Renowned filmmaker Martin Scorsese takes pride in the impact he's had on other filmmakers, expressing that he considers himself more of a teacher than just a filmmaker. He notes that his influence extends beyond his own work, often through his recommendations of films to others. Speaking at a Q+A session at the London Film Festival hosted by Edgar Wright, the director of 'Killers of the Flower Moon' mentioned how he initially faced difficulties gaining acceptance in the industry, even when he made efforts to conform to the Hollywood culture.

Scorsese reflected on this period, saying, "Around 1978/79, they asked me to leave, and it wasn't solely about filmmaking. We were younger, and I was going through a kind of teenage rebellion at the age of 27," according to aceshowbiz.com.

Despite his significant influence and contributions to cinema, Scorsese expressed that he doesn't want to be perceived as the "last line of defense" for the film industry in the digital age. He encouraged the industry to embrace the "extraordinary time" we live in due to technological advancements.

He articulated, "I didn't aspire to be the final guardian. I don't know where cinema is headed. Why should it remain the same as it has for the past 90-100 years? It doesn't have to. Do we prefer the way things have been for the past 90 years? I may, but I'm from a different generation. Younger people will perceive the world differently..."

Scorsese also reflected on the evolving landscape of filmmaking technology, remarking, "If I had access to digital or even high-quality video back then, I might have filmed 'Mean Streets' using those tools, avoiding the expenses of traditional cameras. It would have given us a sense of creative freedom. Now, there's so much freedom that we really need to rethink what we're expressing and how we're expressing it. I hope that serious filmmaking can still thrive in this new technological and cultural landscape we're part of."