Vinko Brešan: Ego, Luck, and Regional Film Industry Woes
Vinko Brešan, the renowned Croatian director, doesn’t mince words when it comes to what it takes to make a quality film and how the regional film scene operates. According to him, a director must have a huge ego, audacity, and humility – a combo that sounds like a recipe for chaos but is actually the key to success.
Ego as a Necessity Brešan emphasizes that ego is not just desirable but essential. “A director’s ego must be so big that he can demand two million euros from producers to make a film, specifically for him, not someone else. Without ego, money will break the poor director’s back,” he says. Without that ego, the film will fail because the director must believe in the story he tells and be ready to “die” for it.
Humor and Story at the Core Brešan stresses that the story is the foundation of every good film, and the humor he brings from his hometown Šibenik is unique – often rough but a sign of intelligence. He believes there is no good film without fantastic actors who believe in their characters, and that all film segments – costume designers, set designers, cinematographers – must serve the story.
TV as a New Challenge In recent years, Brešan has turned to television projects, believing TV today is much easier for communicating with audiences and fulfilling artistic ambitions. He notes that TV series must be commercial but engage top artists and have many elements that films lack. He cites the American series “The Sopranos” as an example.
Regional Film Scene and Political Barriers Brešan points out a huge difference in production volume between Croatia and Serbia – Croatia produces four series annually, Serbia nearly twenty. The reason, he says, is systemic support and resources. However, there is a problem with the regional market because Serbian films do not play in Croatia, due to politics that do not want to unify the former Yugoslav market. Brešan calls for political change to allow normal distribution of films between countries in the region.
New Projects and the Future Currently, he is working on the TV series “Diary of a Big Perica,” which combines costume film, music, and humor, approaching a musical. He is also preparing a biographical film about Mišo Kovač and a film “Hamlet” in Macedonia.
Brešan’s frankness and critical view of the regional film industry raise questions about how much politics and systemic support affect artistic development and film accessibility to audiences. Will the region ever have a unified market and equal exchange of artistic works, or will political barriers continue to stifle creativity?
So, what do you think about Brešan’s views? Is ego really the key to success, or just an excuse for arrogance? Share your thoughts, maybe together we’ll uncover the secret of a true film master!
