"Sayles, critically acclaimed and more than established, has proven his directing, editing, writing, and even acting ability in relation to independent filmmaking. But what many people probably don't know is just how creative this man is. He has published novels and short stories, directed plays, made some of Bruce Springsteen's music videos, and written screenplays for numerous other directors' television and movie productions. Sayles is a man of many hats, few pretenses, and a great deal of thought. Though his language, in this interviewlike format, is utterly down to earth, his ideas are big and his dedication to the craft of filmmaking, from whatever angle, is obvious. Sayles believes that the personalism of his work in based, not in the facts of his life, but in the interests he has, which he pursues through his scripts and films. There is something truly self-sacrificing in that approach, particularly for a writer in this confessional-trend culture, and it must certainly account for the sincerity and subtlety in Sayles' fine body of work."--"Booklist"
"This in-depth look at the work of one of America's most successful maverick filmmakers is another fine contribution to Faber and Faber's 'Directors on Directors' series. As an accomplished writer, director, and actor, Sayles is a rarely talented triple threat. His movies, including" The Brother from Another Planet, The Secret of Roan Inish, "and "Lone Star, "have won critical acclaim for their uncompromising honesty and their adamantly individual vision. Unlike many independent directors, Sayles truly works outside the Hollywood mainstream, contemplating unpopular subjects and problems, rarely casting stars, yet doing wellenough to make film after film. He got his start with B-meister Roger Corman, cranking out quickie, though generously subtextual, genre scripts such as "Piranha" and "Alligator"--in which, as Sayles once remarked, 'the alligator eats its way through the entire socioeconomic system.' He has also made money by taking on occasional acting gigs, by writing a well-received novel and a short-story collection, and by turning his hand to (usually uncredited) stints at Hollywood script-doctoring. It's worth noting that he pulled together no more than just enough money to fund his first film,
iReturn of the Secaucus Seven, considered by some to be the wellspring of the modern indie movement; it established Sayles's reputation. This Q-and-A chronicle, despite inevitable generic limitations, provides a fascinating film-by-film analysis of his creative process. From his ideas about acting to his theories of editing to why he has favored a certain lens, Sayles remains articulate throughout, and often revealing. He's well-served by collaborator Smith, an associate editor of "Film Comment, "who asks the right questions and shows a rich, nuanced understanding of Sayles and his work. An invaluable companion piece to Sayles's films."--"Kirkus Reviews"
