For his 2017 film The Shape of Water, which went on to win Best Picture, director Guillermo Del Toro was torn between making the film in color or in black and white. While he was leaning towards the latter at one point, Fox Searchlight Pictures (The studio behind the film) made it easier for him with an ultimatum. They offered Del Toro either a $20 million budget to make the film in color or a $17 million budget to shoot it in black and white. Choosing ultimately to make it in color, Del Toro admitted later in an interview why:
"That was honestly a battle I was expecting to lose. I was of two minds. On one hand I thought black and white would look luscious, but on the other hand I thought it would look postmodern, like I was being reflective rather than immersed. It's good, because it got me three million more."
It's always a question what ultimately makes one movie the prime choice for Best Picture each year. For all anyone knows, the film being in color ultimately allowed the voters to see the film in a certain light that they wouldn't have in black and white. And Del Toro sure isn't complaining as he himself won Best Director for the film, solidifying his confidence that he made the right choice. Stay tuned!
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