Zsolt Pozsgai - INTERVIEW

When did you decide you wanted to be a director/ screenplayer?

I spent my childhood in the theatre in my hometown, and I knew then that writing and directing would be my life. I really started in the theatre, then 18 years ago film directing came into my life and since then I have written and directed films in many genres.


How did your family react?

My father also worked in the cultural life. But like any parent, it's hard to believe that an 18-year-old boy already thinks he knows exactly where his life is going.

Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?

Rather, it was my masters who always guided me in the right direction when I was unsure or needed reassurance. I had a writing master, a directing master and an actor from whom I learned a lot. My muse? A playwright starts writing good plays when he's young and falls hopelessly in love with an actress. The rest takes care of itself.



Who's your biggest fan?

Throughout my life, I have been accompanied by those who have loved my work, always very many, and that has made me very happy. I am particularly happy that recently I have been considered a master by many young people. When time goes by and young people accept you and love you - that is the real joy.



What brings you inspiration the most?

Many things. I'm usually interested in historical topics, those that are still relevant today. To show that there have always been situations in history that are problems of today. And so it's easier to find solutions.



Which actor or director would you like to work with?

I always direct my plays and films myself. I like it when a director from another country does the work, but for me writing and directing is a process. It's called a creative film. I am happy to work with any talented actor. In Hungary, in my country, I am famous for discovering new actors that the audience didn't know before. And every such discovery is a great pleasure.



Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?

No. I've seen people say that the book was great and the director messed it up. As I teach screenwriting at university, I know of many such examples. I don't believe that you can make a good film from a bad script.



What’s the movie that taught you the most?

I had a wonderful youth, because even in my high school years, Hungarian cinemas only showed the best Italian, French, English or American films. Back then, it was not all about worthless, clichéd films. The first film that determined my later career was Bob Fosse’s ALL THAT JAZZ, and later on FORREST GUMP made the biggest impression on me. And of course the great Hungarian films. In them there is comedy and tragedy, irony and drama at the same time. That’s the way of our times, tragicomedy. That is why these films are still valid today.


About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?

Never. Why would you? Many people like me, they are waiting for my new works. I don't have time to think about it.

On set what excites yuo the most?

How does the acting, the cinematography, the lighting match what I had in mind when I wrote the script. What I felt when I was writing it. To get the same experience back on the set.




And what scares you the most ?

I'm not the fearful type. I don't remember ever having to be afraid of anything. To doubt it, yes, you have to doubt it until it happens. But doubt is one of the most important elements of artistic work. But when you are a director, you must never let others sense your doubts. They need to see that you are leading them with a steady hand in the right direction.



What's your next project?

I'm working on a ballet film, a film that can be understood in all countries. With many international dancers. The theme is the birth of eroticism, and it takes place in primitive society, in prehistoric times, at the beginning of humanity. When speciesism was suddenly replaced by eroticism, emotions and love. And I think that's what made man human. I'm interested in the process of that, told in the language of dance. So far there is no producer. If you know one, let me know! Thank you.



You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?

All artists who create in every moment. Who never runs out of stories. Chinese philosophy teaches that you live as long as you have dreams. I still have a lot of dreams.



For you Cinema is....

...a form of catharsis. Only true art can create a catharsis that can change the lives of its audience. Cinema is an art form, there is no other art form where so many different kinds of art work together. It is the director's job to harmonise them.



Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?

It's fashionable nowadays to make black and white films again, because reality is so complicated and colourful that we're getting tired of it. The new technique of black and white film can also create a multitude of shades of black and white. Yes, it can have a powerful effect. If it's good.



Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?

No. I have won many awards in the world with my films, hundreds of them. I'm much happier with the audience of an honest, small festival and the award I get than if it was in Hollywood or somewhere like that. Last year I received my Lifetime Achievement in Film Award in Las Vegas, I accepted it in person. I was more pleased than if it had been in Hollywood. I'm sorry, that's just the way I am. But if an actor in one of my films got an award there, I would be happy.


Do you think you're gonna win it?

I don't think so. I make a different kind of film than the ones that are screened in Hollywood. I'm travelling to a beautiful French city, Montpellier, to accept an award. Why should that be less fun than Hollywood?

When did you realised you wanted to be a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer? 

When I was 19, I tried out for Second City in Chicago and passed the audition.



Do you remember your first time at the Movies?

