‘I know I’m not going to be Mr. Cool and I’m always going to be on the outside of things,’ writer/director says. By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz M. Night Shyamalan Photo: Brian Jacks/ MTV News M. Night Shyamalan is one of those public figures people love to hate. Whatever the reason — many point to “The Last Airbender” director’s last few films’ lack of box-office success — it seems whatever he does, the feisty teeming masses are ready to jump on with over-analysis and hate. When we caught up with the polarizing director recently to discuss his involvement with the upcoming film “Devil,” we asked him what he thinks about being such a lightning rod for criticism. “It’s something I’ve thought about a bunch,” he said. “In my normal environment of the people I work with, the X amount of 100 people I work with to make movies is such a calm, friendly and non-confrontational [group],” he explained. “Like, I’ve gotten angry four times in my life, that kind of thing, and one was over basketball. … So we all hang out and I feel very close to everybody and so it’s very bizarre.” Shyamalan said the famous version of his persona doesn’t reflect the real version. “I don’t even know who they’re talking about sometimes,” he said. “I think we all think of ourselves as we were in high school. I was definitely the uncool kid in high school and definitely got made fun of as I walked [down the hall].” “I’m OK with that,” he added. “I know I’m not going to be Mr. Cool and I’m always going to be on the outside of things a little bit and had to become comfortable with it. There are good things and bad things to that because you see things in a different way, because you don’t really quite fit in, I don’t quite know how to be cool.” Speaking of cool, Shyamalan recalled the first time he felt like an outsider when he brought a film to a festival and was surrounded by other soon-to-be-household filmmaking names. “I remember the first time I had my first movie in a festival in Toronto. All of us had our first movies, it was me Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Baz Luhrman, we were all like 22-23 years old and they were so cool,” he said. “And I was making this sincere movie about a kid in India and I felt so uncool, I was cringing. They were so cool, they were all hanging out and they were edgy,” he remembered. “I wish I could naturally be a little bit more cool and edgy.” From the saucy Jessica Alba in “Little Fockers” to James Franco’s grueling journey in “127 Hours,” the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest flicks of fall 2010. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films’ biggest stars. Check out everything we’ve got on “Devil.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: ‘Devil’
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M. Night Shyamalan Was ‘The Uncool Kid’ In High School
