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Jim Jarmusch’s Golden Rules
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Rule #1: There are no rules. There are as many ways to make a film as there are potential filmmakers. It’s an open form. Anyway, I would personally never presume to tell anyone else what to do or how to do anything. To me that’s like telling someone else what their religious beliefs should be. Fuck that. That’s against my personal philosophy—more of a code than a set of “rules.” Therefore, disregard the “rules” you are presently reading, and instead consider them to be merely notes to myself. One should make one’s own “notes” because there is no one way to do anything. If anyone tells you there is only one way, their way, get as far away from them as possible, both physically and philosophically.
Rule #2: Don’t let the fuckers get ya. They can either help you, or not help you, but they can’t stop you. People who finance films, distribute films, promote films and exhibit films are not filmmakers. They are not interested in letting filmmakers define and dictate the way they do their business, so filmmakers should have no interest in allowing them to dictate the way a film is made. Carry a gun if necessary.
Also, avoid sycophants at all costs. There are always people around who only want to be involved in filmmaking to get rich, get famous, or get laid. Generally, they know as much about filmmaking as George W. Bush knows about hand-to-hand combat.
Rule #3: The production is there to serve the film. The film is not there to serve the production. Unfortunately, in the world of filmmaking this is almost universally backwards. The film is not being made to serve the budget, the schedule, or the resumes of those involved. Filmmakers who don’t understand this should be hung from their ankles and asked why the sky appears to be upside down.
Rule #4: Filmmaking is a collaborative process. You get the chance to work with others whose minds and ideas may be stronger than your own. Make sure they remain focused on their own function and not someone else’s job, or you’ll have a big mess. But treat all collaborators as equals and with respect. A production assistant who is holding back traffic so the crew can get a shot is no less important than the actors in the scene, the director of photography, the production designer or the director. Hierarchy is for those whose egos are inflated or out of control, or for people in the military. Those with whom you choose to collaborate, if you make good choices, can elevate the quality and content of your film to a much higher plane than any one mind could imagine on its own. If you don’t want to work with other people, go paint a painting or write a book. (And if you want to be a fucking dictator, I guess these days you just have to go into politics...).
Rule #5: Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere
that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour
old films, new
films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random
conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds,
bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal
from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work
(and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality
is nonexistent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery—celebrate
it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc
Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from—it’s
where you take them to.” MM
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COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
- Comment by ads on 11/26/08 at 2:26 pm
:-)
- Comment by deaf on 1/08/09 at 12:10 pm
glad i’m not alone in this train of thought
- Comment by Chohrge on 1/10/09 at 8:30 am
Some language cleansing is required here.
- Comment by hugo on 1/10/09 at 1:24 pm
Don’t bother cleaning up the language - it’s perfect as it is. Any children interested enough in directing to want to read this article is no doubt mature enough to handle the f word.
- Comment by hugo on 1/10/09 at 1:24 pm
are*
- Comment by jeroboam bramblejam on 1/11/09 at 11:27 am
Words to live by: “...Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows.” - Jim Jarmusch
Words to die by: “Some language cleansing is required here.” - Chohrge
- Comment by rate movies on 1/18/09 at 6:14 pm
this is a great article.
- Comment by Alekx on 1/18/09 at 7:01 pm
Groovy.
Straight to the point.
Great Job!- Comment by John Weil-Seattle Personal Injury lawyers on 1/19/09 at 4:15 am
Direction is not a game of Tom Dick and Harry, Hats off to those who dare to direct, it needs lots of skill and creativity.
- Comment by Digital Video Fan on 1/20/09 at 7:10 am
I like this - it has attitude
Telling it like it is - good one!
A.
- Comment by hid kit on 1/30/09 at 2:41 am
I stumbled across this artile while searching for something else but WOW what an excellent read.
I particularly agreed with “Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination.”
I couldn’t agreed more. Bookmarked this site, thanks.
- Comment by ryan on 2/09/09 at 8:09 am
The same could be said of most art forms. Please yourself and others will follow.
- Comment by Florida Loan Modifications on 2/09/09 at 8:45 pm
Thanks for the post, during these trying times with the economy, hopefully we can see a celebration of the indie projects that focus on dialogue over special effects.
- Comment by casininio on 2/22/09 at 2:00 pm
Jim Jarmusch is my idol
- Comment by Mini-New Mexico personal injury lawyer on 3/19/09 at 4:31 am
Thanks for the post, really very informative post for all the readers.
- Comment by Johnny on 4/03/09 at 1:26 pm
Wow Jim, 5 rules every director and anyone who works on set for that matter, should adhere to.
I am a P.A. and I had chills running down my spine reading these rules.
This article really resonates with me as I am currently writing and directing my own spec spots, and scripts.- Comment by jimbrother on 4/04/09 at 4:12 am
Yo, i completey agree with you. What jim is said is exactly right.Right there i was..
thanks to jim once again.
regards,
water damage dallas- Comment by debt quote on 4/14/09 at 5:03 pm
Completely agree with the above comment. Great Rules! Thanks for sharing this.
- Comment by Josh LaFayette on 4/28/09 at 11:38 pm
Brilliant.
- Comment by directory on 4/30/09 at 5:18 am
good!!!
- Comment by bwin on 5/11/09 at 8:24 am
Great post ! thanks Dude !
- Comment by Sandy28 on 5/17/09 at 6:29 pm
Very good pic! Has added to itself
- Comment by club penguin on 5/21/09 at 3:37 am
Don’t bother cleaning up the language and it’s perfect as it is. Any children interested enough in directing to want to read this article is no doubt mature enough to handle the f word.
- Comment by William Lee on 5/30/09 at 9:09 am
‘Cleansing’ is creepy word.
- Comment by Research Paper on 6/29/09 at 1:43 am
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This is great news. Best of luck for the future and keep up the good work.ed hardy
- Comment by abercrombie on 7/01/09 at 2:56 am
Hope to be better. Better means more features.
This story was published in the Winter 2004 MovieMaker Magazine. The headline was:
My Golden Rules
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