I’m a self-taught filmmaker I never went to film school I never studied
to film school I never studied
to film school I never studied filmmaking in any way I am a big
filmmaking in any way I am a big
filmmaking in any way I am a big believer in being a sincere about your
believer in being a sincere about your
believer in being a sincere about your passion for something pretty much every
passion for something pretty much every
passion for something pretty much every film I’ve ever worked on at every scale
film I’ve ever worked on at every scale
film I’ve ever worked on at every scale has had massive stakes to it one way or
has had massive stakes to it one way or
has had massive stakes to it one way or another all filmmaking is intelligent
another all filmmaking is intelligent
another all filmmaking is intelligent compromise that’s the whole process we
compromise that’s the whole process we
compromise that’s the whole process we go through I grew up loving Hollywood
go through I grew up loving Hollywood
go through I grew up loving Hollywood blockbusters and for me it’s really a
blockbusters and for me it’s really a
blockbusters and for me it’s really a process of trying to recreate that mad
process of trying to recreate that mad
process of trying to recreate that mad magic it’s most important to just throw
magic it’s most important to just throw
magic it’s most important to just throw yourself into just just putting
yourself into just just putting
yourself into just just putting everything into the the project you’re
everything into the the project you’re
everything into the the project you’re working on here’s an English American
working on here’s an English American
working on here’s an English American film director screenwriter and producer
film director screenwriter and producer
film director screenwriter and producer is one of the highest-grossing directors
is one of the highest-grossing directors
is one of the highest-grossing directors in history and among the most successful
in history and among the most successful
in history and among the most successful film makers of the 21st century his nine
film makers of the 21st century his nine
film makers of the 21st century his nine films have grossed over 4.2 billion
films have grossed over 4.2 billion
films have grossed over 4.2 billion dollars worldwide
dollars worldwide
dollars worldwide he’s Christopher Nolan and here is my
he’s Christopher Nolan and here is my
he’s Christopher Nolan and here is my take on his top 10 rules for success I’m
take on his top 10 rules for success I’m
take on his top 10 rules for success I’m a self-taught filmmaker I never went to
a self-taught filmmaker I never went to
a self-taught filmmaker I never went to film school I never studied filmmaking
film school I never studied filmmaking
film school I never studied filmmaking in any way I started making films when I
in any way I started making films when I
in any way I started making films when I was a kid when I was think 7 years old
was a kid when I was think 7 years old
was a kid when I was think 7 years old making films using my dad’s super 8
making films using my dad’s super 8
making films using my dad’s super 8 camera and action figures doing
camera and action figures doing
camera and action figures doing stop-motion films a little bit of
stop-motion films a little bit of
stop-motion films a little bit of animation on the set amount of live
animation on the set amount of live
animation on the set amount of live action and I just carried on making
action and I just carried on making
action and I just carried on making films as I grew up and over the years
films as I grew up and over the years
films as I grew up and over the years they got bigger hopefully better but but
they got bigger hopefully better but but
they got bigger hopefully better but but more elaborate and it never really was a
more elaborate and it never really was a
more elaborate and it never really was a period of my life I completely stopped
period of my life I completely stopped
period of my life I completely stopped doing so I was always moving up
doing so I was always moving up
doing so I was always moving up eventually from super 8 to 16 millimeter
eventually from super 8 to 16 millimeter
eventually from super 8 to 16 millimeter films and then I think what following
films and then I think what following
films and then I think what following represents is kind of the the peak of
represents is kind of the the peak of
represents is kind of the the peak of what I was able to do on my own or just
what I was able to do on my own or just
what I was able to do on my own or just with friends just using our own
with friends just using our own
with friends just using our own resources and boring equipment and sort
resources and boring equipment and sort
resources and boring equipment and sort of using the things around us to make a
of using the things around us to make a
of using the things around us to make a film I am a big believer in being
film I am a big believer in being
film I am a big believer in being sincere about your passion for something
sincere about your passion for something
sincere about your passion for something and I do love all types of cinema but at
and I do love all types of cinema but at
and I do love all types of cinema but at the same time when I come to do a
the same time when I come to do a
the same time when I come to do a project I never want to be doing a
project I never want to be doing a
project I never want to be doing a project to just for example to show
project to just for example to show
project to just for example to show versatility I wouldn’t do a project for
versatility I wouldn’t do a project for
versatility I wouldn’t do a project for that reason so
