Watch This: Abel Ferrara Going Rogue on Late Night With Conan O’Brien 1996

Some people seem to carry their own cosmos around with them. That is definitely the case with writer/director Abel Ferrara (born on this day in 1951), who, even as he has created a body of work that is very impressive, has terrorized interviewers and others with his – shall we say – unpredictable approach to the art of conversation.

Here, in a 1996 interview with Conan O’Brien, the clash in their energies is notable. You can practically hear Conan saying “never again” to his booker. In hindsight, Ferrara wins the exchange, just by being so interesting. He seems to carry a little bit of Tompkins Square park around with him – maybe in his pocket.

Sample Exchange:

Conan: Why did Madonna want you to beat up Harvey Keitel?

Abel: You tell me.

Later:

Conan:  I want to talk about Harvey Keitel.

Abel: Ga ‘head.