Roger Corman

Part II of the Fresh Air interview with the legendary B-movie producer and director. Corman talks about some of the unconventional research he did before making his films, including hanging out with the Hell's Angels and taking LSD. Despite having the opportunity to work with major studios, he chose to work independently, and eventually started his own production and distribution company, New World Pictures.

Part I of the Fresh Air interview. Despite his reputation as a master of the low-budget B-movie, Corman cites classic Hollywood and European films as his primary influences. He is known for his prolific pace, and for introducing now-famous actors like Jack Nicholson, Robert DeNiro, and Vincent Price. Corman has a new memoir, called "How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime."

The Oscar-nominated actor and screenwriter, who died Aug. 16, spoke to Terry Gross in 1998 about Ulee's Gold, Easy Rider and his acting philosophy of "doing less — and making more of it."

"You don't have to be a leading man" to make it in Hollywood, Miller told Fresh Air in 1990. He appeared in more than 100 films, including Gremlins and The Little Shop of Horrors.

Director and actor Paul Bartel died on Saturday at the age of 61. He had been diagnosed with liver cancer. We’ll listen back to his interview. Bartel's acting credits included roles in "Fame" and "L.A. Law," but he was best known for his direction of several black comedies, such as "Eating Raoul," which he also co-wrote and acted in and "Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills." (REBROADCAST from 7/5/89)