I’ve been reading essays written by screenwriter William
Goldman in regards to his predictions in Oscar contenders from early 2000’s.
The subtitle to this book was “who killed Hollywood?” A sort of poison pen
towards the people who’ve ran the film industry into the ground. But it isn’t
as acerbic as you may think. It is heavily cynical. But they are notes about
inside industry feelings about stars and the movies that are made. After
reading, it’s hard to believe anyone wants to work in this “business.”
It’s reaffirmed everything that gets to me about the movie
business now. I explained it last night to a friend. When it was a studio
system, actors were put under contract. I think the typical one ran about 7
years. This meant actors got health insurance, dental, and you knew EXACTLY
what you were doing from movie to movie. And you were groomed to be a working
actor. It meant you could plan your life. Buy a home. Be a human being.
The stars were livid that they couldn’t choose their
projects. So when that all went away, so did all their benefits. Oh wait…not
the stars’ benefits. Nope. They make the dollars that keep them rich and
famous. The other actors who were
living on the fringe, went off the cliff. The studio system had issues, but
they made some solid pictures. I bet you if the studio system was reinstated a
lot of actors would clamor for it again. After all, nothing more socialist than
socialism. But we all fucked that up. Realizing that actors are renewable
resources freed up studios to rotate the herd. Same thing happened with film
cameras and technology. Once they realized audiences didn’t give a flying fuck
about quality, they abandoned any skilled labor positioned that required a
living wage. Why should they pay a mechanical engineer who studied motion
science when they can pay a straight-from-college schmuck who knows app
developments and shit.
It’s great to read his predictions on Oscars. And the suits
who ran Hollywood, which illustrates his tried and true theory “No one knows
anything” in Hollywood. It’s surprising to even hear how precarious this
business is. For instance, a star’s flop at the box office doesn’t make any
difference as long as the movie opened the first day. Hollywood don’t hold
stars responsible for quality of the movie.
It just makes me wonder why the fuck do we make movies. For
me, it’s to recapture that sense of moving an audience when I screened my first
movie at The Dorothy & Lillian Gish movie theater. I don’t even remember
the reaction, only watching complete well-wishing strangers watch a movie I
made. It’s incredible.
But…to be honest, it may be never to get that opportunity
again, unless I make that opportunity. Which I figure is the delusion we all
live in. I realize a lot of people don’t want to hear this type of negativity
for the business they’re attempting to crack into. But I love reading Goldman’s
thoughts. Because they mirror my own. Exception that he’s a TWO TIME winning
Academy Award winner. So, it does cushion that blow a little better that I’m not
alone. And that someone of true talent validates my suspicions of this town.
Those who keep on keepin’ on without a thought of these
matters, I’m envious of your ignorance.
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