that reason so
that reason so I think all the films I’ve made I like
I think all the films I’ve made I like
I think all the films I’ve made I like to think that they’re connected in
to think that they’re connected in
to think that they’re connected in certain ways but they’re all so
certain ways but they’re all so
certain ways but they’re all so different from each other
different from each other
different from each other that’s as best as I can put it so I’d
that’s as best as I can put it so I’d
that’s as best as I can put it so I’d like to continue working along those
like to continue working along those
like to continue working along those lines really with a view first and
lines really with a view first and
lines really with a view first and foremost of being sincere in my passion
foremost of being sincere in my passion
foremost of being sincere in my passion for the project because each film you
for the project because each film you
for the project because each film you take on of whatever scale it’s played
take on of whatever scale it’s played
take on of whatever scale it’s played out up no it’s it’s a couple years of my
out up no it’s it’s a couple years of my
out up no it’s it’s a couple years of my life sometimes more so you really want
life sometimes more so you really want
life sometimes more so you really want to be passionate about what it is that
to be passionate about what it is that
to be passionate about what it is that you’re doing do you ever come up with
you’re doing do you ever come up with
you’re doing do you ever come up with ideas when you’re writing a script that
ideas when you’re writing a script that
ideas when you’re writing a script that even scare you in terms of not be able
even scare you in terms of not be able
even scare you in terms of not be able to pull it off ah yeah I mean the really
to pull it off ah yeah I mean the really
to pull it off ah yeah I mean the really that’s the challenge I mean as a writer
that’s the challenge I mean as a writer
that’s the challenge I mean as a writer I try and take my directors hat off and
I try and take my directors hat off and
I try and take my directors hat off and not be afraid and just say I want to
not be afraid and just say I want to
not be afraid and just say I want to write the most exciting thing most
write the most exciting thing most
write the most exciting thing most unexpected thing I can think of for the
unexpected thing I can think of for the
unexpected thing I can think of for the story then I pick up the script again
story then I pick up the script again
story then I pick up the script again and put the directors hat back on and go
and put the directors hat back on and go
and put the directors hat back on and go okay how the hell am I going to do that
okay how the hell am I going to do that
okay how the hell am I going to do that and that’s when you know you’re in a
and that’s when you know you’re in a
and that’s when you know you’re in a good place because every film you want
good place because every film you want
good place because every film you want to be challenging yourself you want to
to be challenging yourself you want to
to be challenging yourself you want to do something different well what we were
do something different well what we were
do something different well what we were able to do is look look back and this is
able to do is look look back and this is
able to do is look look back and this is something I like to do instead of
something I like to do instead of
something I like to do instead of looking back at the great achievements
looking back at the great achievements
looking back at the great achievements of the past and avail ourselves of those
of the past and avail ourselves of those
of the past and avail ourselves of those techniques so miniature work motion
techniques so miniature work motion
techniques so miniature work motion control things like that the Pioneer but
control things like that the Pioneer but
control things like that the Pioneer but then combining that with today’s
then combining that with today’s
then combining that with today’s technology which allows you to composite
technology which allows you to composite
technology which allows you to composite things in a particular way you CG in a
things in a particular way you CG in a
things in a particular way you CG in a particular way to enhance those types of
particular way to enhance those types of
particular way to enhance those types of effects so we really tried to build on
effects so we really tried to build on
effects so we really tried to build on what’s been done before but add our own
what’s been done before but add our own
what’s been done before but add our own techniques to it there are quite a few
techniques to it there are quite a few
techniques to it there are quite a few things in the film that have never been
things in the film that have never been
things in the film that have never been done before and may may never be done
done before and may may never be done
done before and may may never be done again and open but certainly mixing and
again and open but certainly mixing and
again and open but certainly mixing and varying our techniques using some old
varying our techniques using some old
varying our techniques using some old some new I think helps really disguise
some new I think helps really disguise
some new I think helps really disguise the trickery involved in the film
the trickery involved in the film
the trickery involved in the film because obviously it’s all you know
because obviously it’s all you know
because obviously it’s all you know artificial the end of the day but it
artificial the end of the day but it
