"Once you work with a studio on a film, the studio is sort of like this enormous clam that just opens, takes everything and then closes, and no one enters again. They own it all"

Don Bluth's quote provides a vivid metaphor that captures the complex and often monopolistic dynamics between filmmakers and significant movie studios. At its core, Bluth's contrast of a studio to an "massive clam" provides the studio as a powerful, all-consuming entity that encapsulates the creative and intellectual efforts of filmmakers.

The "massive clam" metaphor suggests several layers of meaning. To start with, clams are understood for their hard, protective shells, which can signify the studio's strong, impenetrable control and impact over a film once it becomes part of their portfolio. When Bluth states the clam "opens, takes whatever, and after that closes", he hints at the procedure where studios initially engage with filmmakers, provide resources and production capabilities, and eventually absorb the totality of the project's imaginative and monetary rights. When the studio "closes", it represents the end of open collaboration, and the filmmaker typically has little to no continuous control or stake in the work they have actually created. The expression "no one gets in once again" highlights the finality with which studios presume ownership, effectively locking out the initial developers from additional involvement or decision-making power.

Furthermore, Bluth's words highlight a broader critique of the entertainment industry's structural practices, where artistry is frequently subsumed under business interests. By owning "it all", studios have not only the circulation rights and earnings but likewise the narrative and prospective future of a movie, which can be leveraged for follows up, retailing, or adaptations without the original developer's input.

In conclusion, Bluth's metaphor serves as a poignant commentary on the systemic absorption and commodification of creative works within the cinematic market, reviewing the loss of creative autonomy that frequently accompanies conventional studio partnerships. His words resonate as a cautionary tale about the realities of creative production under large business entities.