Springsteen, Scorsese talk Catholicism, films and creativity…
There’s no greater well to draw on than myths of Catholicism. Everything is in there.
http://archive.today/2019.05.06-141124/https://www.apnews.com/d155c91865224dd484eb5ab87bee51fb
LOS ANGELES (AP) — With a friendship going back to a fateful meeting at The Roxy in 1975, Bruce Springsteen and Martin Scorsese shared the stage in Los Angeles Sunday night for a wide-ranging conversation about everything from their Catholic upbringings and maturing faith to Flannery O’Connor, concert documentaries and the role of an audience. The Netflix-hosted event was in support of the Emmys campaign for his one-man show “Springsteen on Broadway” at the streaming service’s FYSEE (a riff on “for your consideration”) space in the heart of Hollywood. An earnest Springsteen laughed at himself as he prepared to close out the evening and charm the crowd with an acoustic performance of “Dancing in the Dark” that he was “here today begging complete strangers for votes.” But what better way to do so than with a nostalgic performance and a heartfelt chat about creativity and faith with one of the greatest living filmmakers. And they didn’t waste time getting to the heavy stuff.
“All my work was informed by my years in Catholic school,” Springsteen said to the intimate crowd of Emmy voters and press at the start. “All that redemption, damnation, all the Martin Scorsese films. … As I got older I stopped fighting against it. Now I draw on it and enjoy it. There’s no greater well to draw on than myths of Catholicism. Everything is in there.” He said “Mean Streets” in particular was on point for “An altar boy like myself.” Scorsese responded that even his upcoming Netflix film, “The Irishman,” deals with the same thing, “Trust, loyalty, betrayal and faith.” The two said they both find inspiration in the stories of Flannery O’Connor (Scorsese recommended her letters to The Boss) and Springsteen said he’s always found that, “the darkness is more interesting than the light.” He connected it to other artists he finds interesting, from Hank William, to Bob Dylan and Robert De Niro, who he said has a “two-hour face.”