What’s your take on grudges? For some people, minor or major slights are grounds for a long-term campaign of payback or revenge — sometimes metaphorically, sometimes literally. For others, time is enough to heal nearly all wounds, as the saying (mostly) goes. Should you ever run afoul of someone who falls into the first category, though, you should be wary; they might spend years or even decades getting their satisfaction.
Based on his comments in a recent interview, director Quentin Tarantino is firmly in the “holds a grudge” category. Writing at Page Six, Ian Mohr has more details on what the filmmaker revealed. Tarantino was the guest of Brian Koppelman on an episode of the latter’s podcast The Moment when the subject turned to Tarantino’s early life.
The parents of many a young writer or artist have encouraged them to pursue their art. According to Tarantino, this was not true of his mother Connie. It turns out that Tarantino spent time in class when he was in grade school working on screenplays — including one titled Captain Peachfuzz and the Anchovy Bandit. His teachers were unimpressed, and let his mother know about it. She, too, was not happy, and let him know the extent of her anger.
“[I]n the middle of her little tirade, she said, ‘Oh, and by the way, this little ‘writing career,’ with the finger quotes and everything. This little ‘writing career’ that you’re doing? That sh*t is over!’,” Tarantino said.
Tarantino recalled his reaction, which was to think, “When I become a successful writer, you will never see penny one from my success. There will be no house for you. There’s no vacation for you, no Elvis Cadillac for mommy. You get nothing. Because you said that.” And, based on what he told Koppelman, that’s exactly what he did.
He did make one exception, though. “I helped her out with a jam with the IRS,” he said. “But no house. No Cadillac, no house.”
What can we learn from this? It sure seems like if you disparaged Quentin Tarantino’s talent when he was a kid, it’s entirely possible that he’s still mad about it. And it definitely seems like Tarantino hasn’t lacked for ambition for the vast majority of his life.
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