There's always been a struggle with filmmakers between art and industry, and you have to find a balance.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
The dichotomy between art and industry is totally dysfunctional in terms of film.
It's really interesting with art-movies too, but art especially - to see how your attitude toward artists and works and your level of appreciation of them is always shifting and changing over the years.
The tensions are always based on financial resources. Something like film is very problematic because it is viewed as an art form and also as an industry with a pure commercial base.
The only way you can continue to make artistic films is to make an occasional one of those. They kind of keep your marketability going to the extent that people will employ you.
The only thing approaching art in a movie is the script.
I thought 'The Artist' was a perfect way to find a good balance. The artistic challenge is obvious because the film is black-and-white and its silent, but I did my best to make the movie accessible and easy to watch. I really don't want to make elitist movies. I really try hard to work for the audience. Audiences are smart. They get everything.
Making movies is difficult and you get disorientated sometimes - even when you're working with fantastic talent.
You know, I feel like my job is to write a book. Then filmmakers come and they make a movie. And they're two really different art forms.
Film and art are close together.
I think it's a shame when the arts have to suffer because of corporate greed. People will always strive to make film, and the only important thing is that we keep trying to make ourselves heard and keep making our films, no matter what the climate is.