How Denis Villeneuve Took Over Hollywood
We all know Denis Villeneuve as one of the most successful filmmakers of the 21st Century, but what was the secret behind his “unstoppable” rise? In this video we’ll explore Denis’ career, break down some of his key filmmaking principles, and finally crack open the secret behind one of Hollywood’s top filmmakers.
#filmmaking #breakdown #career #denisvilleneuve
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CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro
0:56 - The story of another filmmaker
3:16 - Fundamental rules Denis Villeneuve has followed
3:39 - Why you’re setting the wrong goals
5:05 - Why you need a day job
6:10 - Aim for your work to be noticed by your peers
8:09 - Why you need a community in filmmaking
11:10 - What’s holding you back
12:36 - Final thoughts
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I think there's something to be said about "late bloomers" in the arts. Many great artists didn't break in until almost mid-life and that goes for a lot of different artistic mediums.. but especially film. When someone gets fame later in life I believe they can handle that fame better too and navigate it a little easier.. making better, more fruitful decisions.
Brendan Gleeson is a good example
James Cameron didn't release his first film until he was 30. Unlike acting, directing tends to skew older.
Think Ridley Scott was about 42 when he made his feature debut. But to be fair he was one of the top commercials directors in the world!
Excellent point. Often, these late bloomers had been working in some capacity for years or even decades before getting the right project or getting noticed. Yeah it's about who you know and all that, but also because of one of the toughest facts about filmmaking: it can be extremely difficult and time consuming to get a film funded or even made. A lot of directors have multiple projects in development because often it takes years or even decades to go from screenplay to a fully-staffed and funded set, and most of those projects will probably never get made at all. The level of stamina and grit that you cultivate in that process should certainly help you keep a level head through later-in-life fame.
No secret here. Just be persistent and choose the right project.
He also took a long break and went back to school. He indicated in a recent interview that this was pivotal to getting back on track.
Yep, D.V. took a 9 YEAR break after his 2nd film, Maelstrom, because he felt he was merely playing around with the camera with nothing to say, even though the film was selected as a foreign entry in some prestigious award festival. That's how much he takes his craft seriously.
Do you know which interview that was? I’d love to watch
@@slimelove3493 I know the time period to be a fact, but I can't remember where he says it. I know he mentions in his appearance on the Team Deakins podcast, but I can't be sure whether he states the figure outright.
@@KnarfStein thanks I’ll check out the podcast
@@KnarfSteinYes but during this period,he also wrote two scripts: Polytechnique and Incendie.
Just the advice I needed to hear again! At 40 years old, it's great to hear it's never too late.
You made a lot of good points about Denis being a late bloomer in terms of mainstream recognition, but I think you grossly underestimated the MASSIVE importance of the major film festivals he was able to get into from his very first film. Cannes, TIFF, and prizes from those places are SUBSTANTIAL not financially but for your self esteem; they’re the equivalent to making back double your budget in the box office
This is a good point, but competition art house entries into Cannes and TIFF don't get you Hollywood deals. There are hundreds of filmmakers who got into Cannes who aren't able to make a Hollywood movie. What is more important to say is that he evolved his style to suit Hollywood projects. Polytechnique is much more accessible than his first two art house features. You never know what will get you the breakthrough.
The twist was so well set up. Not gonna lie I was getting depressed hearing about the “first filmmaker” and it shows you just how much our minds lie to us. We are our worst enemies and the only thing stopping ourselves from our goals.
I am 45yo- 20 something shorts 1 low low low no budget feature, I am in NYC area since 2015 but I COULD have written this post... THE fact that was DV has sparked my heart again. THANK You again your video comes when I need to hear it! I feel inspired .
This video is exactly what I needed to hear for so long now. I no joke cried after watching it. Thank you for making it. You are probably the most honest and helpful person on KZhead. Thank you.
Appreciate the words, really glad this video helps you!
Key point made perfectly: You have to prove you can do the work first. Yes, you can BELIEVE in yourself but if you don't BET on yourself and make some of the sacrifices to DO the wok (especially sacrifices of your time) and make things, you just can't expect much. It's like an athlete...they will never get off the bench or win anything if they don't do lots of work alone and in the "dark" and show what they can do in practice. Practice is where coaches decide who should play.
His story is exactly like mine…so far. Well…almost. I’m 45 now. It was almost as if I wrote that comment and you were reading it for this video. This video gives me a lot of hope. I have a lot of drive and we’ll see where this journey goes.
