In a detailed Facebook post, Makhija emphasised the hazards of oversimplification in discussions surrounding artistic challenges, particularly when condensed into attention-grabbing headlines or snippets. He expressed concern over the potential damage caused by such misinterpretations, stating, “The danger of giving a false impression lurks when one makes sweeping over-simplifications on such matters.”
Makhija clarified that his discussions on the difficulties faced by artists, including his own experiences, are nuanced and require thorough examination. He highlighted the importance of laying out the entire complex fabric of these challenges, rather than resorting to brief soundbites. “I try not to talk in Micro’s, but in the hard-to-deconstruct Macro’s,” he explained.
The producer lamented the recent misrepresentation of his statements, where “3-4 brief key phrases” were extracted from a two-hour-long interview and compressed into a sensational headline. He cautioned against the repercussions of such distortions, stating, “You inadvertently scald some well-meaning people. You make partially open doors slam shut, perhaps forever.”
He wrote, “After what happened yesterday I’m nervous about putting these words out here too, not sure if someone will pluck a few words from this post and use the extract to give a hyper-dramatic impression of what it is I’m trying to exposit.
Please remember that when you do this – compress the expansive from a 2 hour ‘listen’ down to a 1 minute ‘read’ – you inadvertently scald some well-meaning people.
You make some trusting people mistrustful.
You make partially open doors slam shut, perhaps forever.
You permanently blur what was previously in sharp focus.
You turn an artistic film that requires patient, involved engagement – into a bloody gladiatorial game.
Don’t do it. Please.”
Makhija urged against the tendency to simplify and sensationalize discussions, particularly regarding the intricacies of artistic pursuits. He warned of the potential consequences, including mistrust among individuals and a distortion of the original intent of the conversation.
The clarification from Makhija comes at a time of ongoing dialogue within the film industry about the challenges faced by artists and the necessity for a deeper understanding of their work and experiences.
