“…watching them brings to mind a comment made by john ford to a collaborator who was complaining about the miserable weather conditions in the desert when they were trying to shoot a picture. the guy said ‘look, mr. ford, what can we shoot out here?’ and ford replied, ‘what can we shoot? the most interesting and exciting thing in the whole world - a human face.’” - martin scorsese on john cassavetes’ films in a personal journey with martin scorsese through american movies
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John Cassavetes December 9, 1929 – February 3, 1989
When I hear the term “independent filmmaker,” I immediately think of John Cassavetes. He was the most independent of them all. For me, he was and still is a guide and teacher. Without his support and advice, I don’t know what would have become of me as a filmmaker. The question, ‘What is an independent filmmaker?’ has nothing to do with being inside or outside of the industry or whether you live in New York or Los Angeles. It’s about determination and strength, having the passion to say something that’s so strong that no one or nothing can stop you. Whenever I meet a young director who is looking for guidance and advice, I tell him or her to look to the example of John Cassavetes, a source of the greatest strength. John made it possible for me to think that you could actually make a movie—which is crazy, because it’s an enormous endeavor, and you only realize how enormous when you’re doing it. But by then it’s too late.
Nothing could have stopped Cassavetes except God, and He eventually did. John died much too soon, but his films and his example are still very much alive. He once said, “You can’t be afraid of anyone or anything if you want to make a movie.” It’s that simple. You have to be as tough as he was. He was a force of nature. — Martin Scorsese
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“…it was at once their cross and salvation. john’s approach was warm, embracing, focused on people. relationships were all he was interested in. the laughter and the games, the tears and the guilt; the whole roller coaster of love. cassavetes embodied the emergence of a new school of guerrilla filmmaking in new york. his films were literally made on the credit plan. john was fearless, a true renegade setting up one psychodrama after another with the complicity of a whole close group of actor friends. he insisted on having fun when making films while looking for some kind of truth. maybe even a revelation.” - martin scorsese on john cassavetes in a personal journey with martin scorsese through american movies
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“…watching them brings to mind a comment made by john ford to a collaborator who was complaining about the miserable weather conditions in the desert when they were trying to shoot a picture. the guy said ‘look, mr. ford, what can we shoot out here?’ and ford replied, ‘what can we shoot? the most interesting and exciting thing in the whole world - a human face.’” - martin scorsese on john cassavetes’ films in a personal journey with martin scorsese through american movies
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The most difficult thing in the world is to reveal yourself, to express what you have to. As an artist, I feel that we must try many things - but above all we must dare to fail. You must be willing to risk everything to really express it all. - John Cassavetes