LONDON, England (CNN) --     Editor's note: Watch Tarantino talking about the making of "Pulp Fiction" on The Screening Room podcast. To receive regular movie podcasts subscribe here.



Quentin Tarantino's first trip to Sundance wasn't exactly a success.



Tarantino's hyper-violent, super cool debut feature "Reservoir Dogs" scorched audiences and critics alike when it came out in 1992.



"If you do this in real life, they're going to fire your ass," scolded cinematographer Stephen Goldblatt, veteran of films like "Lethal Weapon" and "Charlie Wilson's War."



The novice filmmaker was participating in a directors' workshop at the Sundance Institute -- the film trust founded by Robert Redford which also runs the Sundance Film Festival.



Unfortunately, Tarantino's mentors were just not feeling his experimental approach.



The following week, a new group of mentors arrived, including ex-Monty Python member and filmmaker Terry Gilliam.



Tarantino and his editor steeled themselves for the inevitable disapproval: "Then Terry Gilliam comes in and goes 'Oh, your scene. Just great!'" recalls the director.



He is talking at the Cannes Film Festival Cinema Masterclass, following in the illustrious footsteps of directors like Wong Kar Wai, Sydney Pollack and Martin Scorsese.



"It was just like, you know what, that's gonna be my career. People are gonna either really like me or they're really not and just get f***ing used to it 'cause this is the deal," Tarantino says.



A second visit to Sundance in 1992 proved more fruitful. His debut feature, "Reservoir Dogs," a sassy, hyper-violent gangster movie, was the hit of the year.



French film critic and regular on the European film festival circuit, Michel Ciment still remembers the effect it had on him when it showed at Cannes later that year: "It was a big shock. I remember it was the most striking new American film since 'Mean Streets' 30 years before."



Despite the impact of his droll, assured debut, Tarantino recalls being convinced he was going to get fired in the first two weeks of production.



"I just thought it was too good to be true. I couldn't help but think something like 'they don't let people like me make movies,'" he says, laughing.



Follow-up movie "Pulp Fiction" was awarded the coveted Palm D'Or at Cannes two years later, cementing his reputation as a movie-maker to be reckoned with.



It was filled with the dark humor and bloody violence that would become known as Tarantino trademarks.



The B-movie-obsessed director admits to getting a kick out of creating humor in inappropriate situations.



"I'm trying to get you to laugh at things you've never laughed at before," he explains.



He cites his "bigtime" influences as movie brats like Martin Scorsese and Brian De Palma, as well as Sergio Leone and Howard Hawks.



In person, he is a great raconteur and his expletive-littered speech is not a million miles away from the dialogue that's so central to his movies.



"I tend to think of myself as more of a novelist who makes movies than a director per se," he declares.



But he dismisses his apparent love of language as a product of writing for acting classes: "I started writing as an actor and it was all about dialogue and writing scenes to do."



Before moving into directing, Tarantino studied acting for six years and says learning to act for the camera gave him an insight into how directors put a movie together -- frame by frame. That was what really taught him how to write for the movies.



"All of a sudden I started seeing [film] in a whole different way. When you start doing that, then it's only a few short steps until you start composing shots of your own," he explains.



Tarantino has shown himself to be one of the most music-savvy directors of this generation with his use
LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- Editor 's note : Watch Tarantino talking about the making of " Pulp Fiction " on The Screening Room podcast . To receive regular movie podcasts subscribe here . Quentin Tarantino 's first trip to Sundance was n't exactly a success . Tarantino 's hyper - violent , super cool debut feature " Reservoir Dogs " scorched audiences and critics alike when it came out in 1992 . " If you do this in real life , they 're going to fire your ass , " scolded cinematographer Stephen Goldblatt , veteran of films like " Lethal Weapon " and " Charlie Wilson 's War . " The novice filmmaker was participating in a directors ' workshop at the Sundance Institute -- the film trust founded by Robert Redford which also runs the Sundance Film Festival . Unfortunately , Tarantino 's mentors were just not feeling his experimental approach . The following week , a new group of mentors arrived , including ex - Monty Python member and filmmaker Terry Gilliam . Tarantino and his editor steeled themselves for the inevitable disapproval : " Then Terry Gilliam comes in and goes ' Oh , your scene . Just great ! ' " recalls the director . He is talking at the Cannes Film Festival Cinema Masterclass , following in the illustrious footsteps of directors like Wong Kar Wai , Sydney Pollack and Martin Scorsese . " It was just like , you know what , that 's gon na be my career . People are gon na either really like me or they 're really not and just get f***ing used to it 'cause this is the deal , " Tarantino says . A second visit to Sundance in 1992 proved more fruitful . His debut feature , " Reservoir Dogs , " a sassy , hyper - violent gangster movie , was the hit of the year . French film critic and regular on the European film festival circuit , Michel Ciment still remembers the effect it had on him when it showed at Cannes later that year : " It was a big shock . I remember it was the most striking new American film since ' Mean Streets ' 30 years before . " Despite the impact of his droll , assured debut , Tarantino recalls being convinced he was going to get fired in the first two weeks of production . " I just thought it was too good to be true . I could n't help but think something like ' they do n't let people like me make movies , ' " he says , laughing . Follow - up movie " Pulp Fiction " was awarded the coveted Palm D'Or at Cannes two years later , cementing his reputation as a movie - maker to be reckoned with . It was filled with the dark humor and bloody violence that would become known as Tarantino trademarks . The B - movie - obsessed director admits to getting a kick out of creating humor in inappropriate situations . " I 'm trying to get you to laugh at things you 've never laughed at before , " he explains . He cites his " bigtime " influences as movie brats like Martin Scorsese and Brian De Palma , as well as Sergio Leone and Howard Hawks . In person , he is a great raconteur and his expletive - littered speech is not a million miles away from the dialogue that 's so central to his movies . " I tend to think of myself as more of a novelist who makes movies than a director per se , " he declares . But he dismisses his apparent love of language as a product of writing for acting classes : " I started writing as an actor and it was all about dialogue and writing scenes to do . " Before moving into directing , Tarantino studied acting for six years and says learning to act for the camera gave him an insight into how directors put a movie together -- frame by frame . That was what really taught him how to write for the movies . " All of a sudden I started seeing [ film ] in a whole different way . When you start doing that , then it 's only a few short steps until you start composing shots of your own , " he explains . Tarantino has shown himself to be one of the most music - savvy directors of this generation with his use
Who talks about his films?
Who talks about his films ?
Tarantino
Tarantino