Horror auteur Mike Flanagan has revealed his behind-the-scenes experiences producing some of the greatest works of the genre was not a cakewalk.
Speaking to the challenges he found difficult without being insurmountable while speaking at the Tribeca Film Festival (via Variety), the filmmaker found himself in a reflective mood.
“The management of production is something there is no real training for. Being the adult in the room is a bummer, but I learned early on if I wanted a career I had to balance creativity to people, responsibility to the story, and the people you are working with. You swim or drown together.”
As we know, Flanagan fired Frank Langella during the production process of his upcoming miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher after allegations of misconduct on set against the actor surfaced, with Bruce Greenwood dafted in as the lead, Roderick Usher.
The eviction that took place mid-way through filming created a disruption on set and understandably so, as half of the shoot was completed by then, and on Greenwood’s arrival, he had to be trained and acquainted with the script afresh.
Saying so, wise and responsible decisions like these also need to be balanced with creative responsibilities, and for Flanagan – who gifted audiences with output like Hill House, Bly Manor, and Midnight Mass, the bar is extremely high.
On the plus side, Flanagan did offer an update on The Dark Tower amidst the ongoing writers’ strike, hinting that it’s shaping up to be an impressive addition to his brilliant filmography.