Did any of your early films feel as risky as your more recent work?
"The Lost Boys" had an unknown cast and when I was shooting it the studio kept saying, "Joel, are you making a horror film or a comedy because the two won't go together!" Most of my films were dark horses, and I still like to take risks, I feel very comfortable with it. It also makes me feel that I am growing and am trying to get better at what I do and the only way to do that is to challenge myself. I think that if I ever did a mainstream studio film again - not that they'd take me back - I'd be a better director because I've not always taken the easy way.
Sometimes the scariest route is the best but, you know, I've had sleepless nights and I've turned down a lot of movies and I've turned down a lot of money and some nights I wake up and think, "Joel, are you insane? You worked hard to get this career and now you're going to piss it all way."
You are refreshingly honest.
I wonder what dishonesty gets people.
Is retaining control one of the pleasures of working outside the studio environment?
Yes, in a way. There's a real pressure working for a studio. The worst was on the "Batman" films because I was expected to sell a lot of merchandise. The expectations and the pressures of merchandising and the millions of franchises means the film merely becomes a business. When I took my head out of my butt, I realized that the "Batman" movies were merely a motor for the billions that are made through the merchandising. I have no regrets, I did my job and sold an awful lot of stuff for an awful lot of people. I also won awards at toy fairs for selling more "Batman" merchandising than anybody else.
Joel Schumacher talks about "Flawless", starring Robert De Niro.
See Joel Schumacher talking about his films at the 44th London Film Festival.
