(who were also great)
Those who would not compromise their art for any reason… The first one that comes to mind is John Cassavetes. His first movie “Shadows” was very independent, outside of the studio system, but because many in the film business thought it was a new kind of cinema, a studio hired him to do “Too Late Blues” (best movie on the music business) and “A Child Is Waiting”, where he was able to have two stars (Burt Lancaster and Judy Garland), but also had the movie cut by Stanley Kramer behind his back, and was actually fired while Kramer was at Cassavetes’ home during Thanksgiving, so John choked him out, and he was fired, but the movie is still great. He went on to make even better movies, using his family, his wife’s family, friends, his home, and didn’t spend his days doing interviews complaining or being lazy, like Orson Welles (who I like, more for his interviews than movies, though).
Cassavates prioritized his art, acting in movies, to take the money and put them right back into his own movies, putting his home up as collateral, doing whatever it took. Ben Gazzara (and someone else in a different book) were saying how John went a month with no sleep trying to edit and finish the movie… I don’t remember the movie, but John would call theaters himself to get them played (and would eventually get distributors).
As great as it is to be rebellious, he actually was able to do something about it, and his movies speak for themselves, and hopefully inspired others to do the same. I also have a lot of respect for him or anyone else who can write and direct a great movie.