Clint Eastwood as Director and Producer in Hollywood

Introduction

Clint Eastwood began his career as an actor in westerns, action dramas, and even some comedies, but today he is best known for directing and producing some of the most popular films of all time, including Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby, Flags of Our Fathers, and Letters from Iwo Jima. He is also an accomplished musician who has composed the scores for many of his films.

Clint Eastwood has become one of Hollywood's most prolific and successful producers and directors, due in part to his risk-taking and attention to detail. As one writer notes of his directing abilities, "His position as one of America's most respected directors was cemented by his receipt of an Oscar for directing Unforgiven (1992), which received widespread critical approbation as well as achieving his highest box office as either a director or a star" (Allison). Many of his other films have received equal acclaim and have won Academy Awards as well.

The Formation of Malpaso and Business Philosophy

Eastwood's interest in directing and producing started early, and his entrance into the field illustrates his risk-taking nature. In 1968, he formed his own production company, Malpaso, which functions essentially as an incorporation of Eastwood himself. Author Paul Smith writes, "From 1970's Kelly's Heroes onward, Eastwood has not worked on a film that does not include either his own or Malpaso's name in the production credits. And since the mid-1970s, [...] Eastwood and Malpaso have had what appears to be an exclusive distribution arrangement with Warner Brothers" (Smith 60). Eastwood's trademark loyalty is apparent here, as is his business acumen. He is known for bringing films in under budget as well as on schedule, and in fact many of his productions have been completed for far less than comparable Hollywood blockbusters (Smith 60).

His financial instincts serve his production company well. As he has explained, "When I went into directing, I brought to it the philosophy that a director needs a lean, creative, hand-picked crew — large enough to do the job but small enough so that everyone has a sense of participation and constant involvement" (Allison). Eastwood did not direct the first film created by Malpaso, but he did direct the second, Play Misty for Me, which established that Eastwood could act in something other than a western and remains a popular cult film even today.

Risk-Taking and Instinct in Film Selection

Eastwood has long been known as a risk-taker, from the formation of his own production company to the types of films he chose to produce and direct. For example, westerns had fallen out of favor in Hollywood by the 1970s, but Eastwood chose to pursue the project Pale Rider regardless. Author Smith notes, "The release of Pale Rider is a certain kind of market risk: according to a marketing executive at Warner Brothers, the film's distributor, 'Everybody was nervous about a Western working'" (Smith 45). Eastwood backs up this assessment in his own words, telling author Douglas Thompson, "But everybody has to have an edge and my edge is instinct. There are always people telling me what to do, but I've always done what I felt like doing" (Thompson 3).

Eastwood marches to his own drummer, often eschewing the Hollywood publicity and attention that so many other personalities crave. He lives in Northern California, rarely gives interviews, and avoids the spotlight whenever possible. Indeed, his persona as the cultural loner and reluctant hero on screen seems to fit him just as well off screen.

Conclusion

Clint Eastwood has become one of the most recognized and respected directors and producers in Hollywood by choosing the right films, delivering them on time and under budget, and applying his considerable raw talent with consistency. He believes in hard work, loyalty, and decency, and his films embody those values alongside his artistic vision and sharp instincts. He is a complex man who creates complex and moving films, and his star continues to rise in Hollywood.

References

Allison, Deborah. "Clint Eastwood." SensesofCinema.com. July 2003. 30 June 2007.

Smith, Paul. Clint Eastwood: A Cultural Production. London: UCL Press, 2003.

Thompson, Douglas. Clint Eastwood: Riding High. Chicago, IL: Contemporary Books, 1992.