"Yes, but Hollywood is the strangest place in that they'll torpedo their own film to prove an emotional point"

Richard Linklater’s observation about Hollywood suggests an inherent contradiction in the way the film industry sometimes operates. He refers to the tendency within Hollywood, whether among executives, studios, or creative teams, to undermine their own projects, even at the expense of commercial success or artistic integrity, due to competing egos, power struggles, or personal agendas. The phrase “torpedo their own film” captures this idea vividly; it evokes an image of deliberate sabotage, actions that, rather than nurturing a film, actively harm it.

The emotional point at stake could be connected to a variety of issues: creative differences, clashes of personality, or even the need for individuals to assert control or validate their own beliefs. In the often high-stakes, high-pressure ecosystem of Hollywood, it’s not uncommon for decisions to be influenced by pride, resentment, or the desire for personal vindication. For example, a producer might push for last-minute script changes to satisfy their sense of narrative direction, even if it undermines the director’s vision. Similarly, internal politics might lead to a studio shelving a film or failing to market it adequately, not due to concerns about the film’s quality, but to “prove a point” to rivals or to avoid setting what they see as a dangerous precedent.

Linklater’s comment also highlights a kind of irrationality in Hollywood. Rather than collaborating toward a shared goal, delivering the best possible film to audiences, conflicting emotions and unspoken scores can take center stage. The cost is often borne by the film itself, and by extension, its cast, crew, and potential viewers. This insight underlines the human, flawed dimension of the industry, where decisions may be shaped less by logic or genuine collaboration, and more by the unpredictable tides of human emotion and the complicated dynamics of power. The outcome is a paradox: Hollywood, a place built on dreams and stories, can become its own worst enemy through emotional self-sabotage.