Sam Taylor-Johnson
Sam Taylor-Johnson
Samantha Louise "Sam" Taylor-Johnson OBEis an English filmmaker, photographer and visual artist. Her directorial feature film debut came in 2009 with Nowhere Boy, a film based on the childhood experiences of the Beatles songwriter and singer John Lennon. She is one of a group of artists known as the Young British Artists...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionDirector
Date of Birth4 March 1967
I want to protect my vision, and that's the hardest thing.
ended
I try to leave things as open ended as possible, not too overladen with meaning.
difficult direct gives men references women work
It's difficult for me to work with women, because I find that direct references are made back to me too fast. Working with men, it gives it a little distance.
When I decide I want something, I go in like an Exocet missile.
abyss allow cheerful defeat far might people stand surprised upbeat
When I had cancer, people were surprised at how cheerful and upbeat I was, but I couldn't let myself go to depression - to go there, that defeat would allow everything in. If you look too far into the abyss, you might never come out again. You can stand on the abyss and peep but not give in to sadness.
georgia hard quite trying undo
When I was out in Georgia doing photographs, I found myself trying to undo my own sense of composition. I'd think, 'Why do I want to take it like this? Is it because I want to take a beautiful picture?' It's quite hard to try and undo it.
The pictures I make come from every blink of my lashes.
advances balance despite equality far global great power statistics women
Despite great advances in women's rights, statistics show that when it comes to the balance of power between the sexes, equality is far from being a global reality.
I was determined to have a spotless house when I grew up.
Just because you've faced your own mortality, it doesn't make it any less frightening.
I was always interested in film, but I never knew how to go about becoming a filmmaker.
moved
I was living with my stepfather for a while, and then I moved out and went and lived on my own in Hastings-by-the-Sea from about 16.
interests journeys life particular
I think the whole of people's psychology and where they are in life interests me, and the decisions you make that take you on particular journeys to different places.
ahead believe follow leading process seen steps tend three truly understand until work
I always say, and I truly believe this, that my work is three steps ahead of me. I have an idea for something, and I tend to feel like it's leading me, and I'll follow the process through, and it's not until after I've seen it that I truly understand why I'm doing this.