PartyLines- photographs by Patrick McMullan

What was the biggest challenge in directing the movie? “The marches. We didn’t know if the volunteers were going to show up. We thought of computer-generated crowds. We didn’t have to, because everyone showed up.” —Gus Van Sant

—Sean Penn

You’re studying directing at NYU right now. Do a lot of students ask you to be in their films? “You would think that more people would ask me to be in their movies, but they haven’t.” —James Franco

—Naomi Watts

—Mickey Rourke

Your character is an assassin. How did you get into his mind? “It was heavy on the spirit. I was happy to be done with it. I feel like I was in an emotional blackout.” —Josh Brolin

—Jenna Fischer

—Emile Hirsch

Emile Hirsch plays you in Milk. How’d he do? “I’m Cleve Jones, and I endorse this portrayal.” —Cleve Jones

—Rosie Perez

—Willem Dafoe

What happens when you’re the only woman in a movie? “I overheard many conversations that I’m sure females are not supposed to overhear in a group of men.” —Alison Pill

—Michel Gondry

—Stanley Tucci

What did you think of the movie? “It was just so powerful. God, I’m very proud to be gay in this world.” —Marc Jacobs, with Lorenzo Martone

—Jon Voight

—Charlotte Ronson

What’d you think of the movie? “Don’t tell anyone at the party I didn’t see the movie. I’m pretending that I saw it and that I loved it. I had to see Mackenzie Crook, my Office counterpart, in The Seagull.” —Rainn Wilson

—Rufus Wainwright

—Steve Buscemi

Were you an activist before writing this script? “I was always political. It does turn up the heat a bit to have studied Harvey Milk, because it’s like studying one of the masters.” —Dustin Lance Black