Directors who are blinded into thinking their work is a failure...

[Roberto Lequeux]

Because perfectly executing our imagination is hard without a massive budget. And because:

(...)the insecurity that often goes with talent frequently causes doubts and fears to emerge(...)

Few understand it is this insecurity that drives so many to perfect a piece of work to the point it is later universally deemed as art.
The trick is to do the work before the expensive production machine is awakened.

So:

I think the "perfect" director is a mixture of a talented, sensitive artist and a robust crisis-counselor/manager.

You have to know exactly what you are going to do before stepping on set, or you already lost before you even got there. But you
also have to remain pragmatic and flexible, work with what you are getting not what you wanted, or you lost just as well.

But there are countless artists that will never be happy with any of their work, ever.
Many recognize this and utilize it in a pragmatic way, to a great benefit for all.

[Mark Britton]

As director, you're in position to know exactly what isn't coming off as you envisioned. It can be hard to look at a film knowing what it was meant to be, and accept it for what it is.

[Tim Hole]

I think the "perfect" director is a mixture of a talented, sensitive artist and a robust crisis-counselor/manager. (Perfect here means that he won't have many problems during production because of his diverse talents). In reality, some director are more sensitive artist than robust manager.

This is why I have so much respect for Ridley Scott. He has the perfect blend of artist and Northern no-nonsense business prowess...with a good balance of integrity and realism.

[jimhare]

I think Woody Allen put it best:

'The best an idea gets is when it's in your head.'

From there it's just a matter of how much you screw it up.

I think we've all been faced with this. We think of something that seems perfect, but the execution doesn't quite live up. Doesn't matter if everyone else loves it and says it's great, you will always know it that it wasn't exactly what you wanted.

[Erich Ocean]

This exact problem is why I developed Non-linear Production over the last decade. As a director, it's impossible (for me, anyway) to get what I want in just one try. I have to try, fail, fix, try again, fail, fix in a loop until I converge on something that (hopefully) is great.

I love the comments in this thread by the way, they get to the very heart of why being an artist is so exhilarating and at the same time, so terrifying.

[Gavin Greenwalt]

But there are countless artists that will never be happy with any of their work, ever.
Many recognize this and utilize it in a pragmatic way, to a great benefit for all.

What's that line?

"When you seek greatness, your failures will be extraordinary. When you aim for mediocrity even your successes will be failures."

Then again there's also
"Best is the enemy of the good." :D

[Daniel Porto]

I love the comments in this thread by the way, they get to the very heart of why being an artist is so exhilarating and at the same time, so terrifying.

I agree... Thanks for the replies everyone! Once upon a time I called www.cinematography.com my home for questions like these but the negativity and bitterness on that forum is just to much for me these days - I've found a new home...

[Joe G.]

"This film is a $20-million dollar disaster. Why won't anyone believe me? I am thinking of shooting myself!"

He should have said that about Dracula. (Coppola's Dracula, not Stoker's...)

[JPSendall]

Unless I've missed a post saying the same thing I think it's a little more than what has been said. I feel that to know that you are doing well in the midst of making something means it is probably going to be ordinary. There is something of a truth in that to be on the edge where others have not been means that the future is truly unknown. That is the basis of insecurity and quite naturally so. From that point great things can be achieved...or not. It a little similar with actors. For them to KNOW what kind of performance they are achieving means they are self conscious thereby creating a false performance. When they are out on a limb and unaware of what they look and sound like the performance is almost always a genuine one. But again it comes with a lot of insecurity. That's why I think you've got to love your cast as they are naturally in a vulnerable and risky place.

[scott william]

Polanski probably never thought his work was shit. And he is right.