Sonic Youth: An Interview with Larry Clark
Issue 205 / January 2006 More from this Issue
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SLUG: Well, it sounds like they dictate the direction of the film. These kids play in a band in real life. Is their music going to be featured in the movie?
LC: Yes. And the soundtrack is Latino punk rock from the ghetto. Wait until you hear the soundtrack, it's terrific.
SLUG: Your films are so close to portraying reality, but they aren't documentaries or "Reality TV"
LC: My son calls it "Cringe TV"; I can't watch it, I can't do it. People are performing the way that they think that they are supposed to perform. What I'm trying to do is really make it seem like real life. I'm gonna pull you in for an hour and a half into this reality that I've created. I remember seeing River's Edge. I was pulled in. I was totally in there for the film. Then after the film was over, I started thinking, "That doesn't make sense" like when Crispin Glover is driving around all fucked up. But while watching it, I never had those thoughts. The biggest compliment I ever had for Kids was, this kid -- someone who was exactly like someone from the film -- walks up to me and says, "Larry, I just saw the movie. It wasn't like a movie. It was like real life."
SLUG: Do you see your movies all sitting together as sort of a mythology?
LC: I'd say it's more Wassup Rockers is kind of like Kids 10 years later; Kids is about the secret world of kids where parents aren't allowed. Then Ken Park is where you meet the parents
SLUG: (laughs) And we wish we hadn't!
LC: Right! But when I did Bully which was supposed to be a true story the social comment was kids with time on their hands; we live in such an affluent country where kids can be that bored. American kids have so much. In the third world it's all about surviving and putting food on the table. But with this movie well, I guess there aren't parents in there because they're off on this adventure. (laughs) Wassup Rockers is about the actual kids. I made the film because people never get to see these kids.
SLUG: Did you choose to premiere the film at Slamdance instead of Sundance?
LC: Well, Sundance didn't accept the film: "We don't have any more room for special screenings blah blah blah". If anyone should support my film, it should be Sundance. It's fucking ridiculous. We're talking about independent filmmakers who have an audience, but they didn't do it. Go figure. Then after that they did turn around and give a screening to the Destricted project.
My producer says I don't have enough controversy with this film so I said I should get drunk and punch Robert Redford in the face? (laughs)
SLUG: That sounds crazy enough to work. Are you still skating?
LC: No, I've retired. My knees are shot and I couldn't handle it anymore. Maybe I'll start again; I've been rehabilitating the hell out of my knees. I have my board in my trunk, so who knows?
If you miss the single screening of Wassup Rockers at Thursday, January 19th at The Treasure Mountain Inn in Park City, never fear: the film opens in theatres around the country in late April. www.larryclarkcofficialwebsite.com
LC: Yes. And the soundtrack is Latino punk rock from the ghetto. Wait until you hear the soundtrack, it's terrific.
SLUG: Your films are so close to portraying reality, but they aren't documentaries or "Reality TV"
LC: My son calls it "Cringe TV"; I can't watch it, I can't do it. People are performing the way that they think that they are supposed to perform. What I'm trying to do is really make it seem like real life. I'm gonna pull you in for an hour and a half into this reality that I've created. I remember seeing River's Edge. I was pulled in. I was totally in there for the film. Then after the film was over, I started thinking, "That doesn't make sense" like when Crispin Glover is driving around all fucked up. But while watching it, I never had those thoughts. The biggest compliment I ever had for Kids was, this kid -- someone who was exactly like someone from the film -- walks up to me and says, "Larry, I just saw the movie. It wasn't like a movie. It was like real life."
SLUG: Do you see your movies all sitting together as sort of a mythology?
LC: I'd say it's more Wassup Rockers is kind of like Kids 10 years later; Kids is about the secret world of kids where parents aren't allowed. Then Ken Park is where you meet the parents
SLUG: (laughs) And we wish we hadn't!
LC: Right! But when I did Bully which was supposed to be a true story the social comment was kids with time on their hands; we live in such an affluent country where kids can be that bored. American kids have so much. In the third world it's all about surviving and putting food on the table. But with this movie well, I guess there aren't parents in there because they're off on this adventure. (laughs) Wassup Rockers is about the actual kids. I made the film because people never get to see these kids.
SLUG: Did you choose to premiere the film at Slamdance instead of Sundance?
LC: Well, Sundance didn't accept the film: "We don't have any more room for special screenings blah blah blah". If anyone should support my film, it should be Sundance. It's fucking ridiculous. We're talking about independent filmmakers who have an audience, but they didn't do it. Go figure. Then after that they did turn around and give a screening to the Destricted project.
My producer says I don't have enough controversy with this film so I said I should get drunk and punch Robert Redford in the face? (laughs)
SLUG: That sounds crazy enough to work. Are you still skating?
LC: No, I've retired. My knees are shot and I couldn't handle it anymore. Maybe I'll start again; I've been rehabilitating the hell out of my knees. I have my board in my trunk, so who knows?
If you miss the single screening of Wassup Rockers at Thursday, January 19th at The Treasure Mountain Inn in Park City, never fear: the film opens in theatres around the country in late April. www.larryclarkcofficialwebsite.com
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