Terry Gilliam - Terry Gilliam Has Hollywood Worries

Terry Gilliam Has Hollywood Worries

Terry Gilliam worries about losing his soul to Hollywood.

The 'Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus' director gets concerned that money-driven studios could sap the integrity from his work and has compared his experience of arguing with film bosses over the release his 1984 movie 'Brazil' to that of the fictional character Dr Faustus, who sold his soul to the devil.

Back then Terry famously took out a full-page advertisement in Variety magazine asking when the dystopian dark comedy would be available to see in cinemas after waiting six months for a release date.

He told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "They actually said it was unwatchable, unrealeasable, everything. That was a Faustian moment. I could have done The Deal, given the studio a happy ending.

"It's my basic nightmare, of when I'm going to make that bargain without realising I've made that bargain. When I watch my friends in Hollywood who have become more and more successful, I actually feel they have lost their soul."

However, the former 'Monty Python' star - who is currently directing an opera based on the fateful character called 'The Damnation of Faust' - says he prefers to struggle in his filmmaking.

He said: "I get very nervous when things are going well. My best films are the ones where I have the most difficult time."