Named as one of Variety's 10 Directors to Watch back in 2001, Jay Chandrasekhar is an accomplished filmmaker, comedy writer and performer, and also serves as the director of the Broken Lizard comedy group, which he co-founded while attending Colgate University. "Puddle Cruiser," his first feature film, premiered at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival. Chandrasekhar recently directed "The Dukes of Hazzard," starring Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott, Burt Reynolds and Jessica Simpson.

His directing credits include "Super Troopers," "Club Dread" and 2006's "Beerfest," a Broken Lizard film in which he directed, co-wrote and acted. The film is true to the Broken Lizard style and form, and ultimately, is a hilarious tribute to every man's favorite frothy beverage.

Chandrasekhar is currently developing "Nutcracker" for Warner Bros and "Ambulance Chasers" for The Weinstein Company. He is also producing "Pony Boy" for the Weinsteins through his company Broken Lizard.

1. What is your best source of creative inspiration?

Hanging out, trading insults with my good friends while playing beer-pong.

2. What's your learning curve been like making movies in Hollywood?

I am a better manager of the clock now, which is almost the entire game. Plus, now I know where to set up as a director. For example, I rarely shoot more than two wide shots per scene because comedy is about the close-up. That said, I think it's good to be a little nervous about something, like working with the flying cars in "Dukes of Hazzard."

3. What inspired "Beerfest"?

We were promoting "Super Troopers" in Australia. Our handlers kept taking us to malls where we would put on our cop uniforms and take questions. Then they took us to a beer garden and we said ‘no way' to putting on uniforms. But we had to do something, so we challenged the top five drinkers in the place to a line chug. The place went nuts chanting "Aus, Aus, Aus." We were even winning three deep until our fourth guy (Lizard Paul Soter, since you asked) actually got lapped.

4. What is your fail-safe thing to do to get out of a slump?

I play ping-pong.

5.  What is your greatest fear?

Making a movie where they don't laugh and I don't see it coming. Because I know that day is going to come.

6.  Which historical figure do you identify with most?

Harry S. Truman. I wrote a report on him in fifth grade. He said: "You can judge a man's character by how he treats someone who can do nothing to him nor for him." Incidentally, the best way to judge someone's character in Hollywood is by how he treats his assistant.

7. What was your first paying gig?

I did stand-up in Binghamton, NY. I was doing a religious bit about world religions and people were laughing. Then I started telling jokes about Christians and I just drew blank stares. Total silence. I edited the Christian stuff out of the late show.

8.  Which word or phrase is overused in your industry?

Set piece. This is basically a big, "obviously" funny scene, essentially a spike that doesn't otherwise fit into the movie. It's typical of studios to say: "We love it, but we want more set pieces." We've even renamed set pieces; we call them "bundt cakes."

9. Who is your greatest love?

The '85 Chicago Bears. I was at the peak of my teen cockiness and I had a badass team to back me up.

10. What is your greatest trait?

I have monkey arms, which are great for playing ping-pong.

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