Peter Weir, director of Master and Commander (2003), The Truman Show (1998) and The Way Back (2010) answers questions after delivering the 2010 David Lean Lecture at BAFTA.
such an elegant man and filmmaker. i was blessed to have worked with him on his last film and it stands out to me as the highlight of my personal and professional life. i remember a late night screening session of rushes- after a long days shooting, and he played the days rushes- , we gathered around with our dinners, and he turned down the sound of the rushes and turned up some classical music that he had in mind for the score. within five minutes the whole room was frozen, nobody ate a bite, and the whole room was in tears. he was able to move a room of filmmakers and crew- into absolute emotion by magically conjuring sounds, music and imagery with a touch of magic. a true master. for a young man in my early career- it was truly truly captivating and a life changing expereience.
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story! I’m a big fan of Peter Weir. One naturally fears the clay feet of your heroes, but your story confirms that this man is a true master! Thank you!
One of my favorite directors. Loved his films Gallipoli and The Year of Living Dangerously. He talks of music and sound. Who can not recall the haunting Vangelis soundtrack of The Year of Living Dangerously? The soundtrack for that one was as much a star of that film as Mel Gibson.
Wonderful video! After many years I finally watched The Way Back. I love David Gulpilil so I found this movie and watched it. It was weird and not at all aboriginal ghost story and that's ok by me. Chamberlain was good and I always enjoy watching the film techniques, the sets, the music. Fascinating film maker. Thanks. From Oakland CA
Peter Jackson did for me, since Weir did just say success in general and not specifically early success. The LOTR Trilogy was one of the greatest things to ever happen to film, but the worst thing to ever happen to Peter Jackson, in my opinion.
Ehh, I doubt it. Lynch isn't really a movie buff. I doubt Weir has influenced him. While Weir was shooting "Picnic", Lynch was trapped in the long production of "Eraserhead" and purposely stopped watching any movies or listening to the news. They're both legends, but I don't see any of Weir's style in Lynch. Weir is just a different kind of great filmmaker in his own right.
A very nice conversation. But again, i must ask, why BAFTA have you taken down the conversation Mark had with Woody Allen (c.2005)? That at least was funny.
Love Peter Weir and his films and disagree with the first statement from Kermode. Weir definetly HAS a signature style. The tempo and pulse of his visual storytelling is instantly reconizeable. The deeply humanistic perspective on his protagonists is also typical of his work. Hell, he even managed to make Mel Gibson look like an actor.
Really enjoyed that, makes me want to see all Peter Weirs movies again, many of which I've seen several times and are up in my top 50. V interesting and inspiring.
I just meant that in the Directors cut of PAHR he made quite a few cuts of good scenes that I can now only get by ordering the film from the UK. But I just watched the Last wave again and its fantastic. Like I said i love the man just not a fan of why he cut out the scenes but at least he explains it(not here)
