And so we asked, and you responded.
This from Julie Meyer: “My take on today’s films is that there is a emphasis on ‘shock value.’ How scary can a movie be or how much violence can it have. Unfortunately, Generation Y is entertained by that sort of thing. It is rare to walk out of the movies today with any sort of enlightenment or good feelings.”
From Dale Robbins, who’s clearly given this a lot of thought: “Please allow me to express a more mundane reason for a lack of freshness in movie ideas: economics.
“Check how many ‘financial underwriters’ there are, listed in the credits. It has become so risky to make a film, that a ‘guaranteed’ return is necessary to get the $$ to make the movie. Studios do that by recycling old, successful films, or buying rights to ‘franchise’ or multi-film book story lines.
“Why else would Disney have paid $4.6 billion to George Lucas for Lucasfilm? ‘The Mouse’ knows it was smart money, a guaranteed return on the investment. Don’t forget the deal also included (special effects specialist) ILM. Check the credits on any effects-laden film. These days, it’s not just one company doing the work (partially the reason for a movie’s big price tag), but, more often than not, Skywalker Ranch is listed among those contributing to the spectacular images seen on screen.
“The exhibition companies want safe films, too. They now have to answer to investors, as well. All of those multiplexes were expensive, so hedge funds, underwriters and other investors were brought in. There are still small companies, but these days, movie chains have become ‘big boxes,’ too — not just the department stores. You can’t pay the bills without selling popcorn, but you have to attract moviegoers to sell the popcorn. The second ‘Hunger Games’ film sold $161 million in tickets last weekend. The number I’d like to see is how much popcorn was sold! Do the math: if we figure $15 a ticket as an average (on the high side to be safe), that’s over $10 million going to just that movie. If only half of those folks spend $8 for a large popcorn, that’s $40 million, just in popcorn sales! Drink not included. A big film is going to equal big concession sales.
“The dollars trail is the reason why we’ve seen so many independent films. They’re cheap to make, hard to get displayed. So you make one, take it to Sundance or Tribeca festivals, get good reviews, and win a distribution contract. That is so much less risky and cheaper. The producers have borne the big expense of making the film; the distributor spends small money to copy, electronically, and put the film in theaters. The ‘artiste’ auteur gets to keep his or her ‘soul,’ because they didn’t sell out to the studio, just to make a safe film. Win-win for everybody. That’s why they get major stars: ‘I get to make a movie I always wanted to, but couldn’t because no one wanted to bankroll my project.’
“That is about the only place you get ‘fresh’ ideas these days in the movie business.”
This from Dave Carr, reacting to earlier suggestions from other readers that today’s education system is to blame for the lack of creativity: “Being a former educator, I truly believe that the powers that be have absolutely no idea of what ‘education’ means. It is not about taking tons of tests. It is about teaching the students how to think and how to write. And to be creative. Not get ready for testing! I have not been to a decent movie in a while. Saw ‘Man of Steel.’ Terrible.”
From Barbara O’Hara: “Hollywood has become complacent over the years by relying on sequels, etc., as well as those movies that are extremely violent because it feels that’s what sells. Thus, the introduction of smaller companies and independents who value (usually) good character development and give the audience an unusual story or one that might provoke conversation. Perhaps, too, Hollywood is churning out so many movies so fast for financial reasons that quality has taken a back seat! It does my heart good to read of a well-known actor taking a considerable pay cut in order to be involved with a movie that tells a ‘good’ story.”
We agree — and that doesn’t happen all that often, either, unfortunately.
So, this has been interesting. What do you think? And here's a twist to the original question: If movies are in a creative rut, why do so many people think that television is having a creative renaissance at the same time? Shoot me an email at rrollins@coxohio.com.
About the Author