Because when you have millions of people with this kind of need for gratification, and the culture is saying that it's possible for everyone to satisfy all of their needs and desires all of the time, there are obviously going to be clashes - clashes of ego.

What I tried to create was a little of that energy and exuberance. About his film The Idolmaker Hackford stated: "I make films about working-class people; showbusiness is one of those things through which people can get themselves out of the lower rung of society. On July 25 2009 Hackford was elected President of the Directors Guild of America.