A few weeks ago we posted a story about Terry Gilliam being upset with Harvey and Bob Weinstein over a couple (just 2 if I’m not mistaken) decisions they made over Gilliam in The Brothers Grimm (replacing one of the actresses and the cinematographer).
I made my position pretty clear in that post. The director works for the Producers. The Producers (the people putting up the money) hire the director to bring a vision to a film… and also to make sure that vision stays in line with the Producers vision. If the Producers feel the director is getting too far away from their vision… OR… if they feel the director is making poor BUSINESS decisions that effects the Producers money… then I believe the producers have the right (and responsibility) to step in (on very rare occasions) and veto the director.
The two (Producer and Director) must work together as a team. Terry Gilliam (who I like very much) in my opinion acted a bit like a baby crying that he wasn’t getting EVERYTHING his own way (2 decisions vetoed in a film with 5000 decisions to be made).
But now, it looks like Gilliam is acting more like the professional he really is. The good folks over at M&C give us this:
He says, “I had to let the air clear. Somehow, the film Bob Weinstein had in his head wasn’t the film we made. All films are like this. You reach a point at the end when everyone is going crazy and starts talking about this ‘one’ thing that, if we can get it, will make everything right.
“It’s bulls**t. But, after making Tideland, I came back for a few changes. Ironically, we ended up cutting out the most expensive scene in the movie. I didn’t want to do it – but we did, and I have to admit it is better for it.”
Producers almost ALWAYS step in at some rare points to give the director some direction. This is a good thing, and makes for better movies. However, a producer who gets too involved can just be a disruptive influence on a film. It’s a fine line and a delicate balance… but one that makes better movies in my opinion.
