Interview by Bob Ignizio
A director of theatre, television, and
film, Paul Lazarus has had a prolific and distinguished career. Even
if you've never heard of him, chances are you've seen his work as he
has helmed episodes of such popular programs as Everybody Loves
Raymond, Ugly Betty,
Baywatch, and Beverly
Hills 90201 just to name a few.
He's also made a feature film, SEVEN
GIRLFRIENDS,
and a number of short documentaries. His most recent
project is a feature length documentary on Segway inventor Dean
Kamen's latest project, a potentially world changing machine called
the SlingShot that can purify any water, no matter how filthy. The
film, also called SLINGSHOT,
recently played at the Cleveland International Film Festival, and
because of that I was afforded an opportunity to ask Mr. Lazarus a
few questions.
Cleveland Movie Blog: What got
you interested in film and TV work, and who were your main
influences?
Paul Lazarus: I started out as a
theater director in New York for many years. Directed mostly new
works, both plays and musicals in practically every theater in the
city as well as a great many theaters in regional centers across
America. I was very lucky to get to work with composer/lyricist
Stephen Sondheim on several projects. Started doing film and TV work
in the early 90’s. Most of my main influences are writers,
painters and composers – too many to name here. But, in terms of
film work, I do love Buster Keaton, Preston Sturges, Billy Wilder,
Stanley Kubrick, David Lean and Alan Parker.
CMB: Your background is mainly
in episodic TV (and of course your feature SEVEN GIRLFRIENDS
and a couple of shorts). Was it at all daunting transitioning from
that world into making a documentary where, in theory at least, all
kinds of unexpected things can happen during the course of your
shoot?
PL:
My film background is mostly episodic TV, but as I said, I started
out as a theater director and mostly working on new, untested
scripts. That was ten years before I touched a camera. And, I’ve
been making short documentaries for the last twenty years. SlingShot
was a constant challenge because we kept discovering new story paths.
A feature documentary is an endless surprise. Something unexpected
comes up at every turn. I’m mostly a narrative guy so I kept
wanting to write the story but the story wanted to write itself.
CMB: How did SLINGSHOT
come about, and what was the main thing about Dean Kamen's story that
appealed to you as a filmmaker?
PL:
I had been making many short docs with Dean Kamen – about his
Ginger device which came to be known as the Segway and his FIRST
Robotics competition which gets students excited about careers in
engineering and technology. In 2006, when Dean K. told me about his
work on the world’s safe water crisis, I thought it might go down
as the most significant challenge that he has ever taken on. I
proposed that we start filming as soon as possible in an attempt to
capture what it really takes to go from a dream to reality. I was
hoping that we might be able to see how a new technology really gets
out into the world - how long and difficult the journey really is.
CMB: SLINGSHOT feels
pretty firmly in Kamen's corner from the get-go, and I think it's not
unfair to say that the movie is advocating for its subjects ideas,
particularly the one it takes its title from. Playing Devil's
advocate here, what would you say to those who feel documentary films
should be more impartial and observational?
PL:
There are many kinds of documentaries. Clearly, I believe Dean Kamen
to be an inspiration and a hero for our time. This is the movie I
wanted to make. I think it’s very observational. I don’t
really believe any documentarians are impartial. I just hope the
movie is engaging, interesting and thought-provoking.
CMB: What do you most want
people to take away from SLINGSHOT?
PL:
1. Help spread the use of the SlingShot technology all over the
world 2. Give viewers tangible hope and inspire them to get
involved with water issues and any other grand challenge facing the
world today. Achieve a feeling that innovation can win and needs our
constant support 3. Adjust Western attitudes towards water and that
all of us in the developed world think about how we use water today
and how we will use it in the future
CMB: There's still a bit of a
journey ahead before we know for sure if the Slingshot will work on
the scale Kamen hopes it does or not. How did you decide you had
reached the right point in that journey to stop filming and edit your
feature together, and is this a subject you could see yourself
revisiting in a few years if more significant developments take
place?
PL:
I don’t think any director knows when to stop. But, we wanted to
get this story out there and help shine a light on the technology –
do our part to see that it reaches mass production and distribution.
It’s very early in the life of the SlingShot machine. We hope to
do some good by getting the movie out now. The machine has a chance
to do so much good in the world.
CMB: Does acting as your own
producer make things easier or more difficult?
PL:
Both.
CMB: As Dean bemoans in the
film, our culture tends to make heroes out of athletes, musicians,
and movie stars far more than it does out of scientists. That being
the case, does it make it harder to get investors and distributors
interested in a movie like this which is about science and invention
and how important those things are to the world? And even when you
have those elements in place, how do you get the general public to go
see a movie like this?
PL:
It’s hard to get investors and distributors interested in
any documentary let alone one about science and helping people all
over the world get clean water. I don’t know how to get the
general public to see a movie like this. I’m hoping word of mouth
will build awareness of the movie and that people will want to see a
documentary that’s not just about a problem but a potential
solution. The biggest compliment I keep hearing is that parents want
their children to see this movie. That means a lot to me.
CMB: Given all the promotion you
have to do personally on a movie like this I imagine you’re still
thinking mainly about SLINGSHOT, but do you have any plans for
another feature soon, or is it back to the TV work for now?
PL:
I’d like to get a little sleep before I answer that question.
But, I already have a few new ideas for features. This documentary
thing is both painful and very addictive.
For more informatoin visit http://www.paullazarus.net/ or http://www.focusforwardfilms.com/contest/16/slingshot-paul-lazarus
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