10 Movies Only Directed As Experiments

2. A Coming-Of-Age Movie Shot Over 12 Years - Boyhood

The Experiment

In 2001, director Richard Linklater made the seemingly insane decision to start shooting a coming-of-age drama which would be shot in real time over 12 years.

Linklater's plan was to reconvene with a small cast once per year and shoot new scenes, depicting the development of not only young lead Ellar Coltrane, but also his co-stars Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette and Linklater's own daughter, Lorelei.

The long-form nature of the project meant that Linklater wasn't entirely sure the direction it would take, writing material after reviewing the previous year's footage, and allowing the cast to incorporate elements from their own changing lives.

Linklater also made provisions for the worst, appointing Ethan Hawke to carry on the project should he die before its completion. Though of course, had Coltrane decided to drop out of the project mid-way, Linklater would've been up the creek without a paddle.

Incredibly, production company IFC never asked Linklater to view footage of the film throughout the 12 years, simply giving him $200,000 per year to complete that year's shooting.

How Did It Turn Out?

Better than anyone could've ever expected.

The film premiered at Sundance 2014 to near-universal acclaim, and went on to become a major box office success relative to its budget, while receiving six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, and netting Arquette a well-earned Best Supporting Actress award.

That Linklater managed to take 12 years of footage and edit it into such a holistic portrait of growing up is unprecedented in cinema, and about as creatively noble a use of narrative film as there ever has been.

And because 12 years isn't enough of a commitment, his next project will be an adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical Merrily We Roll Along, which will be filmed over 20 years in order to reflect the musical's own passage of time.