[Video] RZA Explains The Challenges Of Directing A Movie Vs. Producing An Album
After years of being one of hip hop’s most prolific producers, the RZA made his successful directorial debut with his first feature film “The Man With The Iron Fists.” The film debuted at #3 in the box office with a pull of $8.8 million and RZA must be happy with the results. Now that the he’s gotten the proverbial monkey off of his back, TheWellVersed & 2DopeBoyz sat down with the producer/director to ask him the differences and difficulty of producing vs. directing. After pondering the question for a moment, RZA explained which one has been the bigger challenge.
“The bigger task is directing,” RZA says from his couch nestled at Eli Roth’s Goretorium haunted house in Las Vegas. “Producing, of course, is a hard task. But you’re talking to a man that produced dozens of albums. Directing is producing to the 10th power.”
Citing the amount of people involved in the process of directing as opposed to being more or less the only man concocting beats, RZA says that the challenge can be quite overwhelming. However, the higher ups at Universal, Strike Entertainment and Arcade Pictures allowed RZA to do his thing without too much interference.
“I was able to do this as a dictator in a way,” RZA says. “I had advisors, but I was a dictator. They trusted me to bring back the goods. So I had to bring back the goods.”
With the understanding that he has gone from being a teacher to a bona fide student, RZA doesn’t take exception to advice. Rather, he welcomes it.
“Being that I’m not a fool and I’m not the only person with a brain, I realize there is talent all around me,” RZA says as producer Mark Abraham (“Sugar Hill,” “Air Force One,” “The Hurricane”) often dropped in to offer his perspective to The Abbott. “The people that got their jobs, didn’t get them by default. I would actually pursue their opinions on certain things because this is my first movie.”
Ultimately, he is thankful for all the help and is ready to go on another run in film just like he did with the Wu Tang in music. He just doesn’t mind getting some help along the way.
“Experience is a the best teacher and it’s good to learn on your own. But it’s great to get somewhere with a map.”
Shot By @TnelMoniq, @DopeBoyShake & @ChristianFGY
Edited By @TnelMoniq
hopefully, rza’s music and film continue to compliment each other…a wu reunion album along with other features are bound to happen with such momentumn.