Writer/director Rian Johnson spent his childhood making movies, using his neighborhood buddies as his cast and crew.

He'd bounce from comedy to western to action picture. The young film fanatic couldn't settle on just one film genre.

His mashup sensibilities eventually earned him raves for his feature debut, 2005's "Brick." Johnson set his film noir homage in the not-so-adult world of high school.

Now, he's at it again, cross-pollinating the con man flick with a romantic comedy in "The Brothers Bloom," which opens the 31st annual Starz Denver Film Festival tonight (Nov. 13).

"Maybe I'm just continuing to do this," he said of his genre-hopping film which opens in limited release next month.

"Bloom," which stars Oscar winners Rachel Weisz and Adrien Brody, follows a pair of con artists (Brody and Mark Ruffalo) trying to swindle an eccentric millionaire (Weisz) out of her fortune.

It took Johnson six years to get "Brick" made, but Weisz's early affection for "Bloom's" script made making the follow up far easier to complete. She fought for and won the role, and the other cast members soon followed.

Having a well regarded film under his belt should have made shooting "Bloom" a far more comfortable experience for Johnson.

Not exactly.

"I was terrified," the affable writer/director says. His "Brick" experience helped, but he worked primarily with young actors on the movie.

"Psychologically, I bonded with them," he says.

For "Bloom," Johnson had to direct two Oscar winners across four Eastern European countries. Once filming began, Johnson's nerves settled. It was just like directing his childhood pals all over again, he found.

"Once I started working, all the apprehension went away," he says.

Tomorrow: Johnson reflects on film school, film festivals and making movies that mirror his colorfully chaotic family gatherings.

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