?
Answer : Yes it is, although the research isn't often enjoyable.

Question : It's a living!
Answer : And a good one

Question : How many festivals will this film play at?
Answer : This is the second... I don't know if any more are planned.

Question : How do you feel about promoting your films?
Answer : I like it - I like travelling, and I get to meet interesting people - and its all free.

Question : Where do you live?
Answer : I split my time between Virginia.. and Louisiana..ga

Question : The Underneath and Kafka... were pretty moody. What attracted... you to the Kind of the Hill? ga
Answer : I thought it would be a challenge to make a film about ... a child that ... maintained an adult point of view...in the sense that it treated the.. child portagonist as a full-blown, complex.. character. ga

Question : How do you feel you've progressed as a movie maker? Do you still feel a lot of pressure with each new film ga
Answer : I think I've progressed a great deal.. although that may not be evident yet...to the public. ga

Question : I'm sure your're being modest! What is the state generally for...independent film makers in the US? ga
Answer : I think its easier to get an independent film made in the US.. than it used to be..but its harder to get that film released.. ga

Question : So what's the answer?
Answer : To make a film for such a small amount of money..that even if only a small number of people see it..still returns on its investment. ga

Question : What's the minimum amount you can make a feature for? ga
Answer : I've heard of features made for $5,000...but I'm talking more in the $75K range...ga

Question : Let's do a vote guys? How do you find London this time?
Answer : With great difficulty. Actually, I love London..If I wanted to live here, would I get killed by taxes?

Question : Nick : No and you'd get free health care! Thanks Steven for joining us - hope the film goes well...ga
Answer : Thanks for having me .

Question : I'll start with a controversial one...Should prostitution be legalised...ga
Answer : Yes. ga

Question : Should Heidi Fleiss be in prison?
Answer : No. ga

Question : It is reported that on this, and on other films, you were physically threatened. Is it worth risking your life to make films?
Answer : No...but of course you don't..realise that in advance...ga

Question : Was Heidi Fleiss really planning to divulge the names of her famous Hollywood clients?
Answer : Perhaps...ga

Question : And what was the reaction in Hollywood to her sentence?
Answer : Ah, the feds would have seized any money she would have made on a book deal ...prior to sentencing. ga

Question : What projects are you currentlly planning?
Answer : Various. ga

Question : Should more documentaries be shown in cinemas, rather than on TV?
Answer : Yes - definitely. ga

Question : Is it easy to get the money to make to make your films?
Answer : Yes

Question : THanks Nick for joining us and good luck with the film.
Answer : You're welcome - thank you.

That just about ties up this week's conference chat.
Thanks to Zenith Data Systems, CompuServe, Moving Pictures International, Multimedia Partners.
And of course The London Film Festival.
Thanks Nick/exit

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