…And what they say, sadly, seems right on the money to us:
The Wachowskis On ‘Cloud Atlas’: ‘Originality Cannot Be Economically Modelled’ – by Christopher Rosen
“Cloud Atlas” is one of 2012’s most interesting films. With six storylines (ranging from the 19th century to the post-apocalyptic future), actors like Tom Hanks and Halle Berry in multiple roles, and three directors, the adaptation of David Mitchell’s award-winning 2004 novel will either be one of the year’s best works or one of its most confounding. (Judging from the epic, brilliant and gorgeous first trailer, hope for the former.) Which is why it’s no wonder that Andy and Lana Wachowski and Tom Tykwer almost couldn’t get “Cloud Atlas” made in the first place.
“It is hard to grasp how often this movie has been dead and resurrected,” Lana Wachowksi told Aleksandar Hemon in the latest issue of The New Yorker. “Cloud Atlas” is the most expensive independent production ever, with a budget of over $100 million. Despite Hanks, Berry, Hugh Grant and Susan Sarandon in the cast, and the braintrust behind “The Matrix” trilogy as the driving creative force, the film couldn’t get proper studio funding.
“The problem with market-driven art-making is that movies are green-lit based on past movies,” Lana said. “So, as nature abhors a vacuum, the system abhors originality. Originality cannot be economically modelled.”
As Andy Wachowski later echoed, while discussing the frustration of seeing investors pull out: “You bet on the movie you like because you have taste. It’s not like buying Shell Oil. You get into the movie business because you like movies. Not because you like money.”
The Wachowskis aren’t the first members of the Hollywood community to discuss how difficult making anything other than a franchise film has gotten in the current economic climate.
Read it all (because it’s finally getting to the good part)
Looking forward to this film. But maybe it’s just because we dig Lana so much?