In 1968 a man looked at a magazine article about the as yet unbuilt World Trade Centre and became obsessed with the twin towers.

Six years later that man fixed a wire between the top of the two towers, a quarter of a mile above the streets of New York City and stepped off the South Tower to tightrope walk across to the other – a crossing he made eight times – before being arrested.

This Friday sees the release of Man on Wire, the story of the man who made the impossible seem possible. We spoke to the man on wire himself, the now 59 year-old Philippe Petit.

3sACrowd: You're still performing now. Do you think you're better at wire walking now than you were before?

Philippe Petit: I'm ten times better now. I required a certain knowledge that I didn't have at the time. It's essential to know myself, as well as the wire. I became an engineer. I designed what components to use, what parts to get manufactured, the consequences I might be faced with. All this not only prepared me for the walk, but also prepared my mind.

3AC: Would you do it again?

PP: No I would never do it again. I want my performances to be unique and be remembered. You can't perform a miracle twice in your life. If I was to do it again I'd make sure it was different from the first, more unique.

3AC: What went through your mind when you stepped out onto the wire for the first time?

PP: It was many things, profound joy. At first when I was crossing it was difficult because I had not checked the other point which I normally do, I let my friend do it, that was tough. I was tip-toeing on the wire not knowing what was going to happen next.

3AC: Describe what it's actually like walking on a wire?

PP: It's painful. Your whole body is balancing on one piece of thread, not knowing what's going to happen next. You can't see underneath you, only the sky above you, that's quite tough. But facing the sky is relaxing for everyone, some people fall asleep whilst looking up at the sky.