Editor of film publication ‘Little White Lies’ David Jenkins talks about his publication ‘Filmmakers on Film: How They Create, Craft and Communicate’ now available to purchase

Nervous. Both nervous-excited, and nervous-trepidation. You know you hear about filmmakers who never watch their own films once they’re done – well that’s kinda how I feel about my own writing. Yet, I understand where those filmmakers are coming from, as I’ve probably read this book cover-to-cover about 100 times, at least.

I think “legacy” is not really the right word here: I’m more looking at characteristics of personal style, and trying to deduce why each filmmaker in the book is distinctive and worth of discussion. Sofia Coppola is someone who is uniquely interested in young lives, and presents them in an ethereal (ie, non-hysterical way). David Lynch has the unique ability to layer-up different realms of perception and play them as both comedy and tragedy. I had to be very pithy writing this book as the wordcount was low, and that made the task of really boiling down these filmmakers to their concentrated essence that much harder.

The main thing I did was watch a lot of movies and read quite a lot of books, though not too many books as I didn’t want to pilfer the ideas of others. I think a lot of ideas about filmmakers have come to me through a kind of osmosis, from years of listening to and reading the work of inspiring cinephiles, so their DNA is likely scattered through the book. My main approach, however, was to make the book approachable and talk about these filmmakers in terms that were simple and direct, with added context where needed. I had to be very selective about what I was including with each entry too – Ingmar Bergman made many, many films, and for my entry on him I chose to talk about two slightly lesser-known titles I found to be exemplars of his style.

That there’s a richness to the work of great filmmakers that always reveals more and that evolves with time. I could watch a film like Hitchcock‘s Vertigo or Jacques Rivette‘s Celine and Julie Go Boating over and over, and each time find new seam to pick at. A great film offers infinite possibilities for interpretation.

As above, concise, concentrated celebrations of a wide range of great filmmakers.

To watch the films I talk about, because I believe every one to be good. Also to tell friends, and go and explore the film magazine that I edit called Little White Lies.