Filmmaker Mark Bozek On The Times of Bill Cunningham
Mark Bozek discuss his momentous career which prompted him to make the documentary, The Times of Bill Cunningham. This film - about the late New York Times photojournalist and fashion historian – ultimately proved the result of an impromptu, four-hour video-taped conversation which Bozek conducted with Cunningham in 1993. With that, Bozek merged dazzling Bill Cunningham archive photos plus narration by Sarah Jessica Parker to make the film, he explains.
Bozek also goes back to his beginnings, recalling Sunday afternoon salons in late 70s Los Angeles, where he mingled with the likes of Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro. He was 17 and working as the personal assistant to the legendary method acting coach, Lee Strasberg. He also remembers venturing to Senegal, West Africa with the influential African-American designer, Willi Smith, to make a Max Vadukul film showcasing Smith’s brand, WilliWear. And Bozek explains how he helped to pioneer fashion television – first as the producer of Fox Style News and then - after the media mogul, Barry Diller, appointed him to rebrand QVC - as HSN’s CEO. This venture resulted in Bradley Cooper portraying Bozek in David O. Russell’s 2015 film, Joy.