You got this man! Don’t stop doing what you want to do, that’s what it’s all about. I bet one day I’ll be watching one of your projects up on the big screen
"Wayside" becoming "Weight Size" in that quote had me in stitches. It made me sit up and pay attention more than before, so I guess it was ultimately good?
I really love your perspective on the industry, but also on economics as a whole. You're neither a "the world is broken and everything sucks" or a "You have to fight your way and crush everyone else around you" type of person. You're honest about the fact that life is hard and doesn't give you preferential treatment but also clear about what needs to be done and optimistic about being able to do it. Thanks for the info and the great perspective!
Appreciate the words, thank you!
I prefer it when directors work within the constraints of smaller budgets - ergo their early films. Villeneuve is no exception for me.
after dune I hope he finds the time to drop some fincher level lower budget smarter movie.
This just proves Einstein's quote that everybody is a genius but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree then it will live its whole life believing it is stupid. Villeneuve's story is truly inspiring.
Bang on! (Again). Recently, I told someone that (if I can pull it off) some people will be annoyed wondering how I suddenly "came out of nowhere" to find success. What they won't see is the last 30 years I've spent exploring my creativity while learning and practicing. I said that while it will still take some time, when it finally happens it will happen quickly. But the reality is that the perceived momentum is really only the latest exponential trajectory of the last 30 years.
Thank you for taking the time to tell this story. A lot of people go thru to same situation and is very difficult to keep going. Take care of you!
I love your attitude about breaking in to the industry and having no illusions about the time it takes to break through . You have to make all the small little things and learn the trade in the craft and be able to do everybody’s job Thanks for the objectivity and this is a great lesson for filmmakers
Have been a big fan of Villeneuve since watching his short film Next Floor at Film School. Loved Enemy and Prisoners and now his recent scifi epics! Really enjoying your recent content
Such a wise and astute video! The note about finding your tribe is absolutely key. The number one thing holding me back is crippling social anxiety. I've got years of experience in commercials, documentaries, music videos, etc. And directed a narrative feature in college. I run the video department full time for an advertising agency and am writing multiple screenplays. I LOVE to work, I've got the ideas, the stamina and the skills. But putting myself out there and finding this special tribe of like-minded, deeply inspired people is the most daunting task in my life, far more daunting than shooting/directing/editing two back-to-back feature length documentaries! You put it beautifully when you said these people will help keep you sane and motivated. It's not just about knowing good crew members and creatives. You need other people to believe in you, and people for you to be inspired by and believe in as well. Trying to do this on your own can be an incredibly lonely and desperate experience.
Hoyte van Hoytema (director of photography of Nolan) is similar, he got into filmmaking in his early 30s and now at 52 he’s one of the biggest names in the industry
Great stuff man. As someone that’s dipping my toes on YT videos, now that I’ve done a couple I can get over how tough it is behind the scenes to create a video. Your channel is a huge inspiration. 🙌🏼 keep up the great work!
Spitting truths! I'm in my early 40s and, after more than 20 years in the industry, I'm feeling that I'm just starting to get it. Keep learning, stay hungry and have fun!
The story of Denis Villeneuve is that he stepped back from chasing directing features in his early thirties, having made two features by then. He was ready to roll then by the end of the 2000’s with Polytechnique, which demonstrates everything that he can do as a filmmaker, and was able to see the play that was the basis of Incendies in a Canadian theatre and make it into his next movie, a complex international prestige level movie, that was Oscar nominated. He took some convincing by Jake Gyllenhaal to sign onto Prisoners, because the script needed to be elevated by his direction and Deakinx cinematography-it’s a dark and perhaps needlessly unpleasant story without their touch of class.
loved this video! watching your channel really made me change my mindset on filmmaking and I'm happy to share it with my folks looking to get into the filmmaking industry. You are kinda like the Lisan al Gaib of filmmakers on youtube, haha
I look forward to your videos, informative and inspiring.
Glad you like them!
Great video - insightful, honest, well-articulated
Denis Villeneuve expresses poetry through his scenes. He sees poetry through his lens. He said it in one of his interviews. Thanks. Akim K
thanks for the reminders!
Very well done. Thank you for this
Appreciate the encouragement. Very timely. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Every video, more value. Thank you!
