Roger Avary reveals heroin night that inspired 'Killing Zoe'
- Roger Avary shared a story about a night out in Paris that inspired his screenplay.
- The film 'Killing Zoe' features a bank heist gone wrong, based on Avary's real-life experiences.
- Avary's account illustrates how personal experiences can shape and influence filmmaking.
In the early 1990s, Roger Avary, an Oscar-winning writer, recounted his experiences that led to the creation of the cult film 'Killing Zoe'. Avary's inspiration came during a raucous night out in Paris while he was scouting locations for Quentin Tarantino's first film, 'Reservoir Dogs'. During his travels through Europe, Avary met a French associate from Los Angeles, who introduced him to the underground scene of the city. The night escalated when he was exposed to heroin use for the first time, witnessing scenes that would later inform the storyline of 'Killing Zoe', which focuses on a chaotic bank heist in Paris. Despite the film's Parisian setting, it was actually shot in Los Angeles on a modest budget, yet it won the prestigious Cannes Prix Tres Special award in 1994, highlighting its impact in the film industry. Avary's experiences and dialogue inspired the narrative, demonstrating how real-life events can translate into compelling cinematic tales, especially regarding themes of friendship and disillusionment.