I think that the whole voyeuristic attitude of filmmakers or of me personally - of shooting documentaries and so forth - is an important issue. And it was an important issue to me, personally. And the whole question of when - when do you put the camera down or when do you keep shooting to get the shot. And a number of times in my life I've had that question hit me very hard.
Haskell WexlerThere was no actually stock footage in "Medium Cool." I wrote the script. I wrote the riots. And I integrated the actors in the film in the park during the demonstrations. But nowhere was it like we had stock footage and then later, in editing, integrated it into the film. It was all done at the time.
Haskell WexlerI'd say to anyone trying to break into the business: Don't just be interested in movies. Be interested in life. Be a person. Be in touch.
Haskell WexlerThe helicopter was a U.S. Navy helicopter. There were no civilian helicopters available to film companies, so they just made some stuff out of two-by-four wood. And I would straddle a two-by-four out from the helicopter with a camera and what we call a high hat, which is a low metal stand.
Haskell WexlerThere is a very particular feeling I get when I have the camera in my hand, looking at an actor talk, knowing that what Iโm shooting will end up on the screen.
Haskell Wexler