In this video essay, Patrick Willems talks about George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola. Both of them took a huge risk in the early 80s to self-finance their own films (Empire Strikes Back and One From The Heart). Their goal was to make enough money to gain independence from the studio system and make the movies they wanted to make.
In the short term, George Lucas was the obvious winner here, in that Empire Strikes back is one of the most popular movies of all time and it indeed granted him complete independence from the studio system. He used that freedom to make three movies nobody over the age of 8 liked, and otherwise spent his career managing a toy line. When you see him in interviews, he seems sad.
In contrast, Coppola’s movie was an utter failure. But he’s at 86 is still making successful, artistically meaningful, and varied movies that he’s proud of. Since that essay was posted he self-funded another movie (Megalopolis), which also bombed.
For extra poignancy, this essay is made by an aspiring film-maker who fell into criticism by accident and seems to be in a bit of a financial trap. Criticism pays well enough he can’t quit, but keeping it viable requires basically all of his time.[1]. Worse, I heartily recommend his work up to 2022 or so, but it’s been downhill since then.
In this video essay, Patrick Willems talks about George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola. Both of them took a huge risk in the early 80s to self-finance their own films (Empire Strikes Back and One From The Heart). Their goal was to make enough money to gain independence from the studio system and make the movies they wanted to make.
In the short term, George Lucas was the obvious winner here, in that Empire Strikes back is one of the most popular movies of all time and it indeed granted him complete independence from the studio system. He used that freedom to make three movies nobody over the age of 8 liked, and otherwise spent his career managing a toy line. When you see him in interviews, he seems sad.
In contrast, Coppola’s movie was an utter failure. But he’s at 86 is still making successful, artistically meaningful, and varied movies that he’s proud of. Since that essay was posted he self-funded another movie (Megalopolis), which also bombed.
For extra poignancy, this essay is made by an aspiring film-maker who fell into criticism by accident and seems to be in a bit of a financial trap. Criticism pays well enough he can’t quit, but keeping it viable requires basically all of his time.[1]. Worse, I heartily recommend his work up to 2022 or so, but it’s been downhill since then.
He has eked out time for two movies, and I have to imagine being a popular youtuber was better than starting from zero.