The USA Film Festival opens tonight with Fading Gigolo. John Turturro wrote, directed and stars in the film about a man who takes up an unlikely second career. And he stopped by KERA this morning for a chat.

Among the highlights:

On how he got Woody Allen to act in the film…

“I thought Woody and I could be interesting as a team playing opposite of each other, and I suggested it to my hair cutter – Anthony, his name is, who’s Woody’s hair cutter. And he was brave enough – I don’t know if I asked him or told him, ‘Hey, if it comes up naturally, whatever…’ And Woody really, really liked it.”

On his directing style …

“I talk when I have to. … If I had nothing to say, I don’t say anything.”

On the fulfillment he gets from directing …

“When I’ve had great roles, you get a fulfillment from that. But this, you know, you’re in every part of the film. And you are really confronted with yourself.”

Listen to the interview here:

Turturro will take part in a Q&A session tonight after the USA Film Festival screening of Fading Gigolo. The movie opens in Dallas on May 2.