Alfred Hitchcock sent this letter to Billy Wilder, praising him on his film The Apartment

youmightfindyourself:

PIXAR

May 17, 2011

To Whom it May Inspire, 

I, like many of you artists out there, constantly shift between two states. The first (and far more preferable of the two) is white-hot, “in the zone” seat-of-the-pants, firing on all cylinders creative mode. This is when you lay your pen down and the ideas pour out like wine from a royal chalice! This happens about 3% of the time. 

The other 97% of the time I am in the frustrated, struggling, office-corner-full-of-crumpled-up-paper mode. The important thing is to slog diligently through this quagmire of discouragement and despair. Put on some audio commentary and listen to the stories of professionals who have been making films for decades going through the same slings and arrows of outrageous production problems. 

In a word: PERSIST.

PERSIST on telling your story. PERSIST on reaching your audience. PERSIST on staying true to your vision. Remember what Peter Jackson said, “Pain is temporary. Film is forever.” And he of all people should know. 

So next time you hit writer’s block, or your computer crashes and you lose an entire night’s work because you didn’t hit save (always hit save), just remember: you’re never far from that next burst of divine creativity. Work through that 97% of murky abyssmal mediocrity to get to that 3% which everyone will remember you for!

I guarantee you, the art will be well worth the work! 

Your friend and mine, 

Austin Madison

“ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE!”

(via Letters of Note)

oldfilmsflicker:

Letters of Note: Respectfully yours, Clint Eastwood

October 26th, 1954: 24-year-old aspiring actor Clint Eastwood - yet to make his debut on the big screen - pens an extremely polite letter to Billy Wilder in which he warns the director of his poor performance during an on-screen interview; footage he fears Wilder will use in lieu of a screen test. The week previous, Wilder had agreed to meet Eastwood on the recommendation of fellow director Arthur Lubin with a view to possibly using him in his forthcoming movie, The Spirit of St. Louis, a biographical feature film based on the life of aviator Charles Lindbergh. As we now know, James Stewart was eventually given the part, and Eastwood found another route to success.

Transcript

Tuesday, October 26, 1954

Dear Mr. Wilder,

Thank you for taking your time to see me last Tuesday when Mr. Arthur Lubin was kind enough to introduce us on your set. Mr. Solly Baiano of Warner Brothers seemed quite enthusiastic about my possibilities for the Lindbergh role, when he met me here at Universal where I am under contract. 

I was concerned when you mentioned to Mr. Lubin that you would like to see a test. The only one Universal has made was one of those difficult interviews in which I felt I was not very good, even though I was given a contract on the strength of it. When the time comes for casting, I would appreciate so much your letting me talk with you rather than seeing this test, for I have improved in every way since that time. I feel the qualities you might be seeking can better be found in a personal interview. 

Again, may I thank you and trust I did not take too much of your time. I now look forward to our next meeting. 

Respectfully yours,

Clint Eastwood

4020 Arch Drive
North Hollywood

Mid-2008, hoping at best to receive a signed photo from his idol in return, a young man named Adam wrote to Pete Docter, the award-winning director of Monsters, Inc. and, more recently, Up. In the letter he spoke of his admiration for Docter and, as an amateur filmmaker and huge Pixar fan, mentioned his desire to work for the studio in the future. Lo and behold, months later the lovely handwritten note seen below arrived on Adam’s doorstep. (via) Transcript follows:

10.17.08

Hey Adam!

First off, let me apologize for taking so long to respond to your very kind letter. Things are pretty nuts around here. You had asked for an autographed photo of me; I don’t really have anything like that, not being famous. But here is a drawing of me for you. 
[Illustration]
I’m sure you can see the resemblance. 

You are sure right about the importance of a good story in movies. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as it sounds. It takes a lot of work (and rework, and rework and rework) to get it right. And even then quite often we’re not 100% pleased. 

As John Lasseter likes to say, our films don’t get finished, they just get released. 

Hope you enjoy “UP” next year!

Pete Docter

kimbrulee:

letterheady:

Orson Welles, 1941 | Source

I would love to write a fake letter on this right now…

retrostarwars:

Letter from Steven Spielberg to Georgie Porgie to congratulate him for surpassing Jaws at the box office.

In 2003, with her prom fast approaching and a date as yet undecided, Ohio-based Nikki Simmons took a chance and sent an invite to her idol: a certain flame-haired talk show host. She says, “I asked Conan O’Brien to prom when I was in eleventh grade… so many many years ago… Although he turned me down, he was awesome enough to write back! I’ll always be a Conan fan!”.

Many thanks to Nikki for letting us show the letter, and to Margo for the tip.

Transcript follows.

Transcript

Late Night with Conan O’Brien

Jan.24, 2003

Dear Nikki - 

Thanks for your very flattering offer. It’s great to know I have such a devoted fan out there, and I’m sure you ould make a great prom date (I didn’t go to mine - it’s a very sad story).

Unfortunately, I got married recently and my wife doesn’t allow me to go to proms anymore with cute 16 year old girls. Still, it was very cool of you to ask me. Thanks and have a great evening.

Your Friend,

Conan

onemoretimewithfeeling:

via i.imgur.com

I love this guy so much.

kavalierandclay:

This is wonderful.

Letters of Note: Your pal, John K.

In 1998, aged just 14, aspiring young cartoonist Amir Avni decided to get in touch with the creator of Ren & Stimpy, John Kricfalusi. Being a hardcore fan of Kricfalusi’s work, Amir sent him an introductory letter along with a few cartoons he’d drawn, some of which contained relatively unknown characters of John’s. To call Kricfalusi’s response ‘generous’ would be an understatement…