Angelina Jolie's In-Depth Q&A with Clint Eastwood

Her directorial debut is set for a limited U.S. release on January 23rd, and - as part of her promotional efforts - Angelina Jolie engaged in a Q&A session with Clint Eastwood for Interview magazine.

During the course of their chat, the 36-year-old actress dished about topics including how she wrote the Bosnian war-based picture from scratch, as well as deciding to try her hand as director and what her life/career has in store next.

Highlights from Angelina and Clint's conversation are as follows. Meanwhile, the in-depth dialogue in its entirety can be found by visiting Interview!

On writing the story for "In the Land of Blood and Honey" from scratch:
"You know, it was one of those funny things. I didn't intend to write anything and I never wanted to direct anything. I didn't even have Final Draft. I was just kind of messing around one day on my computer for fun. I had a lot of thoughts about intervention and justice issues and humanity, and I'd spent a lot of time with people after conflict. So it was kind of a meditation for me: What if it was me and I loved somebody from what became the other side? What would it take for me to go against my neighbor? Would I?"

On the film being educational on a topic that isn't widely discussed:
"Well, I did write the script with the intention of getting an education. I mean, I made this movie for certain reasons, and I want people to discuss Bosnia whether they like the movie or not. I want them to revisit that time in history and learn about it, and I do think it's important to discuss what happens when we don't intervene or what kind of intervention is right or appreciating what happened in this society."

On when she decided she was going to direct the film:
"I had the crazy thought of directing it, and I kind of just couldn't accept that. I never believed that I was the right person technically, but I couldn't trust it away from me emotionally, so I ended up saying, "All right, we'll send it to a few people from the area, and if they think it's terrible we'll shred it. But if they're willing to make it with me, then maybe there's some truth to it and they can help me do it and it won't be wrong." And then I was with Bernie [David Bernstein, first assistant director] when he started talking about the schedule, and I put my head in my hands. I think I didn't know how I'd gotten there."

On what she's thinking about doing next:
"Well, I've been writing and staying with the kids. I think I should learn French and be a better cook--basic really good life stuff. I think I'm like you. I'm always doing something. I never shut my brain off. I always have something going on. But I think I'm trying to-- (Eastwood finishes the sentence with "slow down" to which Angelina replied, "Well I haven't worked since Blood and Honey").