 

Yes I saw Wizard of Oz

If you should change country where would you like to work?

 

Australia!

Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse… 

Star Trek and Back to the Future my most favorite film series ever.



What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools? 

I taught acting classes myself , its very useful

Have you ever hated your ambition?

 

No, the more you do , the more you learn. To be famous you need to stay in the business for at least 15 years.

Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was he right?

 

No, they just enjoy art.

Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?

 

Large boulders coming at me from space.

Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?

 

Robert De Niro

About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…

 

My dream was to make everyone laugh. My nightmare is, nobody seen my films.

How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?

 

Keeps your mind busy fantasizing about things I should have or would have never been able to do in real life.

What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?

 

Primarily the sound has been a struggle.

A big producer give you the chance to direct\to play (in) the remake of one of your favorite black and white Movie (if you have one)… what film do you choose?

 

Laurel and Hardy movie

Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated? 

My wife Danette and my Agent Beverly Brock.

Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: The script, the script and the script".  Do you agree with him?



I believe the actor should follow the script as an outline and make the lines his and change the lines to make it more real as needed. In some cases Improv.

What’s your most ambitious project for the future?

I have written 3 new movies that we are currently trying to get funding on. They are all Sheldon Mashugana. Sheldon Mashugana Returns to the Future, Sheldon Mashugana gets Lost in Space, and  What a Schmuck.



Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative? 

Not really, its all about perspective in the moment.



What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?

To be remembered for laughter and fun

When did you realized you wanted to be a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?

Since I was a child, I wanted to venture into cinema as an actor and filmmaker. E.T.was one of my major influences (Steven Spielberg), as I found it ingenious how the main character from space could connect with childhood on such a deep and emotional level. Much of what I have achieved, I envisioned from a young age. The roles of screenwriter, composer, singer, and animation director came later in adulthood.

Do you remember your first time at the Movies?



Once again, E.T was my first reference. Even one of my multiple award-winning projects pays tribute to Spielberg, created during the pandemic.

If you should change country where would you like to work?



Thank God, I have had the opportunity to represent my country, Puerto Rico. In different corners of the world i had the opportunity to collaborate with creative professionals from Peru, Italy, Spain, and the United States, as well as with new actors and talents from Mexico, Italy, Colombia, Venezuela, and Chile. I am open to working in any country that recognizes my Puerto Rican and Caribbean essence.

Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…

Although there are many, I would highlight the Academy Award-winning film Parasite and, in animation, Coco, as I have a strong emotional connection with Mexico and am devoted to la Virgen Guadalupana. Almodóvar's films were a major reference during my graduate studies in Cultural Studies and have also been key to my development as both an actor and filmmaker. 

What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?

New York Film Academy changed my life forever. The opportunity to participate in a summer intensive and work on projects at the Universal Studios Lot was wonderful. Filming short films with emerging directors from various countries—13 in total—was intense (in just one month) but rewarding in my role as an actor. I believe that experience inspired me to continue creating in other roles, such as filmmaker, producer, screenwriter, and composer. Currently, I am featured as one of the standout actors on the New York Film Academy website, which has been one of my major dreams since 2000. That year, I was at a crossroads between studying acting for film or pursuing a Psy.D. in clinical psychology. Achieving both has been pivotal in my acting development.

Have you ever hated your ambition?



I prefer to use the word "evolution."  “Ambition” has a short lifespan, but evolution lasts forever.

Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was he right?



I have great respect for the life and work of François Roland Truffaut. We should not forget that Freud also highlighted the deficiencies and virtues of human beings from a psychological perspective. I am among the directors and actors who believe that the seventh art can be a tool for healing and evolution, both for its creators and its audience. This is one of my guiding principles in my films.

Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?



I clearly see a Puerto Rican child imagining himself acting in film and an adventurous adult diving into the seas of film direction. I never lose sight of either—the child or the adult—in this great art.

Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?



Director? Almodóvar. 

Actor? Woody Allen. 

Screenwriter? I’m still searching for a favorite.

About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…



My biggest dream? Create. My nightmare? Stop creating. 

How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?



It is as important as discovering your identity as a filmmaker. Each project has its own life and distinct identity; however, that indelible mark that defines you should be present in every project. To achieve this, one must first study the great masters of cinema.

What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?



Everything. It is a continuous journey. 

