Alejandro G. Iñárritu admits he made an "irresponsible decision" to only film 'The Revenant' in natural light.
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
The filmmaker spent 11 months shooting the motion picture in sub-zero temperatures in Canada, and to make conditions even more difficult the director decided the lighting wouldn't be enhanced in outdoor scenes, which he now realises was a "very bad decision".
He said: "It was insane. I would say the film is a happy accident of a very bad decision.
"It's the result of an irresponsible decision that I made. But we need that sometimes - to be naive, blind from reality.
"If not, we will not embark ourselves on things. I'll be an office guy or whatever. I mean, I'm not an idiot - I knew how difficult it would be.
"But I can feel now how far I was from reality when I was deciding how this was to be made.
"I'm glad that I did that irresponsible decision, but it could have been really bad. You know what I mean? Like when you climb Mount Everest and nobody dies, but we were so close! It's that feeling of relief."
Despite the tough circumstances, the movie is now being recognised after winning three Golden Globes and five BAFTAs - including Best Film at both ceremonies - and is nominated for 12 Academy Awards.
During filming there was speculation that some crew members had quit due to the difficult conditions, while some were also sacked along the way, but the 52-year-old director believes "every penny" and "every decision" was justified in the end.
He added to Rolling Stone magazine: "Of course some people were fired. And some people stay and love it. Is that really something should be even discussed? I don't think so.
"But anyway, now the film is there, and now the people understand that every penny, every decision that was made, was worth it."
The movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio as fur trapper Hugh Glass, who sets out for revenge after being left for dead by his colleagues - who are played by Tom Hardy and Will Poulter among others - following a bear attack.
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