The conglomerate heads may be business geniuses, but as far as movies are concerned they have virgin instincts; ideas that are new to them and take them by storm may have failed grotesquely dozens of times. But they feel that they are creative people - how else could they have made so much money and be in a position to advise artists what to do? Who is to tell them no?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Business leaders often mistake financial success for creative ability and try to instruct artists.
- In plain terms
- Making money does not mean you know how to make art.
- What can you take from it?
- Profit does not equal creative insight.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who knows art better?
- Does money buy creativity?
Another view
Business acumen can help manage creative projects.
More from Pauline Kael
TV executives think that the programs with the highest ratings are what TV viewers want, rather than what they settle for.
Permalink to quote #34 In movies, the balance between art and business has always been precarious, with business outweighing art, but the business was, at least, in the hands of busi…
Permalink to quote #36 One of the biggest box-office successes in movie history - probably because for young audiences it's like getting a box of Cracker Jack that is all prizes. Wri…
Permalink to quote #33
Related quotes
You need one of those slave-driving old studio bosses if you ask me, not a sensitive graduate who went into movies because he liked the clouds in Antonioni and…
Julian BarnesJulian Barnes quote #2 It's already getting more and more difficult to make an ambitious and original film. There are less and less independent producers or independent companies and…
Roman PolanskiRoman Polanski quote #3 'If you always need money like I do, then you can't be selective about movies. They're all just one big heap of nonsense.'
Klaus KinskiKlaus Kinski quote #4