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Known for the unique visual style of his films, Vincent endeavors to take the audience on a journey which inevitably entails a lush, sweeping landscape.
"What Dreams May Come" is available in video stores now. If you want to see other work from Vincent Ward, check out "Map Of The Human Heart," which he also directed.
Hear audio excerpts of the Vincent Ward interview with the Real Player!
AUDIO
1 (5:59)
AUDIO
2 (7:33)
AUDIO
3 (6:25)
When did you decide that
you wanted to be in the movie business?
Fred Johnson
Troy, Michigan
VINCENT WARD:
When I was about 18. I started making short films and was originally intending to be a painter. I just wanted to see if I could improve my craft. I've always intended to go back to painting and never really intended to continue doing it [make movies]. But, one project just kept leading to the next.
What is your motivation
behind making movies?
Martin Jones
Evansville, Indiana
VINCENT WARD:
I like to tell stories about people and come to some sort of understanding about this business we call living.
INTERVIEWER:
How do you choose which projects to work
on?
VINCENT WARD:
I'm very picky. It takes me a long time to find material I like. Once again, it needs to be material that says something about people. I like more character driven stories. And sometimes I like movies that have that ebon quality to them that take me on a journey somewhere but the ultimate journey isn't into extreme or exotic landscape. The ultimate journey often is what somebody finds out about themselves.
INTERVIEWER:
What is the most enjoyable aspect of making
movies for you? Is there any aspect that you haven't done yet that
you would like to do in the future?
VINCENT WARD:
No, there isn't any aspect I haven't [done] that I want to get into. Acting is the most enjoyable. It's the most visceral for me because you're like personally involved, you're whole body is involved in it. But, I also like the directing and writing part because it is so different. It's so detached and spontaneous and more concerted. I like being able to tell these visual stories through my characters. I've just become used to it [directing]. I find it part of who I am whereas acting is more of a challenge in some respects but very exciting and dangerous in a way for me.
You have an artistic
background and your movies are known for their visual style. Do you
consciously seek out scripts that allow you to parlay your artistic
skills onto the screen?
Kristi Muller
Sacramento, California
VINCENT WARD:
Painting provides a visual medium to the afterlife
I look for different types of scripts. Some scripts don't warrant strong visual treatment. It could be some subtle sort of approach. And those scripts are fine too. I have developed some material that is more pure, simple character stories, plot driven. But not some vast visual world. Visual worlds are very expensive to make for starters so it's not something I exclusively seek out. It's great to be able play them.
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Vincent Ward in action |
INTERVIEWER:
How would you describe your directorial
style?
VINCENT WARD:
I'm considered very hands on. Some of the shots I spend anywhere from 5 to 30 hours on them cumulatively even when I would finish shooting, working out how to color them, enhance them and composite them with my visual effects technician. I'm incredibly detailed.
What do you hope to
accomplish through your films? Do you hope to change the audience in
some way and deliver a message?
Jason Pepper
Macon, Georgia
VINCENT WARD:
No, I have no desire to change the audience specifically. I really want to take them on an emotional and psychological journey, and spiritual journey. And as the process is essentially a learning process for me in terms of subject matter, I take a leap and in order to find out something even completely speculatively. So really it's an exploration of the subject manner and a story that emanates through this journey. So, I invite the audience to explore the same territory as I'm exploring. And not necessarily coming up with the same solutions.
What film maker has had
the largest influence on you?
Joe Farrow
Dallas, Texas
VINCENT WARD:
You know, it may not make sense but I love Buster Keaton. Just because I like that he creates these sort of private terrains.