A big producer gives you the chance to direct\to play (in) the remake of one of your favorite black and white Movie (if you have one)… what film do you choose?



Any Mexican film. I see so much truth in its performances that I would love to view it through today’s lens, although it would be somewhat difficult to achieve. Cuarón managed to offer us a cinematic journey into renewed black-and-white with Roma. Others have attempted to emulate this in films presented to the Academy, but it has turned out to be anticlimactic. Mexican cinema is a school that only a few of us have

Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?

It is not a person, but it does have its own identity: Puerto Rico. Since 2009, I have consistently worked to position my Island/Archipelago in international venues and festivals. In the vast majority where I have won awards or honors, I have been the only Caribbean or Puerto Rican. Seeing fellow actors branching into directing and achieving the same is an extended accomplishment. I celebrate everything that helps place our Island where it deserves to be. And I have been on this journey for fifteen years.

Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: The script, the script and the script".  Do you agree with him?

Absolutely. For this reason, I don’t proceed to the pre-production phase until a script has a defined identity. Ideas are like the birds that surround Alfred Hitchcock, metaphorically, in one of his masterpieces—they can attack you or guide you toward an escape route. The process of writing a substantial and creative script is similar to this scene. 


What’s your most ambitious project for the future?

‘The link between the words “Me” and “Us”.



Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative? 

All the emotions need to be discovered to be a great actor and director. 

What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?

I wish to continue contributing to the seventh art with a meaningful vision: inner peace is the ultimate goal and is connected to what our hearts desire. 

When did you decide you wanted to be an actor/director/ screenplayer?

After starting my profession as a photographer and videomaker in 1979, verses 2012 I decided that I wanted to learn the craft of filmmaking in acting cinema

How did your family react?

My family has always been used to seeing me interested in my projects, so they have reacted well

Do you have a Muse or a Role Model?

Passion, the instinctive one, my great muse is passion, for images, music, photography, stories, fantasies, culture, history,  people, passion for nature all.

What brings you inspiration the most?

The non-obvious directions, those where the photography plays a primary role and the story is ironic and to be discovered little by little the details within.

Which actor or director would you like to work with?

With everyone, not knowing their specific characters, not to be mistaken, with everyone and everyone.

Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?

I miss it.

What's the movie that taught you the most?

More than teaching, which made me realize that to tell even a simple story you need rhythm and elegance at the same time, Amarcord.

About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?

Never.

On set what excites yuo the most?

Just a moment before the "action"

And what scares you the most?

The lack of respect and passion.

What's your next project?

Doing film workshops with the elderly in nursing homes, getting them to act in our own fiction.

You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?

I never steal.

An actor/director/screenplayer is made of.…

Passion, intelligence and a lot of desire to learn new things, desire to study ,desire to do.

For you Cinema is.…

The most complete thing to be able to express an idea, a story, develop and disseminate a message.

Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?

They must have many shades of gray well ditributed creating the right contrasts for the scenes to work.

Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?

No never, but last night I dreamed I was in the mountains with Mick Jagger, we were being chased by wolves, Mick pulls out a gun and shoots at the wolves but they don't die.

Do you think you're gonna win it?

I don't think so, however, never say never, even James Bond said so in unsuspected times.

What's the absolutely necessary ingredient to be a good actor/director/screenplayer?

To be a visionary and have the ability to picturize the entire movie through your mind's eye is the primary and the most important ingredient to be a good screenplayer. 

First and last cinematographic crush?

Recent one is the Testament : The Story of Moses directed by Benjamin Ross is a 3 part biblical docuseries And there are many more like the Titanic, The Lighthouse, Dunkirk, Gone with the Wind, Doctor Zhivago, Ben-Hur, Life of Pi, Roma, The Tree of Life, 

How old you were when you decided you wanted to be an actor/director/screenplayer?

I was 18 when I decided to write my own blank verses, poems, short story and recently wrote a script and screenplay for the Documentary Movie known as The Victims of Sundarbans.

For you a Film is... 

A visual art form to communicate stories both real and fictional. Films are about feelings and perceptions for both Entertainment, Raising Awareness, Educating People at large and it also reflects our social, cultural and backgrounds against various backdrops from each village, city, state, country.

What do you feel when you're acting/directing/writing?

When I am writing the pen flows through like a feather of varied emotions which otherwise wouldn't have seen the light of day. Great means of story telling and Communicating to masses.

