“The problem with cinema nowadays is that it's a math problem. People can read a film mathematically; they know when this comes or that comes; in about 30 minutes, it's going to be over and have an ending. So film has become a mathematical solution. And that is boring, because art is not mathematical.” PeopleKnowsArtProblemFilmMinutesSolutionsArt IsBoringMathMathematicalCinemaMath Problems Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“Financing films that are demanding is a task, in itself. Because people are so afraid of taking any kind of chance, because they're afraid the audience isn't going to respond. But the audience is so hungry for anything that's a bit original, personal, or different.” PeopleKindDifferentFilmBitsChanceAudienceTasksOriginalsHungryFinancing Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“I don't believe that art makes people violent in any way. I don't. But I do believe art can show people how to be violent and that's much more dangerous in a way.” PeopleWayBelieveArtShowsDangerousDon't BelieveViolent Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“I never look at the internet because then you just have nothing else to do but just look. Most generally, and even myself as a consumer, you think you know what you want. But what's more interesting is figuring out what you don't want. I think the only way that I can do that is just to do what I think is right. That is the only real gesture of respect. Then people can react to the movie how they want to react.” PeopleThinkingKnowsWayWantLooksI CanRealCan DoInterestingInternetWhat You WantConsumersGesturesYou Think You Know Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“Only God Forgives was very much a generation gap in a way. It was all the youth of the world that embraced it. I make films for young people. That's what I will continue to do.” PeopleWorldWayFilmYoungGenerationsYouthForgivingGapsGeneration GapGod Forgives Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“People very quickly define success due to the amount of money something makes. In the end, I think everyone is searching for that experience. That's why we continue to go to the movies and watch television.” PeopleThinkingEndsWatchesTelevisionAmountDuesDefine Success Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“I feel that silence is the greatest word, ever. When you don't talk, people begin to read things into you or you become what they long for. When you don't talk, you almost become the mirror image of the other person.” PeopleFeelsPersonsLongSilenceMirrorsSilence IsMirror Image Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“It's the hardest thing for an actor not to speak because you take away their main tool. So for an actor, it's very frustrating and very challenging, and very few people can pull it off. Some actors can say a thousand words with just a look, and it's a unique gift.” PeopleLooksActorsSpeakChallengesThousandUniqueToolsHardestHardest ThingFrustratingUnique Gifts Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“I certainly believe that creativity must be an experience. If I'm to steal time away from people, we should give them something to react to.” PeopleIfsGivingShouldBelieveCreativityStealingTime Away Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“The casting of any film is around 60% of the film, but it's also about the right casting insight. It's a bit like a house of cards, everyone has to match up in a certain way so the whole structure is grounded. So that's essential, and yes, it's about finding the right people and the right constellation around the lead character.” PeopleWayWholeCharacterFilmCertainHouseBitsEssentialsFindingsStructureInsightCardsGroundedCastingConstellationsHouse Of CardsLead Characters Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“I think the idea of individualism has become more dominating in our society. You can even see it by our political system: how people vote, the job situation, the sociological evolution that's happening, what's happening in the Middle East and so forth.” PeopleThinkingIdeasJobsPoliticalSituationMiddleEvolutionHappeningsVoteEastOur SocietyIndividualismMiddle EastPolitical SystemsDominatingSociological Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“I also believe on a practical level, if you're taking time away from people, besides entertaining them, I think it's important that there's something to react to.” PeopleIfsThinkingBelieveImportantLevelsPracticalsEntertainingTake TimeTime Away Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“Beauty is on one level pure surface, and on the other hand, it's the most complex subject that we can touch upon because it says everything about us as people. It's a subject we very quickly begin to argue about. I think that's so interesting.” PeopleThinkingHandsInterestingLevelsSubjectsPureComplexesSurfaceArguing Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“I very much enjoy my freedom creatively but I also would love to make one of those big Hollywood films that costs a lot of money and has a lot of people running around with cell phones and all that insanity.” PeopleBigsRunningFilmEnjoyCostHollywoodPhonesCellsInsanityLots Of MoneyCell PhoneHollywood Films Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“My movie [The Neon Demon] is a hyper-version of the obsession with beauty. As this crazy obsession grows, longevity does not. Everything seems to become younger and younger. The girls and people around them cannibalize themselves.” PeopleDoeSeemsGirlGrowsCrazyVersionsObsessionDemonLongevityHyperNeon Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“I think that Danish people may be thought off as the happiest people, but honestly...I love America.” PeopleThinkingMayAmericaHonestlyDanish Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“The best thing you can do with actors is collaborate with them. My job is to inspire them to give their best. And they're only inspired if they feel they are part of the creative process, otherwise they'll shut down. So my goal is always to ask people what they would like to do before I even say my opinion. I usually don't know anything until I see it. I'm a fetish filmmaker - I make films based on what I want to see.” PeopleGivingFilmGoalOpinionCreativeInspireInspiredFilmmakerCreative Process Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
