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Lindsay Crystal was born in Los Angeles but has lived in New York City since 1995. She graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 1999 with a B.F.A. in Film and Television. While at NYU, she directed the short film "Snooze", for which she won the 1999-2000 Martin Scorsese Post-Production Award. After graduating, she worked as an assistant editor on commercials, documentaries and features (including HBO's 61*), later returning to NYU to teach editing to high school students. MY UNCLE BERNS is her feature directorial debut. A 2004 Tribeca Film Festival selection, MY UNCLE BERNS also screened at the 2004 Sarasota Film Festival, where it won the Best Documentary Audience Award.
INTERVIEW
HBO: What inspired you to make this film about your uncle?
LINDSAY: I grew up in California, and my Uncle Berns lived in New York. So,
growing up, I didn't really get to spend time with him. I would only see him maybe once a year. I moved to New York to go to college, and
still didn't really spend much time with him. Six years later, on 9/11, I was in the East Village of New York, and Uncle Berns was in his
apartment in Battery Park City. His apartment was basically across the street from the towers. When I saw the destruction of the buildings, I thought immediately he was lost. I had a moment where I thought to myself that I knew nothing about the man that my father had always described as magical, and a huge inspiration in his career as an entertainer. When I found out he had been evacuated out of the city safely, I decided that it was time to get to know him. So, I went with
my cinematographer, Peter Scalettar, to visit Berns, and just started interviewing him on camera. I had no intention of making a documentary, I just wanted to get a better sense of where I came from and I thought that I would have this archive to share with our family. What I didn't know then, was that he had 88 years of amazing stories in his memory, and just needed someone who was willing to listen.
HBO: What new things did you learn about your uncle during the course of making this film?
LINDSAY: Everything I learned about him was new. All I had known prior to working on the movie, was that he was an incredible artist, a world war II veteran, and could recite Shakespeare at any given moment. As he started to open up the vaults in his mind, I felt that I had an enormous responsibility on my shoulders. He was trusting me with his most painful and cherished memories.
HBO: What was the most challenging part of making this film?
LINDSAY: I think the most challenging part of making the film was in the editing process. I did all of the editing myself, and I had the huge
job of taking over 100 hours of footage and shaping that into 90 minutes. At first, it felt like an impossible task to piece it all together. I didn't want to cut anything! Having to cut out moments that I loved, was heartbreaking for me. But, ultimately, the most important thing to me was to portray Berns in the most honest and
accurate way that I could.
HBO: What is your favorite part of the film?
LINDSAY: I think my favorite part of the film is the way his artwork is weaved
throughout. I had an amazing animator, Patrick Siemer, who brought those wonderful fuzzy characters to life. But I also love when it' just
a simple line drawing that Berns does for the movie to illustrate key moments in his life. I wanted the audience to enter his world, his
imagination.
HBO: How is your uncle Berns doing? Any new jokes to tell?
LINDSAY: Berns is doing really well. He's going to be 90 in November, which is truly amazing. At that age, to still have such a positive outlook on life, and to look forward to the future in the way that he does, is so
inspiring to me. He's a big celebrity in his building now. People have even come up to him on the street saying "Hey Uncle Berns!" This
whole experience for him has been rejuvenating and exciting for him. When we screened the movie at the Tribeca Film Festival, during the
Q&A, someone said to him that he was a model for aging. His reply was "The only thing that ages well is cheese." The next question was "What
other profession would he like to have had?" and his reply was, "Cheese!"
HBO: Does he like the film?
LINDSAY: He loves the film. I think there are a lot of moments that are difficult to watch for him. When I finished the film, I was so nervous about his reaction because I didn't know what I would do if he was unhappy. I think he was most excited to see the animation because I didn't tell him anything about how it was going
to work. He was so thrilled to see the fuzzies scurrying around. Everytime we watch the movie together, it brings us back to the two years that
we spent working on it, and reminds us both of how far we've come together, and what a special experience that it has been.
HBO: What are you working on now?
LINDSAY: Since finishing the film, I have been writing a lot. My Dad and I have been working on a script together, which has been a wonderful experience. Not only is he a great father, but he's been an amazing mentor. I feel very lucky.
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