Was this what interested you in making it?
No, because I was just interested in making a movie with Ryan [Gosling].
The rest came by itself.
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So how did you arrive at the overall tone and pace of the film?
Was that something that was quite organic in the way it came together?
Particularly when I left Hollywood and went to Cannes, I was just, Wow, I love Hollywood.
It was a great experience.
You managed to avoid any outside interference, then.
You were given the autonomy to make the film you wanted to make… And I knew Ryan would protect me if I had any problems, because he was the star.
It was a wonderful situation for me.
It was a bit like when John Boorman was brought to Hollywood to doPoint Blankwith Lee Marvin.
Were those 70s thrillers an influence Boorman, Friedkin, Walter Hill?
He transforms himself into a superhero.
There was always Grimms Fairytales, which I was more or less obsessed with.
I dont really know.
Its hard to tell.
I can only do it as I see it.
I dont know the difference.
Maybe its good not knowing the difference, because then youre not inhibited by doing what you do.
You essentially make the movie you want to make.
Ive heard it mentioned before that you intendedDriveto be a fairytale, a masculine fairytale, I suppose.
I think that the films very feminine.
Im a very feminine man, I like feminine things.
I like dont like guys, I like girls.
Where did those come in?
It just naturally flows through the channels of creativity.
But were they things you spoke about together, you and Gosling?
Oh, were telekinetic.
We dont even have to talk.
We just looked at each other and things came about.
And that was it.
Like we were the same person.
The scorpion on Ryan Goslings jacket, could you tell me what that represents?
Thats the superhero he formed himself into.
Thats who he is thats his mark.
Its like a superhero has an identity, in a metaphorical sense, and for him its the scorpion.
With that on his back, he knows who he is and how he becomes it.
The script, I understand, was quite pared back as you went through shooting.
What sort of things did you choose to take out?
And that was all the way from the beginning to the end.
The music was something else I wanted to touch upon.
How far along were you when you chose what music you wanted to cut it to?
Very far along in the editing process.
I cut it to the sound of these pop songs, which became the score of the film.
One project that Im really interested in isLogans Run.
Where does that fit into your busy schedule?
Well, right now, were doingOnly God Forgivesat Christmas, so well see aboutLogans Runafterwards.
Thats likely to be a big-budget movie for you, then.
Its a huge franchise, and Warner Brothers only make huge franchises.
Were in the big league with a film like this.
It wouldnt benefit from it.
It would only benefit from going all the way.
AndOnly God Forgives,what can we expect from that?
Does it explore similar things toDrive?
Thats for me to know and you to find out.
I understand youre making a movie with Carey Mulligan, too.
Carey and I have talked about making a movie together, and weve agreed to making a movie together.
Would that fit in afterLogans Run?
Nicolas Winding Refn, thank you very much.
