Mala Noche

Other than the original trailer, there is a short interview with Gus Van Sant, entitled "No cutting, no stars, no script", which gives an idea as to the principles employed in making the film. Whilst not the most engaging or charismatic of interviewees, Van Sant is very modest and serious, and gives some interesting background to the film.

Mala Noche was made for peanuts, filmed with a newsreel camera in black-and-white because they couldn't afford to paint sets and such, and he struggled to find non-actor Mexicans to play the supporting roles of Johnny and Roberto, because Mexican workers in Oregon, even illegal ones, made more money than he could pay for a day's shooting.

Johnny was played in the end by a native American. Walt was originally going to be played by the real Walt Curtis, who wrote the novella the film is based on, but it was judged to be "a little schizophrenicto play yourself", so Tim Streeter, an unknown stage actor, was brought in. Van sant also has plenty to say on the techniques used in the film, and their affinity to the Dogme rules, though most of the technical choices were, once again, related to cost first and foremost.

Perhaps Gus was afraid of boring us, but his comments provide such a valuable complement to the film that 26 minutes of interview seemed rather short, and I started to wish he'd carry on talking a little longer. The wisdom of experience probably told him you should always leave your audience wanting more.