Edward Burns, like a lot of people, is making movies on the side—outside of his day job. Of course, his job as an actor pays more than working at Starbucks. But he’s still leading the way in this newest version of independent filmmaking. His latest film, Newlyweds, was shot for $9,000 (deferred).
“You’re not gonna become a millionaire doing this, but that was never the point. And I think a lot of people in the indie film business kind of took their eye off of that. Everyone got disappointed if their movie didn’t do 10 to 20 million. You know, we’re the equivalent of the indie band. We’re not supposed to sell out Madison Square Garden. You’re supposed to see us at Bowery Ballroom and say, Oh, that was a killer, great small show. And so for an indie film that has zero marketing dollars, our film Nice Guy Johnny got to No. 6 on the iTunes charts last year.
Edward Burns
Esquire magazine article by Matt Sullivan
Burns is not phased about making films that go straight to DVD, digital downloads, or Video On Demand—he seems concerned with making the kind of films he wants to make and that his audiences want to see. I thought Terrance Malick’s The Tree of Life was one of the most interesting films I’ve seen in the last decade, but most of us won’t get $30 million dollars (or attract Brad Pitt) to make a fully personal & contemplative film.
But $9,000— that’s a realistic goal, right? (Even then I’m not sure I’d make a fully personal & contemplative film.)
Edward Burns is running in his lane and I hope that inspires you to run in your lane. I can’t count how many conversations about art and commerce I’ve had since I was 19-years-old (but the number’s pretty high) and perhaps it’s healthy that we dance back and forth over that line. Most of us live in the world between the starving artist and the bloated sellout. How do you stay sane? Perhaps these words from screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (with an assist from poet e. e. Cummings) will help:
“Say who you are, really say it in your life and in your work. Tell someone out there who is lost, someone not yet born, someone who won’t be born for 500 years. Your writing will be a record of your time. It can’t help but be that. But more importantly, if you’re honest about who you are, you’ll help that person be less lonely in their world because that person will recognise him or herself in you and that will give them hope. It’s done so for me and I have to keep rediscovering it. It has profound importance in my life. Give that to the world, rather than selling something to the world. Don’t allow yourself to be tricked into thinking that the way things are is the way the world must work and that in the end selling is what everyone must do. Try not to.
This is from E. E. Cummings: ‘To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and day to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting.’ The world needs you. It doesn’t need you at a party having read a book about how to appear smart at parties – these books exist, and they’re tempting – but resist falling into that trap. The world needs you at the party starting real conversations, saying, ‘I don’t know,’ and being kind.”
H/T to Scott Myers at Go Into the Story for the transcription of Charlie Kaufman’s 2011 BAFTA talk.
[…] Edward Burns, like a lot of people, is making movies on the side—outside of his day job. Of course, his job as an actor pays more than working at Starbucks. But he’s still leading the way in this newest version of independent filmmaking. His latest film, Newlyweds, was made for $9,000 (deferred). “You’re not gonna become […] Original Source… […]
Great work….
[…] Edward Burns, like a lot of people, is making movies on the side—outside of his day job. Of course, his job as an actor pays more than working at Starbucks. But he’s still leading the way in this newest version of independent filmmaking. His latest film, Newlyweds, was made for $9,000 (deferred). “You’re not gonna become […] Original Source… […]