artificial the end of the day but it felt real to us making it hopefully it
felt real to us making it hopefully it
felt real to us making it hopefully it feels real to the audience watching it
feels real to the audience watching it
feels real to the audience watching it what inspires me
what inspires me
what inspires me more and more real life inspires me but
more and more real life inspires me but
more and more real life inspires me but but what inspired me to begin with it
but what inspired me to begin with it
but what inspired me to begin with it was just as so many of you are just a
was just as so many of you are just a
was just as so many of you are just a huge film fan the films of posit
huge film fan the films of posit
huge film fan the films of posit primarily release God you know Blade
primarily release God you know Blade
primarily release God you know Blade Runner was Ivelisse influence on me make
Runner was Ivelisse influence on me make
Runner was Ivelisse influence on me make some Stanley Kubrick Terrence Malick
some Stanley Kubrick Terrence Malick
some Stanley Kubrick Terrence Malick Nicolas Roeg just the extraordinary work
Nicolas Roeg just the extraordinary work
Nicolas Roeg just the extraordinary work of the body and very directors I think
of the body and very directors I think
of the body and very directors I think primarily and I know that almost
primarily and I know that almost
primarily and I know that almost anybody’s so here today we have talked
anybody’s so here today we have talked
anybody’s so here today we have talked about see Star Wars for the first time
about see Star Wars for the first time
about see Star Wars for the first time because for my generation that truly was
because for my generation that truly was
because for my generation that truly was a watershed moment and something that
a watershed moment and something that
a watershed moment and something that that fed my initial enthusiasm for look
that fed my initial enthusiasm for look
that fed my initial enthusiasm for look for making films and stuck with it but I
for making films and stuck with it but I
for making films and stuck with it but I think that as they get older and as
think that as they get older and as
think that as they get older and as apparently opportunity to make more
apparently opportunity to make more
apparently opportunity to make more films which I feel very grateful for
films which I feel very grateful for
films which I feel very grateful for more and more I find that real life
more and more I find that real life
more and more I find that real life my life inspires we wanna try and work
my life inspires we wanna try and work
my life inspires we wanna try and work that more into the material I work well
that more into the material I work well
that more into the material I work well I you know it’s it’s funny there is
I you know it’s it’s funny there is
I you know it’s it’s funny there is massive pressure on a smaller film as
massive pressure on a smaller film as
massive pressure on a smaller film as well it’s pretty much every film I’ve
well it’s pretty much every film I’ve
well it’s pretty much every film I’ve ever worked on at every scale has had
ever worked on at every scale has had
ever worked on at every scale has had massive stakes to it one way or another
massive stakes to it one way or another
massive stakes to it one way or another I think for me I don’t think uh very
I think for me I don’t think uh very
I think for me I don’t think uh very well in terms of scale it’s all about is
well in terms of scale it’s all about is
well in terms of scale it’s all about is there a story of a set of characters
there a story of a set of characters
there a story of a set of characters that interest me I think the process has
that interest me I think the process has
that interest me I think the process has been really the same process on on every
been really the same process on on every
been really the same process on on every film I’ve done I always liked film noir
film I’ve done I always liked film noir
film I’ve done I always liked film noir and crime fiction as a as a way of
and crime fiction as a as a way of
and crime fiction as a as a way of extrapolating your your own life your
extrapolating your your own life your
extrapolating your your own life your own neurosis or whatever and making it
own neurosis or whatever and making it
own neurosis or whatever and making it accessible and make it something that
accessible and make it something that
accessible and make it something that people could care about and I really
people could care about and I really
people could care about and I really gravitated towards that jar and still do
gravitated towards that jar and still do
gravitated towards that jar and still do frankly but but very much at the time I
frankly but but very much at the time I
frankly but but very much at the time I felt very young and very inexperienced I
felt very young and very inexperienced I
felt very young and very inexperienced I felt that my own life and the things I
felt that my own life and the things I
felt that my own life and the things I soar in the world were not going to be
soar in the world were not going to be
soar in the world were not going to be of interest to people but they felt
of interest to people but they felt
of interest to people but they felt interesting to me and so I was looking
interesting to me and so I was looking
interesting to me and so I was looking for a language I was looking for honor
for a language I was looking for honor
for a language I was looking for honor in which I could take things that I was
in which I could take things that I was
in which I could take things that I was interested in and make them accessible