You can go to the Movies with an actor/director/screenplayer that you love. What kind of movie do you choose and with who you're gonna watch it?

I would love to go for a movie with Bradley Cooper.

Movies are usually with family so maybe a movie like The Sound of Music or an Oliver Twist or My Fair Lady, usually I love watching old classics.

Audrey Hepburn used to say “Nothing is Impossible”, what do you think about it?

I belive in the statement with all earnesty. Nothing is Impossible if you put your mind and heart to it.

Can you live just of your passion?

Yes, passion and hard work go hand in hand.

What's more important talent or luck?

Both, being at the right time and right place is important for talent and luck to be on your side.

You must go to a desert island but you can bring with you just one movie... 

The Sound of Music

Have you ever accepted a part/ a movie to direct/ a script to write even if you didn't like the project?

No. I have written a script only when I was fully convinced with what I wanted to tell to the world.

What's the best compliment you have received about your Job?

The Awards and Accolades which I have received from the Documentary Movie The Victims of Sundarbans were surreal. I felt people could connect with the original story of the tiger victim widows and their children in Sundarbans.

Are you satisfied about your career?

No, I want to do more work and rather exceptionally good work. Hungry for more.

Do you have a good luck charm?

Yes 

Which is the worst moment on set ?

Convincing the actors to play certain portions in the movie especially when the actors are not trained.

How do you feel when a job you've been part of it's ending?

It's an empty feeling. It's like a child going away abroad for higher studies and the parents yearn and sulk but are extremely proud, happy, glad and cheerful about the success the child receives in a foreign country.

Have you ever lied to get a part/job?

No

If you should win an Oscar your first taught would go to…

The strong women of Sundarbans and the faces of the underprivileged children who don't have fathers. The smiles on their faces would be great and to win an Oscar for them would be extremely overwhelming as I am working with then since 8.5 years.

Do you prefer Comedy or Drama?

I enjoy both. Comedy is great for when I need a laugh after a long hard day where nothing seems to go right. Drama can take me into another culture, time period, or completely different perspective on an issue. I love immersing myself in those movies.

Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life?

I think it's both. There are movies that have influenced society. For example, Philadelphia brought out facts about AIDS and had us thinking about the person who has it. The plethora of pandemic movies is an example of art imitating life.

Which is the best Moment on set?

I think it is a toss up between the first "Action" shout and the ending "That's a wrap." That first affirmation that the movie is going to be made fills everyone with anticipation. The final call to go to editing has people fist pumping in the air that we did it!

Did anyone ever tell you weren't good enough?

I had an English professor in college tell me that. I believed him for a while. I could kick myself for believing him. Then I met another professor in Women's Studies who told me different. That message resonated with me. I continue to write to this day. 

How can you stay focused on your goal?

Focus is easy when the characters burst through my thoughts and I can hardly keep up with the stream of conversation. Sometimes I do lose focus and the characters are on strike. I work on another story until they feel like communicating again.

Have you ever had a breakdown because of your Job?

No, this is my passion and my outlet from all that intrudes on my life. It's my therapy!

Talent is a blessing or a curse?

How we use our talents could be a blessing or a curse. Is it used for good or maybe just entertainment or is it used for the opposite of those two?

What would you like to improve about yourself as an

actor/director/screenplayer?

Procrastination! I tend to put off writing and moving into the next level - filmmaking. I'm working on it with the help of my friend Amy Leigh McCorkle.

What's the worst critic you have received?

My father was my worst critic. I couldn't seem to do anything right. I remember giving him a book of poems and short stories that I was selected to be included in it. I was one of twenty-five selected out of over two thousand. He thumbed through the book and then tossed it in his out basket.

If you weren't an actor/director/screenplayer what would you like to be?

Have an empire built on several companies that provide an outlet and source of financial backing for creatives to achieve their best.

If Cinema was a color what would it be?

My favorite color is cerulean blue. Even though I lean towards that color I think red might be better. Red is associated with so many emotions - passion, love, joy, hatred, bloodshed and danger.

A day without a movie is...

Oh, that would be so sad. I so love immersing myself in the movie. I love watching movies and very soon creating them.

If someone offered you to play/direct/write in/a movie that you despice but that for sure will make you rich and famous...would you accept the job?

I think it would depend on the theme of the movie. Does it have any social redeemable value? Does it cause people to think about something in a different and hopefully positive way? 

