When people think of director and writer Damien Chazelle, his award winning films such as “Whiplash,” “Babylon” or “La La Land” might be what come to mind. But really, people should be paying more attention to his iconic 2021 Super Bowl Commercial featuring a 2D Matthew McConaughey.

While Chazelle’s work runs the gamut from serious psychological dramas to lighthearted Doritos commercials, he says that each project holds a different weight. During a Master Class at Chapman University on Feb. 28, Chazelle spoke at length about the anxieties of being a filmmaker and how success comes with more pressure to make something even better.

“Every movie has felt like an all or nothing life proposition,” Chazelle said. “Once I’m done with a movie, I feel like I need to do the opposite of what I just did… I want to run as far away as possible.”

The Master Class, which was held in the Folino Theater, was moderated by Dean of Dodge College of Film and Media Arts Stephen Galloway and preceded by a screening of "Whiplash.” Chazelle’s most recent film, “Babylon,” has received three Academy Award nominations — Best Original Score, Best Production Design and Best Costume Design. 

According to Chazelle, the first few months of writing a script are “pure,” especially compared to the tedious post-production tasks Chazelle refers to as the “not-so-concrete stuff.” Shooting on the other hand, is first agony, then ecstasy. With shooting days being filled with fatigue and yelling, Chazelle said he is always putting out metaphorical fires on set. 

“It's like trying to paint a beautiful landscape while someone holds a gun to your head,” Chazelle said.

Growing up, Chazelle was surrounded by a love for movies from his mother and a love for music from his father. He recalled being a young child and watching Disney’s “Cinderella” on repeat. Now Chazelle cringes at the memory, feeling badly for his parents, due to his experience now watching “Blippi” episodes on a loop with his own children. 

“Peter Pan” was the first movie Chazelle saw in theaters and he remembers being captivated by the look of Captain Hook on screen. Chazelle spent a majority of his childhood dreaming of being an animator, even dreaming of becoming the next Walt Disney. But it wasn’t before long that he decided he would like to become the next Alfred Hitchcock instead.

“Before I knew what film directing was, I was drawing,” Chazelle said. “I was surrounded by a love of the arts. I wound up being lucky enough to be surrounded by those things. All of that instilled itself. I don't remember a time where I didn’t want to make art.”

During the student Q&A portion of the Master Class, Chazelle was asked what film he would have liked to live through the making of, to which he said something produced by the Lumiere Brothers or a short film like “The Great Train Robbery.”

“Being on set with people trying to figure it out for the first time,” Chazelle said. “To be at the ground floor, not knowing if it’s going to work out.”

 “Babylon” is available to stream on Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video.

Dodge College of Film and Media Arts Master Classes are available to all Chapman students and alumni. Seats are available either on a first-come, first-served basis or by lottery system depending on the Master Class. Dates, times, upcoming guests and additional information can be found in the lobby of Marion Knott Studios or on the Dodge College Instagram account.