Woody Allen mulls end of career

Woody Allen has told Alec Baldwin during a live interview that he is mulling ending his movie-making career, saying directing has lost its lustre.

The two men – each facing significant controversies – steered clear of addressing either the abuse allegations against Allen or the shooting last year on Baldwin’s movie set.

The public comment options were turned off, and the 45-minute interview attracted a modest audience of between 2400 and 2700.

The men chatted about Allen’s writing, the use of profanity in films and the current state of Broadway. Allen lost his connection several times, with his screen freezing.

Allen, 87, said movie-making was not as exciting now his films spent a few days in cinemas and then went directly to streaming.

“A lot of the thrill is gone,” he said. “It’s not as enjoyable as it was.”

Still, he planned to make his next movie later this year in Paris. “I’m going to make another one, and I’ll see how it feels.”

Baldwin, who has worked with Allen on a number of films, including To Rome with Love, Alice and Blue Jasmine, kept the mood light, complimenting Allen for his writing, and realising that neither had contracted COVID-19.

Allen has continued to face backlash after his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, accused him of molesting her as a child. Allen has denied the allegations.

Baldwin has faced his own controversy after he fatally shot a cinematographer on the set of his film Rust in New Mexico.

Baldwin has said he was pointing the gun at the cinematographer at her instruction when it went off without his pulling the trigger.