Chloé Zhao

It's not what you think it is.

Please read the book.

When I read the book, I thought the internal landscape was so beautifully described.

That usually I have to really get to know, say, Brady from the writer.

I had to get to know him for such a long period of time.

Would I understand his internal landscape?

So then I can externalize it on screen.

So the audience isn't just relying on him verbally, right?

But Maggie already done that work for all the characters.

So I thought that's my blueprint.

And also there's a rhythm to the way she writes.

It has a heartbeat to it that is very similar to mine.

I found out later that her favorite filmmaker is Wong Kar-Wai, which is the person whose work that made me want to make films many, many years ago.

So there was that similarity as well.

The natural world, the reason why it has been such a big part of every film I've done is because...

I can now, in my 40s, look back at my career and say, the reason why that is, is because I have always had a deep fear of death.

And I think that drives my creativity.

And when you're afraid to die, you are actually not able to live fully.

And I know that deep inside.

And now when the light goes off, you know, phone shuts off, I'm lying there.