The Hamster Factor And Other...

In 1995 filmmaker Terry Gilliam made the feature film twelve monkeys, what he considers to be an attempt at realising "a European art film within the Hollywood system". THE HAMSTER FACTOR AND OTHER TALES OF TWELVE MONKEYS follows Gilliam for a year while making his film, from the first reading of the script until the premiere. The filmmakers' attention focusses on the question what is left of the original film idea after it has been through the Hollywood mill. Interviews with Gilliam and his creative staff and shots of the production process document the compromises reached under the pressure of the film industry. The reason is that Hollywood has no need for highly personal films but for marketable 'film products'. The filmmakers emphasise the pre? and postproduction stages because they feel that in these stages crucial decisions are taken. They also show that Gilliam has to deal not only with Hollywood bigwigs, but also with the susceptibilities of star actors like Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. THE HAMSTER FACTOR AND OTHER TALES OF TWELVE MONKEYS is not a glamorous 'making of' documentary, but presents the creative process of Hollywood films as a fight between artistic ambitions and the implacable requirements of the market economy.