Sean Durkin
Sean Durkin is a producer and director, known for Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011), Mary Last Seen (2010) and James White (2015).
The way brainwashing works is subtle and takes a long time.
The way brainwashing works is subtle and takes a long time.
Filmmaking is a real craft.
Filmmaking is a real craft.
In editing, it's amazing how you choose the in and out points. What you cut on is everything for cre Show more
In editing, it's amazing how you choose the in and out points. What you cut on is everything for creating tension. It's amazing how expanding a shot by five seconds can just ruin the tension. Hide
I was really into writing short fiction and also photography when I was a kid.
I was really into writing short fiction and also photography when I was a kid.
What I learned from directing, I learned from soccer, where it's like a coach-player relationship.
What I learned from directing, I learned from soccer, where it's like a coach-player relationship.
When people leave cults, they don't know that they left a cult.
When people leave cults, they don't know that they left a cult.
Well, first of all, making films is a collaborative process. You need people. You need people you tr Show more
Well, first of all, making films is a collaborative process. You need people. You need people you trust and love and who are your friends. People you can work with. Hide
I won't rewrite on set, but I'll just trim the fat.
I won't rewrite on set, but I'll just trim the fat.
I'm interested in adapting books and all sorts of things.
I'm interested in adapting books and all sorts of things.
The trappings of a religious cult tend to fall into candlelit ceremonies and robes and group chantin Show more
The trappings of a religious cult tend to fall into candlelit ceremonies and robes and group chanting and singing and prayer. Hide
I went to my first college to play soccer.
I went to my first college to play soccer.
When I hire actors I believe in their abilities.
When I hire actors I believe in their abilities.
I'm a believer in film school.
I'm a believer in film school.
It's sort of one ongoing process where writing ends and directing starts.
It's sort of one ongoing process where writing ends and directing starts.
You know, when you're isolated on set for like a month, people like to get rowdy.
You know, when you're isolated on set for like a month, people like to get rowdy.
I think as a child I was really afraid of groups that conformed. Cults were really an example of tha Show more
I think as a child I was really afraid of groups that conformed. Cults were really an example of that. I'm attracted to fear. I'm attracted to movies that scare you. I knew I would just end up working in that realm. Hide
I remember being at school during morning meeting and looking around at everybody, 350 kids, saying Show more
I remember being at school during morning meeting and looking around at everybody, 350 kids, saying a prayer. We're all very young and no one knows what it means, and I remember feeling strange that people were just repeating words that they didn't understand. I refused to participate. For some reason I always rejected it, but respectfully. Hide
Yeah, in my scripts, I don't tend to describe landscape too clearly because I like to keep it really Show more
Yeah, in my scripts, I don't tend to describe landscape too clearly because I like to keep it really basic and sort of let people paint their own picture. I don't find it helpful to spend a page describing a setting, except for maybe a few key things. Hide
A big fear of working with an actor that's never been a lead in a film before is that you're going t Show more
A big fear of working with an actor that's never been a lead in a film before is that you're going to have to work really hard to pull a performance out of her. Hide
When someone stays with you and they're not your guest, even when they are your guest they get on yo Show more
When someone stays with you and they're not your guest, even when they are your guest they get on your nerves. When people visit for long periods of time, that just happens. Hide
Sports teams, people who follow sports teams, religion, churches, work - any company, I find that pe Show more
Sports teams, people who follow sports teams, religion, churches, work - any company, I find that people just generally have a need to belong to something larger than themselves. Hide
When you write, no matter what, it ends up personal.
When you write, no matter what, it ends up personal.
I wasn't good enough to be a professional soccer player obviously but that was my first goal in life Show more
I wasn't good enough to be a professional soccer player obviously but that was my first goal in life. Hide
You can't write something to please someone.
You can't write something to please someone.
I always try to keep the confidence of the actors, and try my best to make them feel comfortable or Show more
I always try to keep the confidence of the actors, and try my best to make them feel comfortable or confident. Hide
I love the first hour of a horror movie, the fear and anticipation. Then, when it gets bloody, I los Show more
I love the first hour of a horror movie, the fear and anticipation. Then, when it gets bloody, I lose interest. Hide
I would like to do a sports movie.
I would like to do a sports movie.
When I was a little kid, I loved horror films. I always liked being scared.
When I was a little kid, I loved horror films. I always liked being scared.
When I was a kid, I was afraid of large group of conforming people.
When I was a kid, I was afraid of large group of conforming people.
Sean Durkin's FILMOGRAPHY
as Director (1)
as Creator (1)