Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso ‘Before’ Director Richard Linklater
Oct 29, 2025
Richard Linklater, the acclaimed director behind films like Dazed and Confused and the Before trilogy, shares insights into his creative journey and influences. He reveals the transformative impact of a health scare that shifted his focus from athletics to filmmaking. Linklater discusses the unique identities in his latest film, Hit Man, explores the thin line between artists and criminals, and reflects on capturing authenticity in film. He also dives into the challenges of modern cinema, the role of AI in creativity, and the importance of personal storytelling.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Fake Hitman Inspires Hit Man
- Richard Linklater discovered the odd job of a fake hitman from a Texas Monthly article and developed Hit Man from that real character.
- He was intrigued by the duality of a quiet college lecturer living a secret undercover role and used it to explore identity and transformation.
Health Scare Redirected His Life
- A heart arrhythmia in college ended his baseball career and freed him to spend long days reading and watching films.
- That forced slowdown launched his intense period of film study and began his move toward filmmaking.
Short Films As Technical Apprenticeship
- Linklater saved money and methodically taught himself filmmaking by making about 20 shorts before features.
- He used those shorts as technical experiments to discover what visual language suited him.
