Making Movies is HARD!!!: The Struggles of Indie Filmmaking Tom Schulman - Doubling Down on Independent Film from an Oscar Winning Writer!
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Jan 23, 2023 
In this engaging chat, Academy Award-winning writer and director Tom Schulman shares insights from his illustrious career, including classics like Dead Poets Society and the recent Double Down South. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from Hollywood to indie filmmaking, touching on the delicate balance between creative freedom and financial realities. With amusing anecdotes about rewrites, family frustrations, and the unpredictability of shooting schedules, Schulman reflects on the journey of navigating the film industry while maintaining artistic integrity.
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Eight Heads Production Struggles
- Schulman’s first directing feature, Eight Heads in a Duffel Bag, faced casting issues and studio mishaps.
- Marketing cuts and studio buyouts led to poor theatrical results and put him in "director’s jail" for years.
The Reality of Director Jail
- Hollywood often jailbars directors who have one bombed film, making it hard to re-enter directing ranks.
- A successful first film can secure a lifetime career; a failure brands you as a "never been."
Rapid Rewrite of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
- Honey, I Shrunk the Kids became a comedy after Tom Schulman rewrote the original, boring script in just five days.
- His inspiration came from a hospital memory adding relatable humor about kids disrupted in normal life.