interested in and make them accessible
interested in and make them accessible make them interesting to other people
make them interesting to other people
make them interesting to other people and I think that the crime genre of the
and I think that the crime genre of the
and I think that the crime genre of the film are and I think that’s the way it
film are and I think that’s the way it
film are and I think that’s the way it works it’s characters are defined
works it’s characters are defined
works it’s characters are defined through action double-cross things
through action double-cross things
through action double-cross things they’re doing to each other your your
they’re doing to each other your your
they’re doing to each other your your particular fears about whatever it is
particular fears about whatever it is
particular fears about whatever it is your life your relationships whatever
your life your relationships whatever
your life your relationships whatever those things aren’t the best for wise
those things aren’t the best for wise
those things aren’t the best for wise always been very firmly founded on on
always been very firmly founded on on
always been very firmly founded on on those relatable fears taking into the
those relatable fears taking into the
those relatable fears taking into the realm of I mean I suppose you call it
realm of I mean I suppose you call it
realm of I mean I suppose you call it melodrama or heightened reality or
melodrama or heightened reality or
melodrama or heightened reality or whatever that is and I felt as a young
whatever that is and I felt as a young
whatever that is and I felt as a young filmmaker starting out trying to do
filmmaker starting out trying to do
filmmaker starting out trying to do something with very little resources I
something with very little resources I
something with very little resources I felt much more comfortable working in
felt much more comfortable working in
felt much more comfortable working in the the area of sort of heightened
the the area of sort of heightened
the the area of sort of heightened reality that a crime story they don’t
reality that a crime story they don’t
reality that a crime story they don’t you know it’s a well because all
you know it’s a well because all
you know it’s a well because all filmmaking is intelligent compromise
filmmaking is intelligent compromise
filmmaking is intelligent compromise that’s the whole process we go through
that’s the whole process we go through
that’s the whole process we go through you never have enough
you never have enough
you never have enough I mean call a bit without for this no
I mean call a bit without for this no
I mean call a bit without for this no matter what your budget is you never
matter what your budget is you never
matter what your budget is you never have enough time you never have money
have enough time you never have money
have enough time you never have money that’s you’re in the so it’s weird when
that’s you’re in the so it’s weird when
that’s you’re in the so it’s weird when you’re doing a huge film you’re in the
you’re doing a huge film you’re in the
you’re doing a huge film you’re in the same position anywhere
same position anywhere
same position anywhere you were doing a tiny film it’s you’re
you were doing a tiny film it’s you’re
you were doing a tiny film it’s you’re always and there’s a good reason for
always and there’s a good reason for
always and there’s a good reason for that you’re always trying to get as much
that you’re always trying to get as much
that you’re always trying to get as much on screen as you possibly can and so
on screen as you possibly can and so
on screen as you possibly can and so whatever the the box that’s built for
whatever the the box that’s built for
whatever the the box that’s built for you by the economics of the project
you by the economics of the project
you by the economics of the project you’re always trying to push up against
you’re always trying to push up against
you’re always trying to push up against those those walls and so you need help
those those walls and so you need help
those those walls and so you need help from your team in terms of how you
from your team in terms of how you
from your team in terms of how you arrange things and how you make that
arrange things and how you make that
arrange things and how you make that work I’ve been very fortunate with you
work I’ve been very fortunate with you
work I’ve been very fortunate with you know the breadth of the audience we’ve
know the breadth of the audience we’ve
know the breadth of the audience we’ve managed to get for some of some of our
managed to get for some of some of our
managed to get for some of some of our films ultimately really well I could say
films ultimately really well I could say
films ultimately really well I could say that was I try not to separate the two
that was I try not to separate the two
that was I try not to separate the two things I try not to separate my love for
things I try not to separate my love for
things I try not to separate my love for very sophisticated esoteric filmmakers
very sophisticated esoteric filmmakers
very sophisticated esoteric filmmakers people I grew up watching like Nicolas
people I grew up watching like Nicolas
people I grew up watching like Nicolas Roeg whose films I loved I traveled to
Roeg whose films I loved I traveled to
Roeg whose films I loved I traveled to separate that side of myself from the
separate that side of myself from the
separate that side of myself from the side that grew up watching Star Wars and
side that grew up watching Star Wars and
side that grew up watching Star Wars and James Bond and lying that you try to
James Bond and lying that you try to
