The creation processes have always had to deal with the rule of economic powers, their interests and, recently, with the logic of the market or the leaders who proclaim themselves the filters of what the public must witness. It is a fierce battle that artists, designers, technicians and specialists in the generation of audiovisual, textual and graphic content fight when they have to face taste and its institutional misfortunes —one of the greatest evils that corporatism has brought. The seventh art, due to the size of the industry that it induces from entertainment, not only does not escape this, but rather concentrates almost all the vices. The curious thing is that auteur cinema is the true starting point and horizon of the great filmmakers of any era.
For example, read: Guillermo del Toro’s favorite auteur films
The abuses of certain characters are well known thanks to social struggles in favor of gender, ethnic, racial and even stylistic equality. For example, the great abuser of Hollywood —not only because of his erotic scandals, but because of his bully nature. even before Harvey Weinstein Before he was outed as a serial sexual abuser, the former mogul struck fear into the hearts of filmmakers for a different reason: his tendency to interfere with the editing process and quash the visions of young filmmakers.
In a new interview with The New Yorker, Todd Field (Warehouse (100%), Unforgivable Crime (93%)) recalled his dismay 21 years ago, when he learned that Miramax de Weinstein had acquired his debut film Unforgivable Crime (93%)and in the Sundance Dinner Festival. While the film was overwhelmingly praised at the festival, Field says he knew the reputation of Weinstein re-editing films could jeopardize the response to their theatrical release. He says the film was ultimately saved thanks to advice from a source few would have guessed: Tom Cruise (Top Gun: Maverick (98%), Interview with the Vampire (61%), Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (93%)). Yes, because in addition to being an excellent actor, producer and fanatical celebrity of a religious cult, Cruise is the mere band. Account of those Field yesterdays:
I was crying in the bathroom. I called Tom Cruise and said, ‘Something terrible has happened.’ He basically said, ‘This is how you’re going to play it. It’ll take you six months and you’ll beat it, but you have to do exactly what I’m going to tell you to do, step by step.’
Field went on to explain that Cruise told him to let Weinstein change the film as much as he wanted without rejection, and then to wait for the re-edited film to have bad tests with audiences. Once that happens, Field should remind Weinstein of the positive and laudatory reviews the original cut received and suggest he release that version instead.
Field did just that, and he says the plan worked exactly the way Cruise said it would. Unforgivable Crime became a huge hit and earned five Oscar nominations, with Field earning nominations for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. So: In your face, Weinstein.
Read: Martin Scorsese praises Tár and ensures that it gives hope for the future of cinema
While Field is currently enjoying rave reviews and a strong awards season for Tár, he’s still no stranger to the difficulties independent filmmakers so often face. His infamous struggles to secure financing for his projects led to a 16-year gap between his second film, Little Children, and Tar. And in a recent interview with IndieWireopined on how the movie theater landscape has become increasingly hostile to auteur film directors looking to see their films screened on film.
I mean, nothing has changed about making a movie. I think the world for moviegoers has drastically changed in a way that probably doesn’t need to add anything new. Other people have said it at least as well or better than I have and been attacked or infamous for it. But let’s put it this way. I went to the tech theaters in New York today and it was really depressing. super depressing.
We understand your point. Indeed, the technological interest to which he refers poses a space where successes such as Top Gun: Maverick they look considerably, but they are not designed to, for example, be enjoyed in the same detail, Warehouse. And if we add to that the decision of how many theaters are dedicated to auteur films… well, that’s a story that you surely know. What a calamity.
It may interest you: She said | Top critics, reviews and ratings
