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The “very beautiful” words of advice that David Cronenberg gave to Guillermo del Toro: “A filmmaker has to have two skins”
Guillermo del Toro says David Cronenberg advised him that filmmakers need to be emotionally open to making art but resilient about how a film is received. The guidance matters because critical or audience rejection may not be final, and a film can find admirers over time.
Del Toro cited *The Devil’s Backbone*, which initially had little attention but later became a favourite for him and others. Cronenberg also urged him to challenge himself by making something different after a film feels conclusive, a process del Toro says can be disorienting.
In short
- Cronenberg advised del Toro to balance artistic sensitivity with resilience.
- A film’s reception can change over time.
- He also urged del Toro to keep making unfamiliar work.
Explained simply
David Cronenberg is a Canadian film-maker known for distinctive, often unsettling films. Guillermo del Toro is a Mexican film-maker whose work includes fantasy and horror, and who has spoken about learning from older directors.
Film-makers depend on audiences and critics to respond to their work, but those reactions can change with time. Del Toro has pointed to The Devil’s Backbone, which drew little attention at first and later found a devoted audience.
The advice reflects a tension in creative work: staying emotionally open while coping with rejection or criticism. Cronenberg also encouraged del Toro to try a different kind of film after completing one, which del Toro says can feel disorienting.