Alex Garland's Exit from Directing: An Introvert's Dilemma

In just a few days, A24's new film "Civil War" is set to hit the screens. But the director behind it, Alex Garland, has dropped some not-so-cool news to his fans. You might not know Garland, but you've definitely heard about his work: "Ex Machina" (2014), a story based on the famous Turing test, where an AI deceives and ultimately turns against its human creators and testers, as well as "Annihilation" (2018), a bit of a trippy sci-fi starring Natalie Portman.

I’m sorry if what I tell you above piques your interest in him because I'm about to be the coldest and wettest blanket ever: During the filming of "Civil War," Garland announced in an interview he's calling it quits on directing to focus solely on writing. And recently, when The Guardian grilled him, he reiterated his stance: "Nothing’s changed… I’m in a very similar state. I’m not planning to direct again in the foreseeable future."

This is quite common, actually. Big-time directors have threatened to hang up their megaphones at some point. Quentin Tarantino once stated that he would only make 10 films in his lifetime, but a quick look at his actual filmography would make you smirk; Steven Soderbergh has also announced his departure from the industry multiple times, yet now his projects are lined up till 2030; and then there's the Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki, whose recent Oscar-winning film, "The Boy and the Heron"(2023) is considered his farewell piece, though he had announced his retirement a decade earlier...

Their announced ‘exits’ typically have something to do with their growing reputation, budgets, and film companies which have become increasingly intertwined with capital power. At an expense of their autonomy and creative license, they have no choice but to temporarily withdraw from the capital-driven system in order to carve out some breathing room for themselves.

Anyhow, Garland's case is different. Speaking highly of A24, he stated: "The pressure doesn’t come from the money. It comes from the fact that you’re asking people to trust something that, on the face of it, doesn’t look very trustworthy." He gave examples, like convincing actors that the green (actually blue) screen behind them during "Civil War" would eventually show a sky lit up by gunfire; or assuring the leading ladies in "Ex Machina" that their nude scenes would be handled with respect when the industry does not usually take that seriously.

Sounds kinda fuzzy, right?

Then it all clicked when he wrapped up the interview with, "I do actually love film, but film-making doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It exists in a life and also in a broader context. I have to interact, in a way – without being rude – like this …" as he pointed to The Guardian reporter with a dictaphone. Finally, the penny dropped. Garland is in a fix—an introvert in a job that's all about energy and teamwork.

Alex Garland is undoubtedly an introvert. His "Civil War" has sparked much controversy, with people questioning its timing amid the current state of affairs in America. But for Garland, it's not the controversy; it's the communication and collaboration with the crew that's the real headache.

According to some psychology theories (such as the MBTI test), whereas extroverts derive energy from external interactions like socializing with others, introverts prefer their own company, needing more downtime after social interactions. When your personality clashes with the demands of your dream job, it's a real pain—for both you and your colleagues.

Take Wong Kar-wai, the renowned Hong Kong director; his films take ages to make, and he shoots dozens of takes for a single scene. In the meantime, he struggles to communicate with producers and actors, causing headaches for himself and his crew, despite his films' eventual success.

This is the pickle top-notch introverts find themselves in: excelling in their careers but feeling the squeeze. Garland’s career has progressed smoothly over nearly three decades. Besides films, he has also found success in the realms of video games and television series. However, this doesn't prevent him from fervently wishing to step away from directing. Sure, it's a bummer for sci-fi fans and Hollywood, but I totally get why he's calling it quits.

Reminds me of me and my introverted buddies in the film biz. We were all jazzed about movies until we got into film school and saw the reality. Making movies isn't just about the films; it's about dealing with complex processes like pre-production, production, and post-production—stuff that's got little to do with the creative work. Like when I pulled all-nighters writing scripts and storyboards for my student projects, the real pain came when I had to explain (or beg) my buddies during shoots why things had to be done a certain way or why some ideas just wouldn't fly... It was pure introvert hell.

Thankfully, Garland isn't hanging up his hat completely; he's just shifting gears to screenwriting, which suits him just fine.