"They just don’t make them like they used to" is a phrase often said by cinephiles to describe their grievances with modern filmmaking. However, it turns out the vastly experienced James Gunn partly agrees with that notion.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 screenplay writer and director is known for his approachability on Twitter, which is exactly where he went to answer some usual fan questions. Yet what started as an innocent reply about film scores evolved into him expressing some harsher opinions.
Gunn specified that he’s glad good composers can iron out whatever issues he may have syncing a scene with the musical score, though for him it’s common practice to play said music while shooting. Of course, he knows that’s not really an option for some people. The Suicide Squad director explained most productions nowadays are disorganized, criticizing “how unfinished most scripts are on big movies as they start shooting,” which he sees as the number one motive for an overall decrease in film quality over the years. This level of improvisation is why some directors are not as fortunate to have musical scores ready when they start filming, though he doubled down further on the wasteful nature of filmmaking resources on set, expressing the following:
Contrary to what many people think, studios are really not the problem. Instead, Gunn blames a lack of preparation on behalf of some directors, as well as a mixture of unprofessional behavior. This is probably why Gunn is so attached to some of his crew members, collaborators, and favorite actors, paying respect to the likes of Lars Winther and Judianna Makovsky, his go-to Assistant Director and Costume Designer, and specifically naming John Cena as one of his favorite people to work with.
Suffice to say, Gunn values work ethic, kindness, and full respect for the art of filmmaking above big names or popularity, which probably explains why so many actors who have worked on his productions end up back on set with him, such as Chukwudi Iwuji, who appeared on Peacemaker before booking the role of the High Evolutionary in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. So, besides learning how Gunn chooses his music from a prepared playlist that fit the tone of his movies, it’s great to read about how passionate he is about making movies straight from the director himself.
Gunn's next two films are the final chapter in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and Coyote vs. Acme, though he’s also confirmed Peacemaker won’t be getting the axe from Warner Bros. anytime soon. Whether it’s Marvel, DC, or anything else, any studio would truly be lucky to have Gunn at its disposal.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is scheduled to be released in theaters on May 5, 2023.
Source: James Gunn | Twitter