Martin Scorsese is not the biggest fan of the business of box office analysis, where studio executives tend to have tunnel vision for opening weekend and worldwide grosses. The famed film director and producer that has brought the world Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Uncut Gems, and a good amount of Leonardo DiCaprio films believes that the often critical and analytical approach diminishes true art.
He expresses this sentiment during a recent appearance at the 60th annual celebration of the New York Film Festival (NYFF), in which he discussed the necessity to preserve the art of cinema.
“Cinema is devalued, demeaned, belittled from all sides, not necessarily the business side but certainly the art,” Scorsese said at the event. “And since the ‘80s, there’s been a focus on numbers that is kind of repulsive.”
The added pressure that derives from contrived competition via award shows and backing from studios based on previous box office performance contribute to Scorsese’s dismay for the process. However, Scorsese showed an appreciation for institutions that prioritizes the love of cinema over the business of it and allows film to be art.
“The emphasis is now on numbers, cost, the opening weekend, how much it made in the USA, how much it made in England, how much it made in Asia, how much it made in the entire world, how many viewers it got,” Scorsese said.
Scorsese adds, “As a filmmaker, as a person who can’t imagine life without cinema, I always find it really insulting.”
Watch Martin Scorsese’s Presentation At NYFF
The Oscar-winning industry veteran was present at the festival to premiere his new documentary, Personality Crisis: One Night Only, about the New York Dolls frontman, David Johansen, and his concert at Cafe Carlyle that took place in Jan. 2020. Scorsese co-directs alongside David Tedeschi (The 50 Year Argument).
