Back in May, Movieline editor S.T. VanAirsdale participated in Saatchi NY's third annual 7×7, an event where seven experts from seven fields presented seven different creative ideas for seven minutes. (That sound you just heard was George Costanza's head popping off in excitement.) For his portion, S.T. unveiled "The Lumet Conundrum," an in-depth analysis of the "the imperative to work versus the imperative to work well," named in honor of the late Sidney Lumet. After all, the prolific director had a fair share of lemons among his many glasses of lemonade -- and he's not the only one.
So! The "problematically prolific," as cited above: Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan, Joyce Carol Oates and Lumet, who directed 45 feature films over his 60 years in the business. An accurate list of creative geniuses who maybe didn't necessarily need to work as often as they did, and still do. Focusing this on filmmakers, what other directors currently working who perhaps need a break? Before Midnight in Paris, perhaps Woody Allen would have immediately hopped off your tongue, but now maybe not? Does Tyler Perry need to pump the brakes on his seemingly bi-quarterly output? Do you agree with S.T. that Martin Scorsese is hitting the sweet spot, or do you think he could use a couple of years off to recharge the creative batteries? So many questions! Have at them, and at "The Lumet Conundrum," in the comments section below.