Persistence and working with people who are brilliant at their chosen craft.
I watched Next Floor as a part of film-school. Visually, it never left my mind. Only forgot the name of the director
Beautiful advice, thank you!
Such a great video Luc...always thoughtful and full of superb insights...
Thanks so much!
Oh man, you really had me going until 2:11. 😆Thanks for taking the time to share this super valuable reminder. Well said.
absolutely love this one man 👏👏
Thank you 🙌
Fantastic video here, Luc. Love to hear the story of Denis' rise to the top. Successful careers aren't made overnight - this video was a great reminder.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Good vid - Love Denis work!
this was great, thanks 🙂
Next floor is one of the most insane movie I've seen.
informative video Thanks Luc.
Thanks John!
that is very helpful. thanks
True that! I guess like in all professions we're prone to miscalculate a lot. A sort of Dunning-Krueger effect, probably we made something the first time and it made some traction. Then we suddenly feel we're ready for the big games and become complacent.Then reality hits, we're not as good as we think we are. You're right. Laboring on your craft, reaching out to others, and beating your craft to some refinement (eventually refining it some more) will make you personally and the craft better. Denis Villeneuve level though, it's only reserved for a few. Hopefully someone out there who saw this video will get there. Thanks for the vid bro. Nice as always. ✊😅
Great video Luc. What audio gear are using for your KZhead videos? The sound is amazing.
I saw the “Next Floor”
One thing you forgot to mention is that people love to work with him because he's a kind and generous person they'll go all out for him.
Fanatic advice, which is why I am pointing out that at 8:30 it's "wayside" not "weight size" just in case you want to reupload before this gets the usual great conversations in the comment section.
noted, thanks a lot for your feedback!
A great video Luc!
Glad you think so!
@@LucForsyth Ohh yes. People rarely consider the decades put into the work before that 'overnight success'.
Quality always shows. If you can tell a good Story and emotions come through the screen you can become a filmmaker. I think it is also very important to understand the fundamentals of every aspect thats needed like, lighting, fouley, music, screenwriting and of course the technical aspect because in the beginning you dont have huge teams of pros that take care of it. you have to judge and tweak the quality by yourself because every one of these things are hugely important. just my 2 cents, good luck to all of us
I need to start upload my projects
The older I get, the more I realize that persistence is the most powerful tool we have.
Mr Villeneuve should make a film in the "Alien" saga, I'm sure he would bring something new to the franchise and it would be spectacular.
Muchas gracias Luc por el consejo. A veces las cosas se ponen difíciles y hay que luchar contra los demonios propios y seguir adelante. Saludos!
He also participated and won a Quebec TV show La course destination monde where he did short documentaries around the word.
He told great stories
I don't remember seing a producer getting all the love Villeneuve is getting now. And why does everybody call him by his first name now? Is that because it's to hard ro pronounce ? (it is not) Is it because he seems like a kind, easy going guy? I mean, I'm Quebecer like him and I'm proud to see him triumphing like that but I'm amazed by the reaction an sudden familiarity fans have with him.
The big American productions that come to film in Quebec always come back because of their professionalism and their joie de vivre and the actors particularly appreciate the non-rigor that they do not have like on American sets. Denis Villeneuve is surrounded by Quebecois in his team and the actors like to work with him precisely for this reason and the producers see it as a winning recipe when the actors want to work with him, even those who have only heard of ambiance, like we find them in Quebec. If the actors play without feeling stressed, they all give their best and the producers, the actors and Villeneuve know that they have an excellent movie to show us. You have to be envious and jealous to make a video like you do to try to denigrate him.
7:27 Lmao I love that even you got the movie name wrong. That's how obscure he was. Look at him now. Insane. Everything he's made is in my top 50 films easily
Why because Denis knows what audience want.
Fast forward to 13:10 for the point. This KZheadr is spot on but hard work is no secret.
He also benefitted from a system in Hollywood that sadly does not exist anymore: The mid-budget adult-oriented film. Prisoners, Sicario could barely be made today but back then they used to be stepping stones from smaller movies to bigger ones if the director chose to pursue it. It proves their abilities to studios and also gives them the experience they need to tackle bigger and bigger projects. Now it's mostly split right down the middle from low-budget Indies to mega blockbusters. If Christopher Nolan was getting started today, he would have gone from Memento straight to the Batman films and there's no way they would have been as good.
