The Verge interviewed legendary director Werner Herzog about his online class where both aspiring filmmakers and professionals can learn his tips and secrets on moviemaking.
Not surprisingly, Herzog practices an unusual style of teaching too. He encourages his students to break the rules of storytelling and make up their assignments.
“don’t wait for the system to accept you. You create your own system, create your own [budget] and make your own first feature film or your first own documentary.”
For all the affordable technology today though comes our self-inflicted barriers of Internet addictiveness. To avoid the pitfalls of a “parallel surrogate life,” filmmakers need to get offline and touch things. Herzog only owns a cell phone for emergencies.
On the contrary, he reveals a fascination with technology, particularly Bitcoin, as it relates to news ways of storytelling.
“I’m interested how can I commit a bank robbery holding up the bank and getting away with loot of something that you cannot even touch”
The funniest part of the interview is when Herzog needs an explainer on Pokemon Go. He does not think the game is moronic, only that it is not for him, at least not as real as the human connection. Talking about virtual reality, he still prefers it when you get on your two feet and encounter the world and others face to face.
OK guys. Since you asked. Here is audio of Herzog saying the word “Pokemon.” Good night. pic.twitter.com/mUCz1Sj2Jy
— Emily Yoshida (@emilyyoshida) July 29, 2016
The conversation over Pokemon leads to some of his deeper thoughts on the role of technology in our lives. At the end of the day, humans are morally responsible for their tools.
“Sure, and the question — is this technology good or bad? — is an incompetent question. It’s humans who are good or bad.”
Read the entire interview here.