The Next Revolution : Its still just film Jim, But not as we know it
It would have been the death of cinema,...television, people wouldn't flock to the theatres anymore because they could watch it now on the small screen at home, the medium was finished dead, gone, over and out,
it has finally happened but forty years later than the original premise, and it was by its own hand and not the new technology of television, VHS tapes or ipods, or the threat of video steaming that killed the great star, they did it too themselves, destroying the product and the services that created the dreams on the silver screen.
In the greed for product they forgot the product they were selling, Film, if you want to see the latest titles of forthcoming productions, the cinema is now not the place to go to, it is next door at the video games shop, all the titles and future titles are lined up on shelves there, ecowarrior 2078, "hey Brad baby, this is the new you", what other tosh left over comes straight from either the script doctors 3 act play, (you will never see Star Wars the same way again), or the best bits of the same genre, its taking the best bits of what worked in other products all mish-mashed together, then the pitch at its finest, "I can see the fight scene from Indi, Jones 3, with the heilcopter raid from Apocalypse Now and the bit from Rio Grande standoff, in this great....", they worked because of their original context, taken out and digitalised, they look dumb and...well out of context with the story, and if its not enough then repeat it, over and over like 6 six times (Cut in half Mr Jackson's King Kong could have been a great movie).
I'm not here to rant, but to point out the reasons a dream is slowly fading. If there is a film to be seen, and there are a few in late November - December, hoping for a punt in the new year awards circuit to make back on their investments, then its straight back on the phone to Adam Sandler to set up the next shit vehicle or six to be made this year.
Mega stars are now only products, the mega hyped Will Smith will start to believe he can act soon, but his own child Jaden out acted him in The pursuit of Happyiness to confirm he hasn't quite got it right just yet, but may be there will be soon a new villain for Mr Ian Fleming's, James Bond to stop, the over hyped I can rule the world megomanic actor is now here, courtesy of Mr Tom Cruise, Mrs ex (Miss Kidman/Urban) or Will Smith, with no other planets left to dominate, or our lives to intrude into, while all of the same time killing their own dream, they sit on their throne wondering which country to invade next with their plastic smiles and biceps, At least Mr Schwarzenegger settled for California.
Daft product placement means instead of it being part of the backdrop, it is now the backdrop, and kills the idea, and the actors are just salesmen/women making sure you don't miss the point of who is really paying their wages now, its not about you the enthusiast that has come to see something great and see ideas and vision in one giant spectacle, no marketing comes before scripts or a good story, the directors are now just making huge adverts, not cinematic history
Demographics, say 90% of an audience is between 9 years old and 21 years old who watch their films so they are tailoring the the product to the demographic, point is nobody over 21 wants to go to watch films made to that demographic, so the reality is the same 90% are the only ones going to the multiplexes!, so they believe their own tosh, however make a film for all demographics like say Titanic, and well then like records can be broken, profits that can make men cry and hug each other are created, but then they all got scared of their investment exposure and rang Adam Sandler again.
The product stinks, you go to a mulitplex, have to wait while a nine year old serves extra huge drinks, popcorn and makes coffee badly, while you are missing the start of the film just waiting to buy a ticket, the seats stink and are broken, the titles are blurry and you come out thinking that was three hours of shit, Used to go at least 2 times a week, now it was maybe two months since you last went through the same experience, if any other business was run this way it would have died years ago.
The questions now are to yourself, have I grown up, is it now I am more aware of what i am watching or want value for my money, they made shit films in the 70's, but we watched them (they made good films too), have I lost touch, all thoughts are valid until you see talent back up there on the screen, good directors who make 6 films to make one that is worth watching, The Departed, Mr Scorsese's stolen script from Hong Kong, was everyone chewing up the screen, made you forget about time for a few hours and lived in this murderous world, and that Mr DiCaprio was a revelation in that having a great visual profile is not all you need to be good on screen, entertainment, five star plus, and Mr Tarantino's fourth film(and fifith?) Kill Bill Vol 1, Means I am not a film snob, way over top, violent, stupid, idiotic, funny, ridiculous in every way, it had me punching the air in exhilaration on how film can be extreme in presentation and entertainment, this cinematic experience has been diminished by repeated viewings, but that feeling of the first encounter has never left me, and still I will go back in hope to feel the same feeling again. hoping that someone with new ideas and an original story can be translated to me in their new visual and audio magic.
I don't want the cinema experience to die, but it has to lift its game, that is everyone, Hollywood, Multiplexes, producers, The good and talented actors and directors are already voting with their feet, If you want a good drama today, Television, films old enemy is the place to go, Deadwood, The final series of The West Wing, are examples of great acting and product, Brilliantly made, here actors can get roles to meet their talent, choosing to show their abilities and craft and not be ashamed to say I did it on the small screen, because that small screen is now a big one.
Home theatre is already propping up Hollywood, people will watch tosh, but will gradually move to something substantial if it is produced and created in the new Hollywood, leaving the crap on the shelves to die, Digital Film, will make such investments cheaper to make and distribute, new heroes will be created and stars will shine again in Beverly Hills, We will miss the the roar of the Imperial Starcruiser coming from below the front row of seats, but we will be able to play it over and over again to our delight, and hear Darth Vader say "Take him away!" in Norwegian, the detail is impressive (see my coming BladeRunner Blog), and the sound is... if the neighbours are away, very impressive, convergence of Television and Film will have to happen and its coming to a screen near you, or a boxed set, forget Internet for the moment as the requirements of HighDefinition will not come that way, demographics will mean every age group will be their target audience and the Tweenies and Teenagers can demolish what's left of the Multiplexes, Its sad but the exhibitors have only themselves to blame, they should have stood up to Hollywood and lifted their game by cleaned up their premises, made it quick to buy a ticket, thrown out the thugs, pick better product and train decent staff, I hope all is not lost as the big screen experience is still the one to have, The 2007/08 USA writers strike proves where their income will be coming from in the future, and the rewards are great, just hope it brings back the talent and artists to the screen and not the money people and media management agencies, make future product that is clever and entertaining not prepackaged to sell a donkeyburger at a fast food outlet, and that the acting is not as wooden as the games they are made from.
Lets hope for a new future, tell a good story, entertain and we can then sit back and dream again.
Beam me up now Scotty.
