Paul Mazursky is that rare director who truly understands the actor's process. His movies consistently have a high level of performances in them. Paul started out as an actor training in New York. His notable debut was in the groundbreaking The Blackboard Jungle. Besides being a film actor, Paul spent extensive time as a standup comic writing and developing his own material while playing in clubs all around the country. This combination of legitimate and truthful acting combined with a satirical point of view about what's happening now marks the unique strength of his film. Paul's "funny" is both human and recognizable and in a situation that could easily be an opening night monologue for the Tonight Show.
On the set Paul is very energetic and full of fun. He likes to rehearse yet still retains an improvisational feel during production. Paul's films are filled with exciting and prize winning performances including the ensemble Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, Art Carney in Harry and Tonto, Shelly Winters and Christopher Walken in Next Stop, Greenwich Village, Jill Clayborn in An Unmarried Woman, Raul Julia in The Tempest, Bette Midler and Richard Dreyfess in Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Robin Williams in Moscow on the Hudson and many others.
I interviewed him at his hangout in the Farmer's Market in Los Angeles. We're honored to have him on the site.
