We sense things, and as you look around you sense that maybe things are not so bright and shiny and you get little winds of trouble. JB: But you’ve said as well that you were a troubled child.ĭL: Oh no, I wasn’t a troubled child I had a beautiful childhood. There were cars that were very, very beautiful with lots of chrome and it was a beautiful time to dream. In the ’50s, where I was, there was an optimism in the air, a feeling of a bright and shiny future. The birth of rock and roll in the ’50s changed music so much and it was such a thrill. JB: If we can go, well, a long way back to ’50s America – it’s the period you grew up in, obviously – a fascinating time in modern American history and clearly a great influence on your work.ĭL: Yes.
JB: You’ve just flown in from Edinburgh – how did you find that?ĭL: …I found it on the map. Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome David Lynch.ĭavid Lynch: Thank you very much. His other films include the likes of Blue Velvet, Wild At Heart, Mulholland Drive, most recently, INLAND EMPIRE, and for television, Twin Peaks. Certainly anyone who has seen Eraserhead will never forget the impact that it had on them. This year the lecture celebrates the work of an artist, and he truly is an artist and a groundbreaking, visionary film director. Previous names have included Robert Altman, Woody Allen, Ken Loach and Sidney Pollack. This lecture is held annually to commemorate his memory and to celebrate the work of film directors who, like Sir David Lean, have -made an outstanding contribution to cinema. It’s 60 years since the then British Film Academy was founded under the chairmanship of the pioneering film director David Lean. This year, the Academy celebrates a very special anniversary. The visionary director of Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks and The Elephant Man discusses his career and distinct approach to filmmaking.