The Untold Story: Scorsese's Bitter Battle to Abandon Filmmaking Revealed after 21 Years
Martin Scorsese's Struggle: The Near-Abandonment of Filmmaking A candid glimpse into the past reveals the momentous decision Martin Scorsese contemplated over two decades ago Amidst overwhelming challenges, he found himself on the precipice of quitting the craft that defined his life A riveting account of his inner turmoil and the resolute spirit that ultimately kept him tethered to the art of cinema
Summary
Martin Scorsese almost quit making movies after Gangs of New York due to conflicts with Harvey Weinstein over runtime and budget.
Despite facing disheartening experiences with Weinstein and Miramax, Scorsese's unwavering passion and obsession for filmmaking compelled him to persist. The Aviator drew him back in, and despite contemplating quitting once more, he made the acclaimed, Oscar-winning film, The Departed.
Martin Scorsese, one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, faced a critical turning point in his career about 20 years ago. Following the release of Gangs of New York, Scorsese contemplated quitting the industry altogether. Scorsese had risen to prominence during the New Hollywood era, working on iconic films with Robert De Niro such as Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, New York, New York, Raging Bull, and The King of Comedy.
Despite his past successes, Scorsese's determination wavered after the completion of Gangs of New York. In a recent interview with GQ, Scorsese revealed that his conflict with producer Harvey Weinstein played a major role in his contemplation of quitting. At present, Weinstein is a convicted sex offender currently serving a prison sentence of almost 40 years.
As Scorsese explained, his clashes with Weinstein during the film's production were relentless. The major points of disagreement revolved around the film's length and budget, leading to an utterly exhausting experience for Scorsese. This ordeal pushed him to the brink of abandoning filmmaking as a whole, a decision that would have altered the course of his career dramatically. Here are Scorsese's own words on the matter:
Why Martin Scorsese Didn't Quit Making Movies
I came to the realization that I could no longer continue working under such conditions, particularly in terms of filmmaking. If those were the only circumstances under which I was granted the opportunity to pursue my passion, then I would have no choice but to put an end to it. The outcomes were far from satisfying, leaving me feeling immensely dissatisfied. The experience itself was often incredibly challenging, to the point where I doubted my ability to endure it. It would ultimately be my demise. As a result, I made the firm decision that it was time to close that chapter of my life.
Despite feeling disheartened and contemplating giving up after the difficulties he faced with Gangs of New York, Scorsese chose to persist. His deep passion for filmmaking was the driving force behind this decision. Shortly after, Scorsese once again collaborated with DiCaprio, this time for the film The Aviator in 2004. Unfortunately, this endeavor also brought disappointment, as Weinstein and Miramax created a distressing situation that made Scorsese contemplate quitting once more. Towards the end of the editing process, the funding was abruptly cut off, forcing Scorsese to complete the film using $500,000 from his own pocket.
In 2006, a significant opportunity arose with the release of The Departed, which marked another collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio. This particular story held great importance for Scorsese and despite facing opposition from Warner Bros., who aimed to turn it into a franchise, The Departed achieved immense success. Interestingly, it remains the only film for which Scorsese has won the prestigious Oscar award for Best Director, despite being nominated a total of nine times. This accolade further fueled Scorsese's drive to continue creating films, leading to subsequent collaborations with DiCaprio in Shutter Island and the pursuit of his passion project, Silence.
Presently, Scorsese is embarking on a new venture titled Killers of the Flower Moon, reuniting with his two most frequent collaborators, DiCaprio and De Niro. This epic Western delves into the Osage murders that took place in Oklahoma during the 1920s. Following its premiere at the renowned Cannes Film Festival, the film has garnered high praise, with many critics hailing it as Scorsese's magnum opus. Fortunately, Scorsese persevered after the release of Gangs of New York, as several of his subsequent masterful works would have remained unrealized.
Source: GQ
