Wisconsin native Orson Welles once said:
"The enemy of art is the absence of limitations."
After which I'm sure he added "please pass the sausage." But he couldn't have been more right about either.
We haven't even officialy begun pre-production and I can't count how many times I've already heard "Your budget is too small. You can't make a movie for that!"
Obviously, I disagree.
I believe that money makes things easier, not better. There are hard costs, of course, and we'd like to work with (and pay) talented people, cover our collective ass legally, and give the film a real chance to succeed in the marketplace. Filmmaking is not cheap, but the last time I checked, creativity was still free.
From the Hollywood Reporter:
Accepting reality is a crucial part of a director's work, which -- arguably more than that of any other artist -- requires functioning within the limits of the possible.
"Any filmmaker has to balance the creative aspects and the practical, money aspects," said David Cronenberg, director of "Eastern Promises." "That is a normal part of filmmaking; it is one of the many tricks you have to be able to do."
Paul Haggis, the director of "In the Valley of Elah," said he welcomes financial limitations.
"I don't know what I would do with all the money in the world; I think I would be a very bad director. (Limitations) make you think and challenge yourself."
I understand it's convenient for an independent movie to roll out the virtues of thrift and creativity, but I truly believe it's honorable to create more from less. After all, just imagine what the poor ancient butcher would have done when given a couple pounds of scrap meat, a few yards of intestine, and nobody to eat either.
I'm betting he and Orson would have lots to talk about.
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