What's your greatest ambition?

My greatest ambition is of course, to win academy awards. My work venerated by my peers. People to read my books and want to share with others.

What's your biggest fear?

My biggest fear is fame. I seek it yet, I worry about how everyone is so eager to tear others down and not only find faults but to bare them to the public not because it's necessary but because of financial gain.

Does music helps you to play/direct, write?

Music brings out my muses and encourages me to write. I love to listen to Mozart, Beethoven and Pink. Quite a contrast I know. Mozart and Beethoven nudge me while Pink encourages me to be a bit more of a rebel and think outside the box. 

You have the chance to make a Silent movie, what's your message to the audience?

My message would be kick back and enjoy! 

Share your speech if you should win an Oscar...

I want to thank all of the people who have encouraged me and nurtured my talent to become the person I am professionally. My mom who encouraged me in whatever I did. My sister, Theresa who gave me the first book that I loved to read. My high school English teach Ms. Hatcher who believe in my writing and entered it into a contest.  Amy who encouraged me to adapt my short stories into screenplays and to make films. Each and every person who read and viewed my work. Again, I thank each and every one of you.

When did you realised you wanted to be a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?

For a very long time I am amazed by James Dean's performance in "The Giant" 1956, so I started watchihg B/W movies every day ever since. Fast forward couple of years I saw "I confess" 1953 directed by Alfred Hitchcock starring Montgomery Clift, so I said this is what I chose.


Do you remember your first time at the Movies?



Growing up loving the treatres more than movies, I wasn't ignorant of them, but when I started learning from them almost the same as from theatres, I already forgot my first time because I was already so in love.

 If you should change country where would you like to work?



The American story telling concept is based off of the Stanislavski system more than Shakespeare. For me personally, growing up in the country of Macedonia, I better understand the Russian culture such as Leo Tolstoy, A. Sergeyevich Pushkin, Stanislavski, Dostoyevski, A. Chekhov, Bulgakov, Ostrovsky, Gogol, Turgenev etc. If the American story telling was something else than it is I chose Russia.

Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…

Gulliver's Travels 1939 and East of Eden 1955 for the better of course. There are no bad movies but just hard days.

What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?

Untill the end of time. It's the only place that refresh a memory of a forgotten knowledge, sometimes without even noticing.

Have you ever hated your ambition?



Only briefly when I was starting out. It was taking every aspect of my life in terms of free time and scheduling. When I decided this is what I want to do with my life, I started hating myself that I didn't gave %110 at the time. 

Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was

he right?



Sick in terms of "that is all he/she knows?" Than I agree to be sick, at least I know something others don't. And one day they'll realise that there is no better feeling than understanding the human psyche, that only books and cinema can teach us, because someone else will be in need of your help like you needed at some point.

Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?



God and the cosmos.

Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?



Konstantin Stanislavski.

About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…



When I realized that the clock doesn't exist but only time, and that the consciousness has an expiration date, my worst nightmare is not achieving my writting/acting goals, and passing them on future generations before I leave this Earth.

How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?



Culture is the right word, yes, it's very important because it shows other cultures about a certain one and it's points of view. 

What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?



Not every culture sees a story same. Put the business on the 2nd place and show a story that more cultures can understand, you'd be amazed of the positive criticism, which will skyrocket the business by itself.

- A big producer give you the chance to direct\to play (in) the remake of one of your favorite black and white Movie (if you have one), what film do you choose?



Casablanca.

Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost

and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?

My will, my passion, my joy, my love for the art...myself.

Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: The

script, the script and the script".  Do you agree with him?



Totally. On set everything can be changed but not untill the script is. 

What’s your most ambitious project for the future?

With my bussy schedule of writing and acting I think I'd be able to squeeze in my next big project on the horizon in near future, producing my next movie "Sunset" back in my home country of Macedonia, based on my last novel that I enjoyed 3½ years of my life writing it.

Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative?

Always. Happiness makes us enjoy the moment, sadness in search for meaning.

What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?

To pass everything I know to future generations, because only the stories are able to change someone's life. Some may not agree with me and say love first, but I would say this: "love have to have a story, without story the is no love." I support and concrete this with the most important Leo Tolstoy's quote: "Everything exists only because I love...love is life." He is meaning about the universal love and not just love between 2 people. And I'll add to it: "Love is a story."