Sadly, we now walk in a land with one less giant.
While film fans may squabble about the relative merits of his films (Have you ever sat through O.C. & Stiggs? Does anyone remember Popeye?) there is little dispute of Robert Altman’s contributions to his craft. To quote Elliot Gould:
“Bob’s legacy will continue to nourish filmmakers and artists for generations to come. He was the last great film director.”
And, we might add, there may well be no more.
And while many of Altman’s contributions to the craft are now mainstream, few recognize how truly innovative and radical his approach was when he arrived in the early 1970s.
From the chaos and cacophony of the opening scene of M.A.S.H., many understood that, for better or worse, filmmaking would never be the same. And while the scholars are wont to proclaim Citizen Kane the great American masterpiece, my vote always goes to Altman’s Nashville, a timeless critique of the American penchant for vanity and cowardice.
His fondness for interlocking narratives (now de rigeur in films such as Pulp Fiction or Crash), extended tracking shots designed to test the audience's patience, and throwing scripts to the wind scared the living beejesus out of most in Hollywood.
As well it should!
For it was this underlying fear that revealed a darker, more sinister secret. Namely, that the supposed “creative” industry that was Hollywood wasn’t very creative because, well, it was an industry.
You see, industries have processes and rules and ways of doing things. Industries exist to get things done and to do so efficiently and predictably.
Industries allow us to pay the mortgage and work well into our 70s.
As a general rule, industries despise creativity because creativity questions the very rules and methods which allow the industry to thrive.
And this, of course, is the central tension for those in the innovation business. How can we attempt to be even half as creative as someone like Altman when we’re working within the confines of these strange creatures we call industries?
Last night while driving home from work, we listened as Elliot Gould was interviewed on NPR’s All Things Considered. You could hear the emotion in his voice as he was reminiscing of his friend and colleague. With the audible equivalent of tears in his eyes, he shared his favorite Altman quote:
“I learned how to put it together in chaos and therefore I create chaos in which to put it together”
We couldn’t have said it better.
And while we're at it, Mr. Altman, we forgive you for Popeye.
Made my life easier..thanks
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Posted by: Toni | Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 02:25 AM