The Beast titles this piece by Ricky Gervais as his thoughts on “throwing away $1 Billion”
What did I learn from this mistake? Nothing at all. But later I made The Office. It was the first thing I ever tried my hardest at. And I obviously reaped rewards. But I wouldn’t be any less proud of The Office if it hadn’t been successful all over the world and won BAFTAs and Emmys and Golden Globes. The real lesson I learned was that trying your hardest is the reward in itself. That and getting final edit. If it turns out exactly how you meant it to, then nothing else matters.
Creative control may not be worth billions, or it may be worth more…
RICKY GERVAIS’S CAREER ARC:
1983 While a student in college, forms a pop group called Seona Dancing. They have one hit—in the Philippines.
1999 Comes up with an idea similar to Night at the Museum, but doesn’t follow through.
2001 The Office debuts in England and becomes a worldwide phenomenon (and inspires a U.S. version with Steve Carell).
2005 Mocks the movie industry with his HBO series Extras.
2012 Returns as the host of the Golden Globes in January.
