When Richard Linklater directed School of Rock -- the first truly commercial success of his career -- you’d think he’d stay in the world of profitable, A-list comedy. After all, the paychecks are bigger than what you’d make for say, directing a film that features Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy discussing abstraction and truth, uninterrupted on the streets of Paris. But Linklater has always followed his own path, and despite making some of the most memorable films of the last twenty years (Dazed and Confused, Waking Life), the director still struggles to get projects off the ground. I recently had the chance to speak to Linklater from his home in Austin, where we discussed his latest documentary, his upcoming period piece Me and Orson Welles starring Zac Efron and Claire Danes, and anything and everything about the movie business.

Despite horrid reviews and jive-talking robots, there are a lot of people going to see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen this weekend (I'm talking to you 10-25 male demographic). The movie has already grossed more money than most do in an entire theatrical run, and it isn't even the weekend yet! But still, not everyone is going to the multiplex this weekend. Richard Linklater, director of the classics School of Rock, Dazed and Confused, and Before Sunset, has a better way to spend his time. Hint: it involves books. His thoughts: