Martin Scorsese, the acclaimed filmmaker has repeatedly spoken about his films and his inspiration during several interviews. However, during his interview with The Economic Club of Chicago, the director revealed his deep passion for filmmaking and discussed the captivating as well as lamenting events that acted as inspiring material for his movies.
Often creating masterpieces out of sheer reality, Martin Scorsese acknowledged the influence of his age on his filmmaking. Throwing light upon certain riveting incidents from his personal life, the 80-year-old recalled the death of his close friend. Discussing particular events surrounding the grieving period, Scorsese mentioned how his idea towards life changed, eventually impacting his career.
Martin Scorsese’s Contribution To The Landscape Of Cinema
Born in 1942 and raised in the neighborhood of Little Italy, Martin Scorsese inculcated his father’s love for films. Working for his father’s company as a teenager, Scorsese learned about theatres and film projection. Soon channeling his love for movies, young Scorsese started analyzing and noting details that made classic films work well in the theatres.
While attending Catholic school, Martin Scorsese became interested in subjects like philosophy, literature, and cinema studies instead of theology. Pursuing his passion, Scorsese became a modern-day’s renowned director, screenwriter, producer, and even film historian. Portraying themes like guilt and redemption, machismo, modern crime, gang conflict, class relations, status-seeking, and survivalism, Scorsese changed the landscape of modern filmmaking.
Realizing the audience’s desire for witnessing violence and liberal use of profanity, the 80-year-old started depicting them through his movies. Winning several awards and honors, Scorsese channeled his clear and precise vision to make his movies visually stimulating. Thus, bringing out a specific style and technique of filmmaking, Scorsese successfully captured a wide audience and became a critically acclaimed filmmaker.
Becoming a living legend in the movie industry and directing some of the most classic films of all time, Martin Scorsese lives to inspire millions. But what exactly inspires him as a filmmaker?
Martin Scorsese’s Inspiration For Making Iconic Films
Often discussing his inspiration, the 80-year-old purposefully gave all due credit to his fellow Filmmaker Michael Powell. However, during his interview with The Economic Club of Chicago in October 2022, Martin Scorsese touched upon several riveting incidents that changed his way of seeing things.
“I saw people that are great storytellers, my father, my mother, kids on the corner. Some tough kids would tell stories that were amazing. And I learned about acting from them, and how to tell a story from them. And these stories were things you didn’t see on the screen.”
Further discussing his 1973 movie Mean Streets, Scorsese revealed, “The story of Mean Streets was based on a real thing.” Discussing the incident that influenced him, the 80-year-old mentioned being in an open street gun-firing and wondering, “We’re on borrowed time…How could this life be this way?”
Further facing the death of his 16-year-old friend, Scorsese revealed “I won’t forget I went to the Long Island cemetery, thousands of graves and there was Continental Can Company overlooking,” Continuing with what inspired him, the 80-year-old stated, “I looked around and said ‘is this what it is? There must be something more to life, that maybe pull out of this madness’”
Thus, finding the story for Mean Streets, Martin Scorsese navigated through his near-death experience and the demise of his friend, to convert it into the frames of his 1973 masterpiece.
Source: The Economic Club of Chicago
