Talkin’ About Their Generation

Amy Heckerling has directed two teen zeitgeist classics, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (1982) and “Clueless” (1995), as well as the popular “Look Who’s Talking” (1989). In her new film, “Loser,” which opens July 21, her characters are nearing the end of their teens: They’re college-aged. Calendar asked for her thoughts on the enduring teen genre, her movies and a few other things.

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Since I directed “Clueless” and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (combined, they grossed less that “Porky’s”), people mistakenly think I know about youth culture. Through the years, I’ve managed to maintain that frightened, alienated “what the hell is going on with everyone?” attitude that made me so invisible as a teenager, but now I’m more experienced at it. So with those credentials, here are my insights into commonly asked questions about “The Kids Today.”

What’s with all the crappy music?

Of course, I don’t mean Blink-182, the Offspring or Everclear. You know who we’re talking about: ‘N Sync, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and all the other overly choreographed, pre-fab wunderkinder. A normal grown-up might say, “Oh my God! I don’t get it! I must be getting old!” Relax, this too shall pass. In 1969, what was on top of the Billboard chart? The Beatles? The Who? Led Zeppelin? Nope, it was “Sugar, Sugar” by the Archies. So, not to worry. They will either go away, get reinvented or, possibly, evolve.

What are they talking about?

From “Whatdayahear . . . Whatdayasay?” to “ ‘zup?,” one way for generations to separate themselves is to have their very own language. “Cool” has been through coolsville, way cool, totally cool, super cool, rilly cool and on and on. The more words the better. Remember “Newspeak” in “1984”? The government controlled people’s minds by eliminating words. All superlatives were reduced to good, double good and doubleplus good. One warning: When speaking current slang, if you’re not the right age, in the right clothes with the right attitude, color, height, weight and background, you can look like a complete moron.

Are high school movies getting more or less realistic?

That depends on reality. Is there a place on Earth where a “weirdo,” a “princess” and a “jock” could all have detention together (“The Breakfast Club”)? I guess. Is that more or less plausible than finding apple pies sexually gratifying? They’re both more realistic than Frankie and Annette on the beach. How about gangs of different ethnic backgrounds at war with one another in the inner city? That can definitely happen. So, in a way, “West Side Story” is as true to life as “Cruel Intentions” or “Varsity Blues.” And it has inspired more khaki commercials.

Why are there so many teenage movies?

First of all--they’re cheaper. Excluding Leo, most actors in that age range are up-and-comers. Their salaries are smaller, and they’re easier to light than older stars. Second of all--dates. Young people go on dates. Adults settle down, have jobs and kids, get tired and say stuff like “I’m in for the night” when you try to get them to go out. But kids have to go on dates. They need a reasonably priced diversion that will keep them relatively close and be less humiliating than sports or dancing.

A few words on trousers.

When I hit my teens, no ensemble was complete without bell-bottomed jeans that covered your shoes and dusted the floor as you walked. I can only imagine how ridiculous they looked to my elders. My daughter’s guy-friends wear jeans so baggy it looks like they’re wearing denim ball gowns. How can my poor kid look at boys and possibly be attracted? Then it occurred to me that she can, but I can’t. Fashion is not just to attract but also to repel. Grown-ups should not look at teens sexually. Their clothes should be silly to us and a secret code among themselves. It’s probably some biological instinct to ensure survival of our species.

What do you tell your teenager about sex and drugs?

I like to quote the wisdom of “South Park” and tell my daughter, “There’s a time and a place for everything, and it’s called ‘college,’ ” as Mr. Garrison says. She assures me that was fine “in the day” (meaning, the olden days) but “high school is the new college,” just as gray is the new black, 40 is the new 30, SAMe is the new St. John’s wort, etc. In other words, “Shut up, Ma, me and my friends invented sex and drugs and you really don’t understand.”

What about reality versus responsibility in teen movies?

I have always tried to create a cigarette-free universe in my films. I know it’s not realistic, but if the cute, young movie stars are not smoking, maybe it will send a subliminal message. If an actor states that their particular character would smoke, one can argue that their character also goes to the bathroom, but there are some things we’re just not going to see. The script is what happens to them between cigarettes.

Now as much as I am the angel of PC-ness when it comes to tobacco in teen movies, I am racked with guilt about another area of responsibility: the teenage model body-type as an impossible goal for average girls. During the making of “Fast Times,” I was asked if I would get Jennifer Jason Leigh to lose weight. I felt that she was a regular teenage girl and that’s what they looked like. Many times I’ve suggested a certain actress for a part and was told, “Bow wow,” meaning, “Can’t you find anyone cuter?” I realize I work in Hollywood and we are in the business of creating fantasies, but adolescent girls feel disgusted enough with their bodies. I would love to see more acceptance of the beauty of all types of faces and bodies, especially in movies for teenagers.

What about my new film coming this summer?

Funny I should ask. It’s called “Loser,” and it stars Jason Biggs, Mena Suvari and Greg Kinnear. Jason plays a guy in college who is hard-working, decent and has a big heart, so naturally people think he is a loser. Wackiness ensues. (That’s my favorite movie description; actually there is no ensuing by anything wacky.) There is a crazy twist ending, and no one is allowed to leave the theater during the last 10 minutes.

Is the whole teen movie thing coming to an end?

Probably--only because we’re running out of classics to redo. When we get to “Beowulf” and “Canterbury Tales” set in high school, you’ll know it’s over.

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Heckerling’s Best Teen Movies Ever

1. American Graffiti--Amazing cast, great music, perfectly satisfying stories. A movie you would love to live in.

2. A Clockwork Orange--Not usually regarded as a teen film--but remember when Alex doesn’t want to go to school because he has a pain in the gulliver?

3. Bye Bye Birdie--Ignore the grown-up stuff--just the Ann-Margret story. “The Telephone Hour” was like the first music video.

4. Heathers--Cool, weird, and how cute is Christian Slater?

5. The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner--English reform school. Tom Courtenay is great.

6. Rebel Without a Cause--Duh.

7. Animal House--The dawn of slobs as heroes.

8. To Sir, With Love--More bad English kids.

9. American Pie--The most embarrassing sex ever.

10. West Side Story--Has there ever been a better gang movie?

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I would never put “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” on this list for fear of sounding arrogant, but I can’t write about teen films without praising Cameron Crowe and the amazing book and script he wrote for it.