Darren Aronofsky has revealed that the ballet world was hard to get into as he researched for his movie Black Swan.
The filmmaker is back in the director's chair for his latest movie, which is his first since the huge success of The Wrestler.
But Aronofsky admitted that doors did start to open when they got choreographer Benjamin Millepied aboard the project.
Speaking at a press conference at the London Film Festival the filmmaker said:"The ballet world was a very hard world to get into. Usually when you make a movie doors open up. You say, 'I want to make a movie' and everyone's like 'okay'.
"The ballet world just couldn't care. They're just very, very insular and self-involved. They're very focused, so it took a very long time.
"Slowly but surely we met a few dancers that were interested in sharing their stories. We did a lot of research and eventually Benjamin Millepied came on, and that gave us a stamp of approval because he's very well-respected in the ballet world."
The film brings together a great cast of Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel and Mila Kunis and is already surrounded in Oscar talk.
Black Swan is released 11th February.
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