James Bond and lying that you try to pitch the film in the language that you
pitch the film in the language that you
pitch the film in the language that you think it should be made in you try and
think it should be made in you try and
think it should be made in you try and think of what’s the breadth of the
think of what’s the breadth of the
think of what’s the breadth of the audience you’re making the film for but
audience you’re making the film for but
audience you’re making the film for but I don’t think that needs to involve
I don’t think that needs to involve
I don’t think that needs to involve dumbing it down or selling it out in any
dumbing it down or selling it out in any
dumbing it down or selling it out in any way because I grew up loving Hollywood
way because I grew up loving Hollywood
way because I grew up loving Hollywood blockbusters and for me it’s really a
blockbusters and for me it’s really a
blockbusters and for me it’s really a process of trying to recreate that that
process of trying to recreate that that
process of trying to recreate that that magic that sense of scale that sense of
magic that sense of scale that sense of
magic that sense of scale that sense of immersion in a world that you grew up
immersion in a world that you grew up
immersion in a world that you grew up with if you can bring that to filmmaking
with if you can bring that to filmmaking
with if you can bring that to filmmaking I think you have the potential to reach
I think you have the potential to reach
I think you have the potential to reach reach a wider audience with all the
reach a wider audience with all the
reach a wider audience with all the films I’ve made I felt that really
films I’ve made I felt that really
films I’ve made I felt that really trying to compliment the audience’s
trying to compliment the audience’s
trying to compliment the audience’s intelligence trying to engage the
intelligence trying to engage the
intelligence trying to engage the audience with something that’s new
audience with something that’s new
audience with something that’s new different can pay great dividends
different can pay great dividends
different can pay great dividends it wasn’t conscious on my part to to
it wasn’t conscious on my part to to
it wasn’t conscious on my part to to have another scripts that are ready to
have another scripts that are ready to
have another scripts that are ready to go by the time we went to film festivals
go by the time we went to film festivals
go by the time we went to film festivals with following while we were finishing
with following while we were finishing
with following while we were finishing up the cart on it and doing very long
up the cart on it and doing very long
up the cart on it and doing very long slow technical finishing which one you
slow technical finishing which one you
slow technical finishing which one you have no money takes forever because you
have no money takes forever because you
have no money takes forever because you said waiting for the lab to have it you
said waiting for the lab to have it you
said waiting for the lab to have it you know run the 60 ml bath you know
know run the 60 ml bath you know
know run the 60 ml bath you know whatever it is in that time I was
whatever it is in that time I was
whatever it is in that time I was putting together script foot for memento
putting together script foot for memento
putting together script foot for memento and so also in the time it took to get
and so also in the time it took to get
and so also in the time it took to get following noticed on the first of all
following noticed on the first of all
following noticed on the first of all circuit so get out there I had actually
circuit so get out there I had actually
circuit so get out there I had actually finished the script and in a retrospect
finished the script and in a retrospect
finished the script and in a retrospect it was a massive
it was a massive
it was a massive because I was able to say okay you like
because I was able to say okay you like
because I was able to say okay you like that film this is what I want to do next
that film this is what I want to do next
that film this is what I want to do next because in your best case scenario of
because in your best case scenario of
because in your best case scenario of what can happen to you would with
what can happen to you would with
what can happen to you would with putting a film out there and getting
putting a film out there and getting
putting a film out there and getting distribution for example you’re then
distribution for example you’re then
distribution for example you’re then asked the question okay what do you want
asked the question okay what do you want
asked the question okay what do you want to do next and if you have an answer you
to do next and if you have an answer you
to do next and if you have an answer you can use that very short window of
can use that very short window of
can use that very short window of interest that you get from people in
interest that you get from people in
interest that you get from people in what you’ve done but I will say that I
what you’ve done but I will say that I
what you’ve done but I will say that I think that was purely an accident and I
think that was purely an accident and I
think that was purely an accident and I think that if you were to try and plan
think that if you were to try and plan
think that if you were to try and plan to you know write another script while
to you know write another script while
to you know write another script while you’re finishing a film you really risk
you’re finishing a film you really risk
you’re finishing a film you really risk taking your focus off the the project
taking your focus off the the project
