For 35 years, critically acclaimed director Terry Gilliam has introduced audiences to the fantastic and the bizarre with films such as BRAZIL, THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN, THE FISHER KING, and 12 MONKEYS. His latest film, THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS, follows its characters through a new world of dreams and desire, but was not without its own challenges. Halfway through filming, actor Heath Ledger’s death led to Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell taking over his role. In this interview for Sundancechannel.com, Gilliam discusses the inspiration, casting, and the autobiographical nature of THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS.

For more of our interview with Terry Gilliam and to view clips from THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS, visit Sundance Channel’s Digital Shorts.

The IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS opens in New York and Los Angeles December 25th, nationwide January 8th.

This Sunday night IFC kicks off Python Week with the first of six hour-long episodes of the new documentary MONTY PYTHON: ALMOST THE TRUTH (THE LAWYER’S CUT). They’ll be airing all the classics too, HOLY GRAIL, LIFE OF BRIAN, LIVE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL along with some of the more memorable “Flying Circus” episodes. I expect that means plenty of dead parrots, singing lumberjacks, military fairies, silly walks, a few winks and a nudge.

To get things going the Pythons themselves (sans Chapman, of course) will reunite this evening at the Ziegfeld Theatre in NYC for a screening of the truly uncut documentary, which clocks in at nearly 8 hours. Those who can make it all the way through will be treated to a Q&A afterwards. Personally, I’m just fine with six one hour doses over the course of a week.

Terry Gilliam next fantastical foray comes in the form of THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS starring Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, and Christopher Plummer as the titular character. Doctor Parnassus, the leader of a traveling theater troupe that offers audience members a chance to go beyond reality through a magical mirror in his possession, makes a Faustian bargain with the devil in exchange for immortality. 1000 years later, the devil comes to collect his due by targeting the doctor’s daughter. When a mysterious stranger named Tony (portrayed by Ledger, Depp, Law, and Farrell) joins the imaginarium, the troupe embarks upon parallel worlds to rescue the girl.

Production was suspended upon Ledger’s death in January 22, 2008. Actors Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law were cast to replace Ledger, portraying the new idea of transformed versions of Ledger’s character, Tony, traveling through a magical realm. With the role recast, filming resumed in Vancouver in March 2008. Depp, Farrell, and Law opted to redirect their wages for the role to Ledger’s young daughter, Matilda, and Gilliam dedicates the film to Ledger in the film’s credits.

THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS opens October 16, 2009.

Rob Tate was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He graduated from Yale with a degree in music. While he never pursued music as a career, it plays an important role in his film and editorial work. On ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL [www.sundancechannel.com] Tate served in three key roles: senior producer, director of photography and lead editor.

As an editor for the last 12 years, Tate has edited multiple feature films and television shows. Tate co-wrote, directed and edited his own independent film, NEPTUNE’S ROCKING HORSE.

Tate is currently a Producer/Shooter/Editor on PBS’s award-winning magazine series, GOURMET’S DIARY OF A FOODIE, which received the “James Beard Award for Best National Television Food Series” for two years in a row, and earned him two Emmy nominations for Producing and Editing, and the New York Festivals International Broadcast TV World Medal for Best Editing in Documentary. He and Selditch have co-directed/produced the soon-to-be-released feature documentary, ELEVEN MINUTES, on fashion designer, Jay McCarroll.

1. What’s your favorite political movie?

Terry Gilliam’s, BRAZIL [www.imdb.com]. It’s about terrorism, and the enemy is us.

2. What role do you feel art plays in politics?

A VITAL role. I’d go so far to say that it is art’s job to be political – to tell us how things are and perhaps imply how things should be…

3. What do you think is the biggest issue for the next generation of Americans?

Bringing back a government that looks out for the people. Reinstating regulation that has the public interest in mind, and not just the bottom line of corporations.

4. Who was the first political candidate you were excited to vote for and why?

Clinton. He was the first one I was old enough to vote for.

5. What factors are important to you in choosing a president?

Intelligence. Issues. Eloquence.

6. What issues would you like to see politicians focus more on?

Reinstating the role of government as a protection for the public.

7. Which issues would you like to see politicians focus less on?

Morality.

8. Which candidate’s initiatives do you feel better address environmental concerns?

Not sure either addresses it that well. But Obama has talked about creating a new economy based on green technology. Kind of a Green New Deal.

9. This is your soapbox – shout it out! What do you need to get off your chest?

I don’t want to believe that so many voters in the USA are so gullible. I try so hard to see things from all sides, but I’m continually amazed that after 8 years, people are still considering seriously putting another Republican (and in Palin – a NEOCONSERVATIVE) in the White House.

10. Do you have any recommended links, books or movies so people can learn more about the issues you care about?

Books: What’s the Matter with Kansas? and The Shock Doctrine.

Movies: Brazil – It is quite shocking how much this film depicts what is currently going on. Nothing works as it was intended. People go about their consumerist daily lives while the world goes to hell in a hand basket. No one is free, and no one is accountable.

Extra Credit: Fill in the blank. _________ for change.

REVOLUTION for a change.

RT.