Melissa Maerz - Alright, Alright, Alright: The Oral History of Richard Linklaters Dazed and Confused

For my family:

Chuck, Silas, Hope, Jennifer, Mat, Eska, Mom, and Dad

O ral histories often make it seem as if dozens of interconnected people happened to sit down at the same table, in the same bar, on the same night, and, rather spontaneously, started exchanging stories while the bartender secretly recorded them. Obviously, thats not how it works. This book is the result of one-on-one interviews that I conducted with nearly 150 people, several of whom were interviewed multiple times between July 2018 and February 2020. Many of those interviews happened in person. Some were conducted over the phone. Some quotes were sent over email. Occasionally, people responded directly to others quotes, but only after I read those quotes to them. Most of these interviews were edited and condensed for the sake of brevity and clarity.

Ive also relied on letters, memos, drafts of the script, and other archival documents that were provided to me by the interviewees. In a few of the introductions to individual chapters, Ive quoted outside sourcestheyre cited at the end of the book. Where Ive pulled quotes from video footage, Ive sometimes condensed them. All of the other quotes came from my own reporting, with one exception. Dazed and Confused producer Jim Jacks passed away four years before I started working on this book. Journalist and author Brian Raftery graciously allowed me to quote from an interview he recorded with Jacks in 2003. None of the quotes Ive used from that interview have ever appeared in print before.

In the years since Dazed was first released, many of the women in this book have gotten married and changed their last names. Ive referred to them by their current, married names throughout the book, except in the chapter introductions, when Im talking about the early 1990s.

There are still a few voices missing from this book. Shawn Andrews and Milla Jovovich were unavailable to be interviewed in time for my deadline, according to Andrewss publicist and Jovovichs manager. A few of the interviewees in this book reached out on my behalf to Dazed and Confused co-producer Anne Walker-McBay and director of photography Lee Daniel, but they both declined to participate. Second assistant cameraman Clark Walker sent a single email, from which I reprinted a single, essential quote.

Lastly, despite repeated attempts to contact the actor Jason O. Smith, who played Melvin in the movie, I was not able to reach him. Jason, if youre reading this, Id still love to talk to you. Email me at alrightalrightalright93@gmail.com.

Richard Linklater: writer, producer, director, actor, Should Have Stayed at Bus Station, Slacker; writer, director, producer, Dazed and Confused

Courtesy of Richard Linklater.

Main Cast of Dazed and Confused

Joey Lauren Adams: Simone

Courtesy of Jonathan Burkhart.

Ben Affleck: OBannion

Courtesy of Jason London.

Shawn Andrews: Pickford

Courtesy of Richard Linklater.

Rory Cochrane: Slater

Courtesy of Jason London.

Jeremy Fox: Hirschfelder

Courtesy of Richard Linklater.

Adam Goldberg: Mike

Courtesy of Jonathan Burkhart.

Chrisse Harnos: Kaye

Courtesy of Jason London.

Cole Hauser: Benny

Courtesy of Jason London.

Christin Hinojosa-Kirschenbaum: Sabrina

Courtesy of Jonathan Burkhart.

Sasha Jenson: Don

Courtesy of Jason London.

Milla Jovovich: Michelle

Courtesy of Richard Linklater.

Nicky Katt: Clint

Courtesy of Nicky Katt.

Jason London: Pink

Photography by Anthony Rapp.

Deena Martin-DeLucia: Shavonne

Courtesy of Jonathan Burkhart.

Matthew McConaughey: Wooderson

Courtesy of Richard Linklater.

Catherine Avril Morris: Julie

Courtesy of Jonathan Burkhart.

Parker Posey: Darla

Courtesy of Jason London.

Esteban Powell: Carl

Courtesy of Richard Linklater.

Anthony Rapp: Tony

Courtesy of Jonathan Burkhart.

Marissa Ribisi: Cynthia

Courtesy of Jonathan Burkhart.