A comprehensive look at the career of filmmaker Andrew Bujalski, including detailed discussion of how his films up to now were made, especially the originality of their style, his educational background at Harvard with Chantal Akerman, working with both professional and nonprofessional actors, issues of reception and distribution, films both of us have loved, and much more. 

Inside the Episode with Mitch Hampton

“Back in the period around 2001 or thereabouts I was fortunate to have been an early viewer of Andrew Bujalski's Funny HaHa. This low budget character centered comedy of manners set in the Boston area was destined to change the course of American cinema forever. In a very real sense, though Bujalksi being ever humble among other qualities would not give assent to this, had Bujalski not made that first feature, you could argue there might not have ever been Lena Dunham's Girls. Bujalksi made it okay for filmmakers to make extremely awkward and naturalistic movies primarily about relationships but completely outside of all of the conventions of studio filmmaking. Bujalski's films are as complex emotionally as anything from Harold Pinter, and by design they use ellipsis to keep viewers on the edges of their seat as to what is going on between the characters.

I actually did not know at the time that he was or had been ensconced at Harvard and had studied with the likes of Chantal Akerman. I also had not idea that his work would have the large effect that it has. At the time it was extraordinarily divisive and I could count among my friends both those who hated the films, considering them meandering and plots or overtly consumed with the whining of relatively privileged characters, as well as those like myself who though that Bujalksi was one of the precious few people expressing what was actually going on in human relationships in the contemporary world, warts and all.

Bujalski, like most good filmmakers, knows his cinema history and our conversation proved wide ranging as we talked about everything from Francois Truffaut to the Rocky movie franchise all off which made for a one of a kind conversation, as one of a kind as his movies. His latest Support The Girls should be seen wherever you can.” 

Andrew’s Bio

"Andrew Bujalski has written and directed six feature films. He types 89 wpm."

Some website links to his works:

Support the Girls | Magnolia Pictures

RESULTS: http://www.magpictures.com/results/

Computer Chess: http://www.computerchessmovie.com

Beeswax: http://www.cinemaguild.com/theatrical/beeswax.html

FunnyHaHa : http://www.funnyhahafilm.com