taking your focus off the the project that you’re doing and I think that it’s
that you’re doing and I think that it’s
that you’re doing and I think that it’s most important to just throw yourself
most important to just throw yourself
most important to just throw yourself into just just putting everything into
into just just putting everything into
into just just putting everything into the the project you’re working on and
the the project you’re working on and
the the project you’re working on and that’s something was done done since if
that’s something was done done since if
that’s something was done done since if you can then because quite often there
you can then because quite often there
you can then because quite often there is a period between finishing a project
is a period between finishing a project
is a period between finishing a project and actually people seeing it or
and actually people seeing it or
and actually people seeing it or actually people responding to it if you
actually people responding to it if you
actually people responding to it if you can try and instead of going on holiday
can try and instead of going on holiday
can try and instead of going on holiday for six months you use that period to
for six months you use that period to
for six months you use that period to try and figure out what you would do
try and figure out what you would do
try and figure out what you would do next if somebody gave you the
next if somebody gave you the
next if somebody gave you the opportunity then then you’re going to
opportunity then then you’re going to
opportunity then then you’re going to give yourself a huge advantage
thank you guys so much for watching we
thank you guys so much for watching we made this video because Tim Thomson asks
made this video because Tim Thomson asks
made this video because Tim Thomson asks us to if you’d like us to profile
us to if you’d like us to profile
us to if you’d like us to profile another entrepreneur leave a comment
another entrepreneur leave a comment
another entrepreneur leave a comment below I’d also love to know which of the
below I’d also love to know which of the
below I’d also love to know which of the top 10 rules had the biggest impact on
top 10 rules had the biggest impact on
top 10 rules had the biggest impact on you and why leave in the comments below
you and why leave in the comments below
you and why leave in the comments below and we’ll join the discussion thank you
and we’ll join the discussion thank you
and we’ll join the discussion thank you again for watching continue to believe
again for watching continue to believe
again for watching continue to believe and we’ll see you soon
I enjoy the multi-faceted nature of the
I enjoy the multi-faceted nature of the challenge I enjoy having to be an expert
challenge I enjoy having to be an expert
challenge I enjoy having to be an expert on a lot of different things or having
on a lot of different things or having
on a lot of different things or having to pretend to be an expert on a lot of
to pretend to be an expert on a lot of
to pretend to be an expert on a lot of different things one of things I love
different things one of things I love
different things one of things I love about directing is is you don’t
about directing is is you don’t
about directing is is you don’t specialize you you have to be able to
specialize you you have to be able to
specialize you you have to be able to really think of all the different
really think of all the different
really think of all the different aspects of the film at the same time
aspects of the film at the same time
aspects of the film at the same time it’s also important to surround yourself
it’s also important to surround yourself
it’s also important to surround yourself with collaborators who can take the
with collaborators who can take the
with collaborators who can take the pressure off certain aspects of it and
pressure off certain aspects of it and
pressure off certain aspects of it and castings a huge part of that you know
castings a huge part of that you know
castings a huge part of that you know finding actors some of the great acts
finding actors some of the great acts
finding actors some of the great acts are worked with on the Dark Knight
are worked with on the Dark Knight
are worked with on the Dark Knight trilogy for example who you know they
trilogy for example who you know they
trilogy for example who you know they would recognize that yes we’re also
would recognize that yes we’re also
would recognize that yes we’re also having to worry about flipping this
having to worry about flipping this
having to worry about flipping this truck or blowing this building up you
truck or blowing this building up you
truck or blowing this building up you know whatever and so their process would
know whatever and so their process would
know whatever and so their process would be balanced against that and working
be balanced against that and working
be balanced against that and working with very generous performers was it was
with very generous performers was it was
with very generous performers was it was a big part of that so I really do enjoy
a big part of that so I really do enjoy
a big part of that so I really do enjoy the the challenge of putting together a
the the challenge of putting together a
the the challenge of putting together a lot of different aspects of what the
lot of different aspects of what the
lot of different aspects of what the project and being trying to be in
project and being trying to be in
project and being trying to be in control of that and it’s it’s a really
control of that and it’s it’s a really
control of that and it’s it’s a really fun thing
”
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