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Penelope Spheeris, the pioneering filmmaker and documentarian, has left an indelible mark on American cinema with her bold and unflinching portrayals of youth culture, music, and social issues. From her iconic "Decline of Western Civilization" series to mainstream hits like "Wayne's World," Spheeris' distinctive voice and uncompromising vision have earned her acclaim as a trailblazer in the male-dominated world of Hollywood filmmaking.
"Now, it's almost impossible to go out and do a film about a new form of music."
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"Now, it's almost impossible to go out and do a film about a new form of music."

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"It is the idea that it's a movie in a movie. So I did it."
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"It is the idea that it's a movie in a movie. So I did it."

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"For the most part, studio movies have huge budgets. They don't do anything under 30 to 40 million. When you have that much money at stake, you have so many people breathing down your neck."
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"For the most part, studio movies have huge budgets. They don't do anything under 30 to 40 million. When you have that much money at stake, you have so many people breathing down your neck."

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"I was always into music. I think everyone is when they're a teenager, as a way to drown out the world."
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"I was always into music. I think everyone is when they're a teenager, as a way to drown out the world."

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"Before you approach a production entity or even a potential producer, you should write up a treatment and register your show with the Writers Guild of America."
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"Before you approach a production entity or even a potential producer, you should write up a treatment and register your show with the Writers Guild of America."

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"The first Decline I did was out of sheer love and appreciation for the music. In 1977, it was more about bands, because punk was a new form of music. It was groundbreaking and political."
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"The first Decline I did was out of sheer love and appreciation for the music. In 1977, it was more about bands, because punk was a new form of music. It was groundbreaking and political."

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"In other countries, it's a common thing to have outcast children running around the streets in packs, and I don't think we're so far away from it here."
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"In other countries, it's a common thing to have outcast children running around the streets in packs, and I don't think we're so far away from it here."

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"I got IRS records to finance what I wanted to do."
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"I got IRS records to finance what I wanted to do."

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"When we did Wayne's World, it was 14 million dollars and they didn't bug us too much because they just thought it was some little movie that nobody was ever going to see. We showed them."
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"When we did Wayne's World, it was 14 million dollars and they didn't bug us too much because they just thought it was some little movie that nobody was ever going to see. We showed them."

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"Rabid fans were literally jumping into the camera."
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"Rabid fans were literally jumping into the camera."

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"There are thousands of directors in Hollywood."
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"There are thousands of directors in Hollywood."

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"Me and Johnny Rotten have been talking about doing a movie of his book, No Irish, No Dogs, No Blacks. We have a script, so hopefully that's going to happen at some point in our careers."
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"Me and Johnny Rotten have been talking about doing a movie of his book, No Irish, No Dogs, No Blacks. We have a script, so hopefully that's going to happen at some point in our careers."

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"It is fun to try figure out the things that really are real and the things that aren't."
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"It is fun to try figure out the things that really are real and the things that aren't."

Fun,
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"Different parents have different standards for their children."
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"Different parents have different standards for their children."

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"Your best protection is to have an established agent make the contact."
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"Your best protection is to have an established agent make the contact."

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"Decline III, I funded myself, from the studio money. That, and I sold a lot of drugs. Kidding. Don't print that."
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"Decline III, I funded myself, from the studio money. That, and I sold a lot of drugs. Kidding. Don't print that."

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"It's really hard to imagine there ever being the kind of impact there was when punk rock happened in the late 70's. I wish there would be one big change like that again, but I don't know if that'll ever happen."
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"It's really hard to imagine there ever being the kind of impact there was when punk rock happened in the late 70's. I wish there would be one big change like that again, but I don't know if that'll ever happen."

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"This generation has given up on growth. They're just hoping for survival."
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"This generation has given up on growth. They're just hoping for survival."

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"I live on this nice three acres in Hollywood."
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"I live on this nice three acres in Hollywood."

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"If you are looking for a producer, try to contact established producers. Don't let the fear of theft paralyze you, or you will never get anywhere with it."
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"If you are looking for a producer, try to contact established producers. Don't let the fear of theft paralyze you, or you will never get anywhere with it."

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"I love punk rock, but I also love metal."
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"I love punk rock, but I also love metal."

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"Arnold and Jamie Lee must have worked over the years with directors that did 50 takes, because I'd get like three takes or so and say, Ok, that's it, we're done."
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"Arnold and Jamie Lee must have worked over the years with directors that did 50 takes, because I'd get like three takes or so and say, Ok, that's it, we're done."

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"I really feel kind of guilty spending 80 million dollars. People are starving in the world."
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"I really feel kind of guilty spending 80 million dollars. People are starving in the world."

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"When men have money and power they get turned on, sexually. They get horny as hell. Can't imagine why, though."
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"When men have money and power they get turned on, sexually. They get horny as hell. Can't imagine why, though."

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"Those movies, Decline I and II and Suburbia, are dearly loved, but they never made any money. I didn't even have the rights for some of them."
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"Those movies, Decline I and II and Suburbia, are dearly loved, but they never made any money. I didn't even have the rights for some of them."

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