Michod: I’m suffering from decision fatigue
Animal Kingdom creator David Michod has revealed that his directing career is on hold as the film’s huge success has left him with “decision fatigue”.
Michod was speaking at a Screen Australia event in Sydney to celebrate locally made films that have received international acclaim. It won the World Cinema Jury Prize at Sundance.
Michod wrote and directed Animal Kingdom, which was one of the most critically celenrated Australian films in recent years.
Michod was joined on stage by Vincent Sheehan, producer of The Hunter, actress Rachel Blake who starred in Sleeping Beauty and Antony Waddington, executive producer of The Eye of the Storm. While Sheehan, Blake and Waddington championed the effects of international success, Michod told a different story.
He said that when he attended the 2010 Sundance Film Festival with Animal Kingdom, there were two benefits: for the film itself and also for the careers of cast and crew.
“We sold Animal Kingdom to the whole of Europe before we left the festival,” Michod said. “My personal experience was different.”
Despite numerous opportunities presented to him after the film’s success, Michod is yet to take on a feature. “I feel as if I’m being forced to make decisions that I never had to make before. I’m suffering decision fatigue,” Michod explained.
After Animal Kingdom, Michod wondered whether he ever wanted to direct again. “It hurts,” he said. “It’s really hard.” There have been no shortage of projects on offer but Michod said: “I have to decide whether I want to devote the next two years.” Make the wrong choice and, “Six months in, I’d be desperately looking for a way out. That’s just the way I roll.”
Federal Arts Minister Simon Crean who also spoke at the event, urged the audience to respond to the government’s proposed national cultural policy. “Look at the policy from the broader perspective,” he said.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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I’m pretty sure that anyway Hollywood Executive that reads an interview like this would scratch Michod’s name off the list in future, as directing is all about decisions. And if you have a director who’s saying he has decision fatigue and that directing hurts, the line of talent in Hollywood is plentiful and long, and before you know it, Michod is no longer part of the cue.
A directing career is all about longevity, and if you’re claiming burn out after you first film and uttering extremely ridiculous things like ‘Decision Fatigue’ and ‘It Hurts,’ then, jeepers, what else can you say to that? I mean, what does he want, our condolences for making a successful film? Let’s get real here.
Sorry, David, but as each minute ticks by that you don’t have another film in production, the sentiment that you’re a flash in a pan will only become louder and clearer.
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In response to Hank’s article. I completely and utterly disagree with you. If Mr Michod wants a little time to get his head clear and know for sure what he’s committing to so be it. It’s going to take up 2-3 years of your life whatever you choose and I’m down with the idea of knowing exactly what your getting into from an artistic and logistical level. Here’s another thing rather than have digs at interpreting this article that Mr Michod wants our condolences at being unsure what project to commit to, why not have some respect for an awesome filmmaker that made a bloody brilliant debut feature.- an you’re comment of being scratched off the Executive Hollywood list is what’s ridiculous… Jeepers.
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