- Miller states film is the greatest art form in the history of art, and that includes all other arts.
- Style is innate in who we are, he quotes of Capote. Miller shuts down with the frenetic. His style is observing, not describing to you. Not fly on the wall either. Is from a specific point of view. Capote said it is far more difficult to find power in simplicity, but there is more power to be had. Bennett does not go for razzmatazz. There is nowhere for actors to hide. Films are like people: You trust or you don’t.
- When actors really feel they are being watched, it can be transformative.
- Bennett saw 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY at an inappropriately young age, and was traumatised. The dismantling of a computer’s brain, and the aging of an astronaut, made more sense as a five-year old.
- Another important movie was at 15, an English teacher (Mr O’Rourke) showed a 16mm print of WALKABOUT.
- Discovered family’s super 8 camera at 11-years old and made films with friends. At 13 got a video camera, and at high school there was a cable station.
- Film school was not an environment he felt he could flourish in, and dropped out. Somehow got an internship as an assistant to director Jonathan Demme, who had just wrapped principal photography on THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.
- Miller’s first film was a documentary, THE CRUISE (1998). Took four years to complete. Film concerns theme in all his work: People who do not have a place in the world.
- Film school was four years of advert directing.
- Friend sent him a script he had been written, CAPOTE. Bennett says CAPOTE is a story of answered prayers. He received a three-page letter from author Harper Lee – you must know that not all of it happened exactly as portrayed, but you can use this note, “The film told the truth about Truman.”
- Bennett says not sure there is such a thing as pure fiction.
- Says the solution to everything is to have a vision.
- Miller had known Philip Seymour Hoffman since he was 16, and had been a friend.
- A lot of money had been spent on MONEYBALL and flushed down the toilet. A lot of hurt feelings. Brad Pitt still wanted to do it. Pitt offered to step in if needed; and it was needed a couple of times, to save the soul of the film.
- The MONEYBALL score is Miller’s favourite of any movie ever. The score plays in his head when he reaches pain threshold brought on by other people.
- Re FOXCATCHER, Miller spoke to Mark Schultz [played by Channing Tatum] – this is my take on your story; if you trust me, my intentions are not bad, then we can work together.
- FOXCATCHER took eight years to get made.