Episode 115: Filmmaker Amy Scott on her documentary, “Hal.”

This week on the blog, a podcast interview with filmmaker Amy Scott, discussing her terrific documentary, “Hal,” which takes a deep dive into the life and films of director Hal Ashby (“Harold and Maude,” “Being There,” Coming Home,” “Shampoo”).

 

LINKS

 

A Free Film Book for You:  https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cq23xyyt12

Another Free Film Book:  https://dl.bookfunnel.com/x3jn3emga6

 

Fast, Cheap Film Website: https://www.fastcheapfilm.com/

 

Amy Scott Website:  https://www.amyelizabethscott.com/

 

“Hal” Documentary website:  https://hal.oscilloscope.net/

 

“Hal” Trailer: https://youtu.be/GBGfKan2qAg

 

“Harold and Maude Two-Year Anniversary” Documentary: https://youtu.be/unRuCOECvZM

 

Eli Marks Website:  https://www.elimarksmysteries.com/

 

Albert’s Bridge Books Website:  https://www.albertsbridgebooks.com/

 

YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/c/BehindthePageTheEliMarksPodcast

Amy Scott Transcript

 

First, I want to say thank you for making the movie and thank you for making such a great movie because he totally deserved it. I would always wonder why of all the directors of the 70s and 80s, he was never really heralded the way he should have been. I think part of it has to do with that he had no discernible style. So, you couldn't really pick him for something. But before we dive into that, tell me a little bit about your background before you made Hal?

Amy Scott: Well, I'm from Oklahoma. I moved to Chicago, out of college and in college, we studied a lot of, I had a great professor at ODU at the University of Oklahoma. I don't think he's there anymore. But he really hipped us to the coolest documentaries. I had no idea that you could be a documentary filmmaker, like from Chris Marker to the 7-Up series to Hands on a Hard Body. It was just a really great, great, well-rounded Film and Media Program.

Anyway, I moved to Chicago. I wanted to be a director and a DP, but I fell down, I had gotten a job at the University of Chicago. I think I faked my way into it. I was supposed to start on a Monday, and I fell on the ice and broke