The Movies That Made Me MARTY SUPREME writer/director Josh Safdie
Feb 17, 2026
Josh Safdie, writer-director known for gritty, kinetic films, shares the movies that shaped him. He talks about childhood favorites like E.T., The Shining, and Pulp Fiction. He recalls filmmaking rituals, casting Abel Ferrara, and how games, ADHD, and early cinema taught him tension and character-driven storytelling.
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Vicarious Thrill Of Extreme Agency
- Safdie links audience wish-fulfillment to watching extreme individualism onscreen.
- He says viewers enjoy vicarious agency even when consequences would be unbearable in real life.
Write For Actors You Envision
- When directing, write specifically for actors you imagine and then modify with casting.
- Safdie wrote lines for Abel Ferrara, Ty (Tyler, the Creator) and Gwyneth Paltrow before casting others.
Casting Abel Ferrara Intentionally
- Josh Safdie cast Abel Ferrara and adapted dialogue to his cadence, encouraging improvisation.
- He had to work with Ferrara's sobriety and bring Ferrara's cinematic aura into the role.