Susan Seidelman on Making Movies Her Way, Responding to Critics, and Writing Her First Memoir, Desperately Seeking Something [Video]

You describe running around Manhattan making Smithereens with complete abandon, including in places that were deemed unsafe, but feeling that “creativity protected” you. It felt more meaningful than just talking about a specific scene.

Well, there was a kind of protection for me in that mix of naiveté. I didn’t know how dangerous things could be. I didn’t come from an artistic family; I always felt a little different, and I admired the boldness of artists. You have to be bold. So that boldness also was a kind of protection, that you could do these crazy things in the name of art and you’d be safe.

When you write about Wren, the main character in Smithereens played by Susan Berman, you say you wanted to create this character without judging her, and with it I felt like you were also creating yourself a little bit.

It’s a bit like Where’s Waldo?I’m always hidden in there somewhere. I think growing up, especially in the ’60s—and this …