Baz Luhrmann on his film, “Moulin Rouge”
by Rob Kohr
School of Visual Arts After seeing a film like “Moulin Rouge” you cannot help but feel for the bohemian lifestyle and what they believed in: truth, beauty, freedom and love. At SVA’s interview of Baz Lehrmann, the director and his wife, Catherine Martin (the production designer), you could not but feel that these two Australians are a stellar combination. Catherine Martin, who arrived first, began by talking about the experience of working with her husband and the relationships that he has with his fellow artists. Her strongest feeling is that Baz will actually take into account everyone’s opinion, especially the actors, in the production of his films.
When Baz arrived he further confirmed the importance of understanding the actors. Reeves Lehmann, the head of the Film, Video, and Animation department at the School of Visual Arts, commented that SVA is one of the only schools that believes in the relationship that the director and writer need to have with actors. SVA makes it mandatory that all of its film, video, and animation students attend one semester of acting class with teachers from the Actors Studio. Baz was very impressed and began stressed the importance of listening to the actors. He continues to say that they understand the “human condition” and they will help develop the work with true emotion. Baz also spoke about the “human condition” in the synthesis of an actual story. His inspiration is not based on what he wants to do, but his need to present the importance of the human condition. Baz invited us to consider if we spend 2 to 4 years of our life on a film, we must express the human condition or ourselves.
