As a seasoned cinephile with decades of film industry insights under my belt, I find myself captivated by Paul Schrader‘s perspective and experiences. His career spans across various transformations within the industry, from the studio system to the independent scene, and now, the era of streaming giants.
Despite not being a fan of Taylor Swift in the traditional sense, esteemed filmmaker Paul Schrader acknowledges feeling profound admiration for her as a pop star.
“Schrader shared with EbMaster that it’s not just the music that captivates him, but rather the entire experience. He referred to it as the ‘Elvis-like quality,’ explaining his admiration for how skillfully they built this empire.”
As a seasoned screenwriter who has penned both “Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull”, I am honored to be at this year’s Sarajevo Film Festival. Serving as president of the features jury, I feel a deep sense of responsibility for selecting the best films that reflect the essence of storytelling and human experience. My life journey has taken me through various ups and downs, but one constant remains: my passion for cinema and its power to connect people across cultures and boundaries. I am excited to immerse myself in this vibrant film community and contribute to the discovery of fresh, innovative talent in the world of cinema.
2022 saw Schrader honored with a lifetime achievement award from Bosnia’s film festival, and he is currently in town to publicize his newest production, “Oh, Canada.” This film marks the reunion of Schrader and leading actor Richard Gere, who last worked together 40 years ago on “American Gigolo.” The movie vied for the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Reflecting on his extensive and enduring career, Schrader reminisced about the independent film scene where he initially made his mark. His journey began as a scriptwriter for Martin Scorsese’s groundbreaking films that shaped his career early on. Subsequently, he transitioned into directing, with “Blue Collar” (1978) being his first directorial venture.
According to Schrader, the industry “continually changes shape,” as he’s been involved in funding his latest films such as “The Card Counter,” “Master Gardener,” and the 2017 Oscar-nominated “First Reformed” independently.
He pointed out that the way to make money from the ‘product’ is always shifting. In simpler terms, he explained that the approach to monetizing what we’re producing isn’t constant. Initially, I worked in the traditional studio setup and produced four or five films, but even that was a different era in the 60s and 70s. Later, it morphed into the independent production scene. Now, it’s largely influenced by streaming platforms.
According to Schrader, his latest movies have been rejected by both Amazon and Netflix. He went on to say, “If you’re not among the favored filmmakers – and we can easily identify them because they receive all the spotlight – then your work just disappears into the Bermuda Triangle of streaming, leaving only the fading trails of your movie behind.”
He cited “Mothers’ Instinct,” starring Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway, as an example of a film that received “no support whatsoever” after its streaming release on Prime Video. “That’s the new way you dump films,” he said.
I too shared some insights about films that slipped through my fingers, such as a potential Frank Sinatra biography. Unfortunately, this movie never saw the light of day following the late singer’s daughter’s decision not to approve the script. Additionally, there was a Hank Williams project in the works, but it met an untimely end when I encountered hurdles with the music publishing company, Acuff-Rose.
“If we fail to secure the necessary music licenses, then we’re left with no music, and that’s a problem,” he explained. “They can’t prevent us from creating a movie, but they can prohibit me from incorporating the song. Who would want to make a Sinatra biopic without using his iconic tunes?”
However, the 78-year-old insisted he doesn’t lose sleep over such missed opportunities.
“In the 1992 crime thriller ‘Light Sleeper’ directed by Schrader, Dana Delany tells Willem Dafoe, ‘A convenient memory is a gift from God.’ As a filmmaker, this sentiment rings true – if one can simply forget the unpleasant experiences, life becomes significantly more enjoyable.”
The Sarajevo Film Festival runs Aug. 16 – 23.
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2024-08-21 14:47