John Sayles: The Struggles of an Independent Filmmaker in a Sequels-Driven Industry

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John Sayles: The Struggles of an Independent Filmmaker in a Sequels-Driven Industry
John SaylesIndependent CinemaScreenwriting
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John Sayles, a celebrated independent filmmaker, reflects on the challenges of producing original films in a Hollywood landscape dominated by sequels and pre-existing franchises. He discusses his recent foray into novel writing and the reasons behind his shift from filmmaking.

John Sayles , a renowned figure in independent cinema, candidly discusses the challenges he faces in the current film industry. For the past 25 years, he has encountered difficulties securing screenwriting work, let alone getting a movie produced. He attributes this difficulty to the dominance of sequels and pre-existing franchises in the market, making it harder for original, independent films to find funding and distribution.

Sayles' recent endeavors have shifted towards writing novels, with his latest, Save the Man, exploring the history of Native Americans at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in the late 19th century. He reveals that both Save the Man and his previous novel, Jamie MacGillivray, originated as film scripts but ultimately found their form in the literary world due to the hurdles of financing and producing movies.He cites the increasing difficulty of securing funding for expensive independent films, highlighting the need for substantial investments, often exceeding $10 million, which are challenging to obtain. Sayles acknowledges the shift in the industry landscape, where studios prioritize sequels and established intellectual property over original, independent projects. This trend, he observes, makes it increasingly difficult for visionary filmmakers like himself to bring their unique stories to the screen. Despite these challenges, Sayles remains a prolific writer and an insightful commentator on American society, using his platform to shed light on important social and historical issues

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John Sayles Independent Cinema Screenwriting Film Production Sequels Hollywood Novels Save The Man Carlisle Indian Industrial School Native Americans

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