Richard Linklater is one of my favorite directors. From Slacker to Before Sunrise to School of Rock, he is prolific and always makes a cultural statement. His talk today at SXSW reflected his down-to-earth nature. He made some interesting comments about his style, people like Godard, that integrate their lives with their filmmaking. And, even though he has business savvy, he doesn’t sacrifice his art for commerce. The moderator read a letter from Linklater that he had sent in 1990, before the release of Slacker, and though his youthful naivete was evident, he was clearly focused and understood the films place in commerce, speaking of appealing locally as well as to hippie and Bohemian counter culture. He also addressed one of his less successful films, the recent release of Fast Food Nation.
It was such a treat to be able to hear him speak in person.