Paul Schrader: 'I haven’t watched Oscars in 15 years'

Paul Schrader revealed he did not consider the Oscars as a measurement of success, adding he rarely voted in the Academy categories.

During an interview with Interview Magazine, the Master Gardener filmmaker revealed that he told his partners not to measure success with award shows.

“It’s hard not to feel good when people say nice things, even when you think they’re wrong,” Schrader continued. “On the other hand, I remember saying to Scorsese years ago—because Marty had a very strong desire to win an Oscar and should have won an Oscar for some of his films, but didn’t, and he was chafing—so I said to him, ‘Marty if your priority is to win an Oscar, you’re going to need a new set of priorities.’ 

And fortunately he did win his, but all you have to do is look back through the litany of films that have won to realize that it’s not company you really want to be in.”

In 2019, the director bagged his first career Oscar nomination for First Reformed as it was nominated for Best Original Screenplay.

But, the Taxi Driver writer said that he grows disinterested in the celebrated ceremony.

“I haven’t watched it in 10 or 15 years,” adding, “I still voted, although this time I think I abstained in 80 percent of the votes.”