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What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Asked by James Lipton of each guest on his long running interview show, “Inside the Actors Studio”. One of several questions from his whimsical list and always delivered with a nod to Bernard Pivot at the close of each show.

In 2000 I got a call on my phone and a distinct, eloquent, breathy voice grabbed my attention and asked, “What turns you on creatively?”… It’s hard to answer when your brain is saying, “That’s James Lipton!” … My short answer to that question is easy now. Working with people like James Lipton. In the Midtown Manhattan edit room he called home, we met to talk about a new identity for “Inside the Actors Studio”. We sifted through hours of show highlights and discussed anything and everything tangible to the art of cinema. The ‘high art’ of cinema as he saw it. Passionate about the craft, he spoke every word with reverence just as you would expect. One night in the edit room I had Japanese for dinner and James went into a dramatic homage to the flavor and texture of the tiny edamame bean! How have I never had edamame before this? Oh my! Years later I saw Will Farrell play James Lipton in a SNL sketch and it was like a hilarious reenactment of the edamame arc. In the end I pitched a visual concept alluding to the schizophrenic nature of the acting craft. Actors changing from one character to another using a visual fracture motif. Fascinating! Glorious! James purred… “How do we do that?" He was the best kind of collaborator and certainly deepened my love of cinema. The show has been viewed by over 80 million people in 125 countries so I’m guessing I’m not alone in that assessment.

So James,

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?