Oliver Stone

Years ago, I saw Oliver Stone in our kitchen at a post production place looking at bread and (what seemed like deciding on which peanut butter he wanted: crunchy or smooth. This was about the time he was supervising a finish on "Savages."

It got me thinking about his career. When he graduated from college, he had three short films and eleven feature scripts. And he couldn’t land representation. Eleven fucking scripts. On a typewriter. You think he wanted to make movies? Every time I read that statistic, I am ashamed of myself.

The fact is, he worked harder than anyone. Now this was also a time when he did get a few things produced…as a writer. “Scarface” being one of his more successful ones. He eventually got on the map with “Salvador” even though he’d gotten a previous movie called “The Hand” made with Michael Caine. And even then…it’s a struggle for him to get a movie made. Tobe Hooper had the same issue. Not as successful as Oliver (in terms of directing opportunities) Tobe disappeared into obscurity. He’d made “Texas Chainsaw” which made a gazillion dollars, was still second guessed and bullied into his next projects.

I assume a lot of this will fall on deaf ears, for those with ambition. But it is RUTHLESS to do anything. You know those guys who tell you not to listen to the naysayers. I think you should believe maybe a little bit of it. Because it’s not easy. For anyone. Even the ones who made people money. But now that technology has ponied up where anyone with a camera can call themselves a producer or director, prove the naysayers wrong. It’s much more available. However, as Stone did with writing eleven screenplays before a hit, consider that to be the benchmark as to how many features you should make on a digital camera before things hit. Maybe you will give up too soon. As the market is flooded and you’re not as talented as you think you are. But this defines persistence. I will add that you are now at the mercy of your peers. Don’t expect them to be kind.

The issue is this...if you use your money, you can tell everyone to "fuck off." Anyone who's worked in this biz will tell you never use your own money. But that is the trade-off.