The Australian director Peter Weir 80, received the lifetime achievement award at the Venice Film Festival this Monday (2). Responsible for the films “The Truman Show “, “Gallipoli” and “Dead Poets Society “, the director advised young filmmakers “to disconnect” in order to progress.
Weir, 80, made his international debut in the arthouse classic “Picnic on Mysterious Mountain” (1975), before working in Hollywood with “Witness,” starring Harrison Ford, “Green Card,” with Andie MacDowell, and other hits.
He received an honorary Oscar in 2022 and confirmed earlier this year that he was retiring from directing. Speaking to reporters in Venice, he said aspiring directors needed to get back to basics and escape the noise of modern life.
“To start today, I would say don’t even take a camera. I would take a pencil and paper… I would practice like in a gym, exercising here, not the muscles, but the mental muscles. We are capable of doing extraordinary things in here,” he said, pointing to his head.
“Disconnect, get away from the excess of information, go to a quiet place and to the countryside, go work on a merchant ship,” he continued.
Despite the advice, Weir said he doesn’t want to mentor aspiring directors. “No, it must be lonely. It’s a lonely road. You have to travel alone.”
To honor Weir, Venice screened his 2003 film, the maritime epic “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,” starring Russell Crowe in the lead role.
Venice Film Festival 2024: see the Brazilian titles and artists
This content was originally published in Peter Weir, director of “The Truman Show”, wins award at the Venice Film Festival on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.
