Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan has hit out at the way TV and movies are produced in modern Hollywood, arguing those in power know “nothing” about the storytelling process.
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Beginning as an actor, Sheridan transitioned into a career as one of the most successful TV creatives in recent years. His TV drama Yellowstone became an enormous rating success during its five season run, which was followed by spin-offs 1883 and 1923. He also created the shows Landman and Tulsa King, and was nominated for an Oscar for writing the 2016 film Hell Or High Water.
Speaking to Deadline, Sheridan shared his frustrations with the entertainment industry, which centred around executives whom he views as being unqualified. “The studio executives and the network executives… these are marketing executives for the most part,” he explained.
“Then through attrition, they find themselves the head of development. Well, what do you know about developing story? You know nothing. So they get terrified, panicked that the audience won’t get it because they actually have no storytellers.”
He continued: “Our business, at this point, is truly governed by these executives because they’re the ones that are going to determine whether or not your script is going to go into production. They’re going to try and control every element of that.”
Sheridan’s latest show is drama The Madison, which follows the Clyburn family who, after a life-changing tragedy, relocate from New York City to the Madison River valley of south-west Montana to mourn their loss. The series stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell, and can be streamed on Paramount+ in the UK.
Earlier this month, Taylor Swift quoted Yellowstone during her induction to the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame. She invoked the show by throwing it over to the next generation, saying: “It’s the one constant in life, son: you build something worth having, somebody’s gonna try to take it.”