In 2019, Max Winkler was an indie film director about to level up.
\n\nHaving cut his teeth directing sitcoms in the ’10s — including “New Girl,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Fresh Off the Boat” — 2017’s dark comedy “Flower” was warmly received by audiences. His next film was the gritty boxing drama “Jungleland,” which starred Charlie Hunnam and Jack O’Connell. Debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival, it got solid reviews, and seemed like it could be a commercial hit — maybe even get some awards consideration.
\n\n“I made this movie that I thought was my best movie,” Winkler says. “It came out in the middle of COVID in theaters. It was part of a junk deal from the financier to sell to Paramount. It was so crushing, and I had no money and I had just bought a house and was completely broke. My wife was pregnant at the time. At a certain point — I’m still an artist, but I stopped pretending I was someone else. I stopped pretending like I had to try and be Paul Thomas Anderson, which I’m never gonna be, because there’s only one Paul Thomas Anderson. I became a craftsman in a way, and…
Original source: https://variety.com/v/tv/