Written Interview: Cameron Crowe
Today’s written interview is via MovieFone with writer-director Cameron Crowe:
Compared with the other four films you wrote and directed yourself, where does ‘Almost Famous’ rank in terms of importance to you personally?
Cameron Crowe: [The most important is] definitely ‘Almost Famous,’ a script that was in my drawer as a passion project for a long time. I wanted to make a movie that paid tribute to a lot of very vivid characters I met [back] in the day, and also I wanted to make a movie about loving music. Every character, in some way or another, is dedicated to the way music can make you feel. On the right day, the right song can last forever.
I still make a mix CD every month, as a diary for how that month felt. ‘Almost Famous’ was like a mix in movie form. That’s the way it felt to be 15 and falling in love with life and music.
Were you any more or less meticulous about song selection on ‘Almost Famous’ than you had been on previous films?
I’m always meticulous, but in many ways the song chooses the scene. There is usually a song that I’ve written the scene to, like Led Zeppelin’s ‘Misty Mountain Hop,’ or there is only one song that was meant to be in that spot. Songs are sacred things and you have to earn them. People hear them in a new way thanks to a movie, and you want the movie to always do the song justice. Take Cat Stevens’ ‘The Wind’ or Elton John’s ‘Tiny Dancer’ in ‘Almost Famous’ — they were the only two songs that worked. You know when it’s right.
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How satisfying was it for you that your script for ‘Almost Famous’ beat out, say, ‘Gladiator’ for Best Original Screenplay?
I was in shock. Fully expected Kenneth Lonergan’s wonderful script for ‘You Can Count On Me’ to win, and when they announced my name, the world turned psychedelic. I still don’t remember what happened next. I think [presenter] Tom Hanks saw the panic in my eyes and said, “Turn around, say a few words, have fun …” What I said at the podium, I have no idea.