Director William Friedkin’s movies include The Exorcist and To Live and Die in L.A. Before participating in a panel on how film has shaped global views of Los Angeles, he talked about the autobiography he’s writing in an office no one is allowed to enter (on pain of death), and what to do in a zombie apocalypse.
What’s your favorite part of working on your autobiography?
Editing it. I write in longhand in Moleskine notebooks, and I revise it many times. Then I record it into a microcassette recorder and have that transcribed, then I edit it eight or nine times, then I send it to my editor in New York, and she makes it readable. I enjoy editing more than searching for the correct word. Editing is easy.
What scares you?
I once asked El Cordobés-a Spanish bullfighter who stood closer to the horns of a bull than anyone else-“Are you afraid of death when you get in the bullring?” He said, “I’m not afraid of death, only life scares me.”
If you could be any animal, what would you be?
A panda.
What do you eat most often?
Whole-grain pasta, or whole-grain pancakes.
What’s the last new thing you learned?
I’m learning things constantly and at all times. I travel a lot, and so you tend to learn a lot about people and culture.
Where did you travel to last?
Florence, Italy. I just got back a week ago-I directed an opera there.
What weapon would you most want to have in a zombie apocalypse?
There are no weapons possible in a zombie apocalypse. Just say your final prayers, and bid your nearest loved ones goodbye.
Who do you go to for advice?
There’s so many people you go to for advice. If you’re a filmmaker, you’ll talk a lot to the cameraman, the soundman, the actors. If you want advice about what’s wrong with your car, you’re going to probably go to a repair shop. But if you want some advice on the validity of the religious experience, you might not go to the auto repair shop.
What’s worth fighting for?
Your family, your friends. I don’t think there are an awful lot of principles worth fighting for.
Where do you go to be alone?
I have a private office that no one is allowed to come into. I mean they could come in there, but I would have to kill them.