The Impact of Dances with Wolves
Dances with Wolves, released 35 years ago, took the film world by surprise and has since been celebrated as one of the greatest Westerns ever. It marked a significant moment in Kevin Costner’s career but wasn’t received well at first. Despite his track record of box office hits, Costner’s ambitious proposal to star in, direct, and produce an epic Western featuring real Native American languages met with skepticism from Hollywood. At that time, Westerns were seen as outdated and unprofitable.
Hollywood’s Dilemma
Orion Pictures, the studio that eventually produced the film, wasn’t enthusiastic about the project. They felt stuck between a rock and a hard place, unable to offend Costner due to his rising star status and influence at his new talent agency. The studio reluctantly agreed to produce the film, mainly to maintain goodwill with Costner’s agency, Creative Artists Agency.
As the studio faced pressure from all sides, they regarded Dances with Wolves as a last-ditch effort rather than a calculated investment. They were trapped with a historical epic that had lost its appeal two decades earlier. In a nutshell, they preferred to risk financing a movie that seemed ill-fated rather than upset a major player in Hollywood.
Costner’s Determination
In 1989, Orion was struggling to keep its reputation intact. Despite this, Costner was quickly becoming a prominent figure in the industry. He had a series of successful films under his belt, and studios knew that his films made money. However, Costner insisted on directing the film himself, which led to complications. Three studios turned him down, concerned about his budgetary demands and creative vision.
Costner realized that if he didn’t step into the director’s chair, the film’s integrity might suffer. Financing became a challenge, as studios doubted his rising ego and vision. In an interview with The New York Times, Costner expressed frustration about the difficulty of securing the promised budget.
Finding a Path Forward
Eventually, Orion decided to go ahead with the project, hoping it would be a minor financial setback counterbalanced by other films in their pipeline. In the years leading up to Dances with Wolves, Costner produced hits like Bull Durham, No Way Out, and Field of Dreams. His face was gaining international fame, even leading him to star in Japanese beer commercials.
The budget for Dances with Wolves was around $20 million, with half coming from the cash-strapped Orion. This amount was negligible compared to what Costner was willing to invest personally to bring his vision to life.
The Role of Michael Ovitz
A critical player in making Dances with Wolves a reality was Michael Ovitz, Costner’s then-new agent. Ovitz was a powerful figure in Hollywood, known for making bold deals while keeping influential relationships intact. With a roster of high-profile clients like Robert Redford, Steven Spielberg, and Tom Cruise, Ovitz had the clout to broker significant deals.
His reputation allowed him to negotiate terms for films like Rain Man successfully. As the "doorkeeper" of Hollywood, he helped orchestrate projects by leveraging his clients’ collective star power, making him a pivotal force in the industry at the time.
Conclusion
The journey to get Dances with Wolves made was riddled with challenges, but it eventually transformed the landscape of Western films and launched Kevin Costner into a new stratosphere of stardom. The film not only showcased a personal vision but also highlighted how talent agencies can influence Hollywood decisions. This film ultimately shifted perceptions around Westerns, proving that sometimes, taking a risk can lead to monumental successes.
