Everyone take a moment and think about the last movie you’ve seen. Was it a sequel like Planet of the Apes? Was it The Fault in Our Stars? Was it Hercules?
What do all of these movies have in common?
For all of these movies, they have existed somewhere before they made their appearance on the big screen.
A contract has been signed for Spiderman Six… Let me just repeat that, you read the number Six… I didn’t know there could be that many sequels since Land Before Time.
So obviously there are some die-hard Spiderman fans out there, but has anyone else noticed that the only movies that they are making these days are sequels, movies based on books, or movies based on some pre-existing idea? I don’t take credit for this idea, in fact, very well-known and successful directors have noticed this fact, and they can’t seem to get a movie made that doesn’t already have some kind of awareness to it already. This is all happening because big bad movie companies can’t risk losing money, and making movies has become all about profit, not about making art.
This single-minded focus on making profit not only affects the script and directors, but also actors and other employees in film as well. Hard-working and dedicated actors are now missing out on jobs not because they’re not talented enough, but because they aren’t hot enough to appeal to national and international audiences. Actors used to have to go and audition and really show what they’ve got to get their name out there- now, since everything being made is a sequel or an already-known idea, the actors who were in the original movies are being kept around for their sequels and new and fresh talent is being tossed to the curb because the world doesn’t know them yet. Not only this, but famous actors are so sick of doing sequels and movies that have no substance that they are beginning to do Indie films for free just so that they can practice their craft and enjoy acting again.
As someone who is fascinated and deeply in love with performing arts, this is absolutely terrifying. More and more of my friends are quitting their jobs, leaving their families behind and moving to Los Angeles or New York to try and find work and I truly fear for them. It’s a cut-throat business as it is and I can’t imagine them going out there and fending for themselves.
My friends aside, how am I going to go out there and fend for myself? What does this mean for struggling artists like us? I’ll tell you.
Everyone should really start looking into some Indie films. (My personal favorite, “Keith” it’s on Netflix) Pay attention to what real acting looks like and not just actors moving and shaking in front of a green screen. I grew up with “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, “Tarzan” “Remember the Titans”, “The Godfather”, (Even though it has sequels) and “How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days” Are they all award-winning? No. Are they all super deep and thought-provoking? Absolutely not. Would anyone say that they are all masters of film? No. I’m not saying that I have highly-educated taste in film, and the fact that I’ve seen the Godfather is shocking to most, but the next time you go to a movie, think about the pre-existing idea. Pay attention to the terrible scripts and the green-screen acting. Notice the product placement. Film is not about art and entertainment anymore, it’s about using us to make money. Save your money that you were going to use to see Hercules, and hold out for Spielberg’s next masterpiece, or even poke around on Netflix and discover a film that you’ve never heard of.
“People have forgotten how to tell a story. Stories don't have a middle or an end any more. They usually have a beginning that never stops beginning.” -Stephen Spielberg
