Hopefully I can inspire lots of people to learn about [Patti Smith], to read poetry or learn about William Blake or Arthur Rimbaud.

I was making a film [Dream of Life] about Patti [Smith], but I was taking pictures, too.

It took 12 years to put this film [Dream of Life] together, but it was not until toward the end of those 12 years that I looked at Patti [Smith] and said, "Maybe we should do something with this footage."

The only self-consciousness in the film [Dream of Life] is anyone's natural shyness.

I didn't do well in high school, but I took photography, and I loved being able to capture moments.

We were just hanging out and getting to learn about each other. But I think trust was a really big thing. Patti [Smith] is a good friend, somebody I can talk to.

I became Patti's [Smith] messenger, basically, and the film is my view of how I learned about Patti.