“I wouldn’t survive it, I’d be dead”: Martin Scorsese Wanted to Quit Hollywood For Good After an Awful Experience Because of Harvey Weinstein
Martin Scorsese is one of the greatest directors ever. He has a special gift for presenting compelling stories onscreen. His films explore a variety of subjects, frequently diving into the human aspects of crime and violence. Scorsese has been producing outstanding movies for many years. Of course, like anyone, he’s had a few missteps, but his name alone can make a project successful. A chance to work with Scorsese is an honor for actors, and studios are eager to collaborate with him. However, it’s surprising to learn that even someone as celebrated as Scorsese once considered leaving Hollywood for good because of Harvey Weinstein.
Martin Scorsese struggled to get the movie Gangs of New York to the big screen
Martin Scorsese came upon Herbert Asbury’s 1927 book The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the Underworld in 1970, long before he rose to fame as a director. At that time Scorsese had only made one feature film. He got the rights to the book after he gained fame by making films like Taxi Driver.
Making the movie Gangs of New York was tough. It required more than three decades of delays. When producer Alberto Grimaldi joined the company in 1991, Universal finally decided on a $30 million spending plan. Even yet, there were several roadblocks along the way, such as legal fights and attempts to transfer the film to other studios, such as Warner Bros.
Harvey Weinstein was ultimately responsible for securing the film’s hefty budget through the pre-sale of its international distribution rights. On December 20, 2002, this epic movie was finally released, 32 years after Scorsese initially expressed interest in it. The finished movie, however, was criticized for being disorganized and overdone a lot. In a recent talk, Scorsese honestly shared his thoughts about working with Weinstein. He also revealed how it made him want to quit the entertainment industry.
After working with Harvey Weinstein, Martin Scorsese wanted to leave the film industry
The production of Gangs of New York was a difficult and drawn-out process that led Martin Scorsese to ponder giving up on working as a director altogether. His multi-picture deal with Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax, which required him to deal with Weinstein’s known temper and erratic demands, was one reason for this. He also mentioned that he wasn’t completely happy with how the film turned out. Despite creating a full city for the movie, the massive size of the production left certain gaps in the overall unity of the film.
In an interview with GQ, he commented, “I realized that I couldn’t work if I had to make films that way ever again… If that was the only way that I was able to be allowed to make films, then I’d have to stop.” He further added, “The results weren’t satisfying. It was at times extremely difficult, and I wouldn’t survive it. I’d be dead. And so I decided it was over, really.”
Reports surfaced of Weinstein’s overbearing presence on set, where he reportedly pressed production forward at all costs while denying Scorsese the time to work at his preferred pace. Weinstein even made an attempt to influence outfit decisions, particularly those made for Daniel Day-Lewis, the lead actor. Martin Scorsese was able to bounce back from his difficult working experience with Harvey Weinstein though.
Source: GQ & Slash Film
