The 5-minute Interview: Billy Corben, Director, writer and producer

'Honesty is not the best policy'

Billy Corben, 29, made his debut at the 2001 Sundance Film festival with the controversial 'Raw Deal: A Question of Consent,' which exposed the ubiquity of sexual violence on university campuses. His most recent film, 'Cocaine Cowboys', can be seen in UK cinemas now

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...

In Miami getting some sun.

A phrase I use far too often...

"Let the story dictate the style". It's this cheesy filmmaker thing I'm always saying. I've got no idea where I picked up.

I wish people would take more notice of...

Well, I wish people would take less notice of my nails. I bite my nails badly. People are utterly repelled.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was...

Janet Jackson called; she is a big fan of our movie. I was like, "why the hell would Janet Jackson be calling me?" She was a sweetheart; I was awestruck.

A common misperception of me is...

That I do a lot of drugs. I don't do any drugs at all, nor have I ever.

I am not a politician but...

I'd make a lot more female beefeaters.

I'm good at...

Arguing. Or debating.

I'm very bad at...

Lying. I'm brutally honest to a fault.

The ideal night out is...

In a dive bar with good music at a low volume with a group of friends.

You know me as a director but in truer life I'd have been...

A lawyer.

The best age to be is...

A little bit older and wiser than I am now but just a tad because it would be a shame to have all that wisdom and not enjoy it.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this:

Sometimes honesty is not the best policy. My mother gave me that advice.

Alice-Azania Jarvis