Film

Wes Craven worked his way up in the film industry before unexpectedly getting the chance to direct The Last House on the Left. The movie was a controversial success, with its graphic portrayal of rape and murder. His newest movie about voodoo, The Serpent and the Rainbow, was filmed in Haiti.

The filmmaker's first American movie, RoboCop, is a critical and commercial success. He joins Fresh Air to talk about his portrayal of graphic violence and his fascination with American culture and politics.

Actress Carroll Baker launched her career with sexually-charged parts like title role of the film Baby Doll. Disillusioned with the Hollywood system, she moved to Europe. Now back in America, she writes books, including her newest novel, A Roman Tale.

Brothers Luis and Daniel Valens' collaborated on a biopic of the late singer's life, called La Bamba. They discuss how they tracked down Valens' family to learn more about his early life.

Dave Brody is an entomologist who helps directors use insects in their movies. While those films are designed to inspire fear and disgust, Brody, who by day works for the Museum of Natural History in New York City, is a great lover of insects who avoids hurting or killing the animals at all costs.

Character actor Robert Loggia is best known for his roles as cops in major motion pictures, including his Academy Award-nominated performance of Sam Ransom in Jagged Edge. He also played a Cuban drug dealer in Scarface.

Von Brandenstein began her career painting theater sets before moving on to motion pictures. She is known for her focus on authenticity, particularly in historical films like The Untouchables and Amadeus.

Composer John Morris is film director Mel Brooks' longtime collaborator. In addition to writing the music for comedies, Morris also scored David Lynch's The Elephant Man.

After working as prostitute in England, Cynthia Payne started her own brothel which featured parties and other social gatherings in addition to sex. The new film Personal Services tells her story.

Film actor, writer, and director Robert Townsend satirizes his experiences as an African American in Hollywood in the new film, Hollywood Shuffle. He says that television commercials have given him more opportunities than movies to play diverse roles.