Like many filmmakers in here, as a music producer/sound design this resonates with me in different but very similar ways. If any filmmakers or podcast creators need help with sound/music, I'd love to work on something. Let me know if you want to connect!
5:08 Naming Gerwig with the other directors you mentioned is hilarious.
8:32 wayside.
I can't figure out if I should be concerned or excited about my future 😅. Either way, I probably need to find my "tribe", because I'm getting pretty damn tired of getting nowhere alone lol.
because he is HIM
Look at this site, you will have all the answer about what makes Denis Villeneuve special. I don't put the link, they always erasing it. Do your research with Denis Villeneuve & His Cinema of Ambiguity - Directing Styles Explained
A) He´s very good B) The competition sucks.
Yeah but not everyone has Dennis talent and genuine love for Cinema Even if they do make in Hollywood, most Directors simply look at movies as Videogames, going from level to level where stuff happens
I still think Nolan is top but I'd love to see Denis be the bigger of the two. Nolan's had the title for over a decade now
Consistent output and improvement over time. That’s the secret. Hard work 😂
I think the 'gain support of your peers' is being really underestimated about Denis right now, even by your video. Yes, through Enemy, Prisoners, Arrival, Sicario he was a rising star in the film world, but he was still not a known name. Even after Dune Part 2, a lot of filmgoers still don't recognize his name. You talk about his ability to achieve consistent success and act like it's a foregone conclusion at this point, but even up to the release of Dune Part 2, it just was not.... It would be hard to say Blade Runner 2049 was a bomb financially or critically, but it also didn't really succeed in either arena. It was a disappointment that was hard to justify the budget and star power. I was so worried he'd be knocked down from any big productions again after that. The reception of Dune was... Not unanimous, and the box office was not strong. The fact that part 2 was not guaranteed made me extremely worried. Even David Fincher was not able to keep Dragon Tattoo going as a franchise after the middling response to that endeavor. If everyone in the industry, especially actors, were not chomping at the bit to work with Denis, I don't think there is any way in hell Part 2 would be green lit. For anyone but the top few directors out there to get that cast, at that price, is just unfathomable. Without the commitment of all the actors involved to be a part of this, and to work with Denis... By the numbers, his career should long be over.
I would also argue that he's having all this success due to his talents and despite of his flaws. He is pretty good at creating an ambiance, hypnotizing the viewers, but his style is slow, boring and feels calculated. His success is the proof that sometimes artists are rewarded for being themselves.
I feel that a film director in 2024 should be able to produce his own images by himself with his own hands, excellent images, with his own cinema lens kit. Otherwise, he is a slave director of some system or a group of people. I'm not trying to reduce the power of the collective - with competent people, cinema becomes the spectacle it is. It's just a specific observation based on the history of great films made by humanity: a reduced team where only a few elements remain standing until the end.
40 is the new twenties, and 50 is the new thirties.🎉
Great Video - interesting Channel - Topic suggestion - Why does Disney and other major studios put multi million dollar budget movies in the hands of inexperienced directors with limited experience that result in total garbage movies.. Such people would never get such budgets outside Hollywood but I guess reality does not exist in Hollywood.
Calling Denis privileged is wild. He grew up like most of us man regular city dude, the only person I think to get out of french canada and go global besides Celine DIon. French canadians doN't have Hollywood contacts he just made damn good movies and kept climbing the ladder. He wasn't dropped on the top by helicopter like the other privileged hollywood phonies.
I respectfully disagree. You are 100% right on the community thing. That's undeniable. Even Kubrick delegated and consulted. But Villeneuve has succeeded for the same reason that Nolan and Eggars and Aster have: *they make increasingly **_interesting_** films.* If you look at their filmographies, you see that their budgets grow with their expertise. Each one of them said with their next film "how do I find the most interesting idea I can accomplish the most interesting way with the money and skills I've gained since last time?" Villeneuve figured out with INCENDIES that if he makes his next film slightly bigger in budget, but restrained in scale, but bigger in execution, he could replicate it again and again with cumulative returns. And he has. Nolan is different only because he gamed Hollywood. He took this same principle and applied it to the journeyman route. After MEMENTO he took a journeyman job with INSOMNIA and made it as interesting as he could. Because it worked, he was given BATMAN YEAR ONE and he turned that into BATMAN BEGINS by using all of his skills, experience, and creative power and made it successful. From that point on, he made other people's movies with his vision and Hollywood kept writing checks. He also applied Ford's mantra of "make one for them and one for you" and that's exactly what he did. He used his creativity to make the work interesting and it paid off literally and figuratively. I love Collider...but they have $1M tools and $5 ideas--their stuff looks great but sucks to watch. And a million other filmmakers have $1M ideas and $5 budgets. But if you take a $100K idea, with a $10K budget, a $1M vision and a $1K set of skills, you can make that $10K budget look like a $50K idea. But you have to fuse vision with skill and a lot of filmmakers lack the strategy to do that.
