For filmmakers and cinematographers, immortality and legacy go only so far as the quality of their creations. In spite of that fact, Taika Waititi is afraid he will be irrelevant soon enough, given how people only care about the films that have brought them joy over the last century or so and no one bothers to remember the director whose vision brought these stories to life.
And so, it is imperative for a director to make do with the time given to them to do the things they can best – make movies. And that’s exactly what Taika Waititi plans to do.
Also read: Taika Waititi Only Returned To $3.4B Thor Franchise Because His Lawyer Got Him a “Bloody Good Deal”
Taika Waititi Mourns His Temporary Reign in Hollywood
If one considered Taika Waititi, the Kiwi filmmaker untouchable in his own heroic right, one may be right when he directed Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit and What We Do in the Shadows. The revolutionary and cackle-worthy pieces of cinematic masterpieces have not only been a delight to the audience but critically acclaimed as well, with Jojo Rabbit starring Scarlett Johansson going on to snag an Oscar nomination as well.
But to Waititi, all glories are transitory and his name is relevant only as long as he is alive and keeps delivering good projects for the critics and audiences to be pleased with. Despite his contributions to the history of cinema, which even includes an upcoming untitled Stars Wars movie, the Kiwi considers himself only a passing traveler on the path paved with great artistic works of film and as soon as he is out of the scene, some other great director will rise to take his place.
Taika Waititi Comments on His Legacy After Thor 4
While reminiscing his transient stay in Hollywood, Taika Waititi is a mixture of nostalgia, dread, mid-life crisis, and optimism. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about his impending oblivion and the demands of the industry to constantly keep the projects coming, Waititi claims:
“I’m 47. My God, take the pressure off. People are so obsessed with likes or leaving behind a legacy, being remembered. Here’s the thing: No one’s going to remember us. What’s the name of the director of ‘Casablanca’? Arguably one of the greatest films of all time. No one knows his name. How the fuck do I expect to be remembered? So who cares?
Let’s just live, make some movies. They’ll be obsolete and irrelevant in 15 or 20 years. And so will I, and then I’ll die and someone else can do it. This whole idea of chasing, chasing, chasing this life. It’s like, do we have to actually work this hard? Maybe not.”
But it is not only his self-awareness that makes him so great at his job. According to the Thor 4 director, it is also his self-confidence and tough skin that has helped him get this far in the business.
“I think it’s narcissism, like I was convinced my entire life that all my ideas were great. I now know they’re not. It was like ‘The Truman Show.’ I used to think everything was put in front of me for my own amusement. And I would be like, ‘Wow, I get to be me, and everyone’s just doing stuff for me.’ And then also that everyone is an idiot, which I still think.
I’m like, ‘I’m surrounded by morons. And eventually, they’ll see I’m right.’ It’s a pretty asshole-y thing to say, but it has helped me stick to my guns. With filmmaking, there’s no real trick other than making decisions fast and with confidence. If you asked any director, 85 percent of the time, you have no idea what you’re doing, and you’re just hoping that they don’t find out.”
The director, who is moving on to his next project in the aftermath of the divided reception of Thor: Love and Thunder prepares for his upcoming project’s release, Next Goal Wins. Framed to be a biographical sports comedy-drama, with much of the same humor, optimism, and such similar elements as Ted Lasso, the film is an adaptation of the documentary of the same name by Mile Brett and Steve Jamison. Next Goal Wins premieres on 17 November 2023.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
