American flag Quote by Francis Ford Coppola
“I wrote the script of Patton. I had this very bizarre opening where he stands up in front of an American flag and gives this speech. Ultimately, I was fired. When the script was done, they hired another writer and that script was forgotten.”
About This Quote
The author recounts being dismissed after crafting a controversial opening scene for a film about a historical figure, illustrating how creative visions can be overridden by studio decisions.
In simple terms: Creative conflict with production
Key Takeaway
Artistic vision can be sacrificed
Themes
authority
creative control
film history
censorship
power dynamics
Mood
frustrated
reflective
disappointed
Type
anecdotal
industry insider
personal reflection
When to use this quote
- film development meetings
- script revisions
- studio negotiations
- creative pitch sessions
- final cut decisions
Key Concepts
screenwriting
directorial vision
studio politics
Practical Applications
- scriptwriting
- film production
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this say about the balance of artistic integrity and commercial pressures?
- How might alternative approaches have preserved the original scene?
![“Roger [Corman] didn't actually hire me, though. I was hired by AIP [American International Pictures], the studio that made the picture, which was Sam Arkoff and Jim Nicholson. It was a great learning experience for me, because not only did I work on the script, but they hired me back to go on…” quote by Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7f9/curtis-hanson-9380_goes-on_roger-corman-didn-t-actually-hire-me-tho_642016.jpg)
![“It wasn't [Barack] Obama per se; it was the feeling on the ground; it was seeing an old black woman in a wheelchair being wheeled by her son waving a big American flag, and then seeing a guy with his baby in his arms saying, "I didn't want her to miss tonight! I wanted to be able to tell her!" And…” quote by Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/806/bill-ayers-1848_able_it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the_20409.jpg)