Denis and Nolan are in no way in Kubrick's league. Kubrick delegated but also had complete control of his movies. Every shot and line of dialogue was carefully crafted. He cared less about the masses than Nolan and Denis. Kubrick never spoonfed the info to the viewer. His films hold up on repeat viewings. Nolans and Denis film don't inmo.
@@TheDabombg28 Nolan is kind of 50-50 on rewatchability. Villaneuve has a higher rate of rewatchability. Also, Nolan is gaming the system, so he has to work within the confines of that system, which is why his work is more accessible and genre-based than Kubrick. But I would argue hat Nolan and Villaneuve carefully craft every detail of their work, just not to personal extent that Kubrick did. Villaneuve lets his team calls shots under his supervision and doesn't have to do 67 takes of Sarah Ferguson picking up a glass of water. Kubrick was defined by his pathology as well as his work ethic.
I was a 1000 likes! Neil it! 😮
There are 3 major movie directors in today's world. There's no rule for that. It is an anomaly not related properly to talent but a little luck as well
"Left by their weight size"
You just need God given talent and luck similar to winning the lottery and you'll be fine.
…it’s simple - he is not WOKE, and he actually read the books and worked to bring the pages to life. What he did is not rocket science…
I don't know but I love artistic films and I don't like mainstream. I think there are more ways to filmmaking. Somebody is making blockbusters (action, killing) to make a lot of money and loves the process but somebody like Andrei Tarkovsky, David Lynch, Werner Herzog, Lars von Trier, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Ingmar Bergman, Krzysztof Kieślowski, Robert Bresson and many others are making films not for a lot of money but from love to art and life - their films are personal and I consider those ones the best. We can look on success more ways, not only money and Hollywood. Hollywood lacks the personal strengths, lacks the true art in most cases. Hollywood is boring for me.
Think of it this way...Denis Villeneuve is behind a camera and the real Desert people are......in the Desert.....2 different movies. Now review the other movie for us.
Stop the hero worship. He’s good at telling stories. Great awesome, now focus on your self and stop worshipping others
Taking over, for the good or the bad? Sometimes "succes" is not "quality".
Denis was amazing until he started making Hollywood blockbusters
Finally… he lost that stupid hat
It might seem, that screenwriting isn't your thing. Sorry bud.
He doesn't focus on woke nonsense like the rest of Hollywood. But just focuses on good stories and cinematic shots.
He does things that seem smart and creative but aren't really. Just like Nolan. He also benefits from the fact that most movies are shit so his 5,5/10 movies look like masterpieces if you only saw movies from the last 20 years. There yo go. Here's your answer. You're welcome. Didn't watch the video. Maybe later.
dont make woke garbage all about diversity and respect the fans and source material. is that simple
Movies are just so bad now that it makes him and Nolan’s films look better than they are
I also think so
The Secret is that Denis does not burden himself with all the nonsense american foolish trends like promoting women instead of men, trying to get the LGBTQ more placement, and all those other things that are tying filmmakers down who just wants to make a good movie! It's that simple. If the movie doesn't require a gay character or whatever, why can't it just be that? why? what's all this inclusiveness? I just want to make a movie. And not just LGBTQ, but pretty much everything wrong with America in 2024. Here's a kicker, A lot of the movies that won Oscars and awards this year 2024 were not either either Directed by or Written by Ethnic Americans, or both.
Funniest thing I've read all day. WTF is an ethnic American?
Christopher Nolan is more talented, on my opinion. He is my role model
I also think so, Dune 2 is hype. But Nolan had brother
MID AF. SORRY, SO IS NOLAN. LYNCH'S DUNE WAS BETTER
Wahhh wahhh
@@olleydrum9016 how articulate, z'er
Your view of Denis’ early career is extremely Anglo-centrist