Can a 'Hollywood' Competitor Ever Exist?
Hollywood… not exactly my PB and jam.
I know, it’s weird considering this is the industry I cannot seem to leave behind, no matter the challenges. This is not a unique sentiment. Celebrity culture, unchecked capitalism, performative virtue signaling, and favoring profits over art. These are all things that give me, and many of my peers, the ‘ick.’
It’s a business… so therefore it is going to operate like a business. No amount of idealism will change the truth. We can desire more and work towards change, but that is simply a pipe dream in my opinion. It is too intertwined with other major institutions and industries, and it makes a lot of people very, very rich.
Business models change, even in the entertainment industry we have seen a few historical upheavals of profiting models brought on by audience trends and updated technology. With the introduction of Artificial Intelligence and intention to fully integrate it into ‘Hollywood,’ part of me worries if I will ever get the chance to contribute to this industry in a meaningful way.
But then again… is it Hollywood that I want to be apart of? Or do I just want the ability to make my art?
When you see just how much these major studios make in profits at the same time the WGA goes on strike for several months demanding better treatment and contracts, you really must confront the question “what went wrong here?” The answer is many things have all gone wrong, but in a way that’s consistent with the capitalistic nature of the modern day. The elites are the rule makers, enforcers, and the gate-keepers while the workers and artists should be grateful to be let into this exclusive club.
If that’s how they want to do things… fine. I think it’s a doomed model, but they have the right to exist if they continue to win over audiences. This is only my perception, of course, but I do feel like they are beginning to lose their stronghold with audiences, which is why I want to operate in something entirely different from ‘Hollywood.’ Not necessarily in opposition to ‘Hollywood,’ but something adjacent. Good ol’ competition. Let the people choose what they want to watch.
Here’s my vision: a collective of artists who aspire to take the greed out of making art. No unimaginative shareholders dictating what movies get made based on their out of touch perspective on what people want. This collective could make projects with more attainable budgets and told by people who are immersed in their communities… truly in touch with their audiences. This collective would need it’s own distribution model, which admittedly is a difficult hurdle and necessary for this to work, but I don’t think it’s impossible. People love to support artists, storytelling is one of the oldest human traditions still around today. I really do believe there are people who are tired of ‘Hollywood’ and would be interested in giving something like this a shot.
I know what you’re thinking… this could never work. I think this is based on the assumption that every human is motivated by money. I do not believe this to be true. Yes, we have to participate in society, pay bills, support our families, but does everyone have to be a millionaire to do those things? Capitalism brainwashes people into thinking they are motivated by money, because they need us in order to make their profits… Dreams are squashed because people believe their passions to be unattainable and not profitable. But what if you could support yourself doing what makes you happy? Would you still need to be rich?
To be clear, I’m not suggesting we burn ‘Hollywood’ to the ground metaphorically. Let them exist. Many people enjoy huge budget blockbusters with A-list talent. I do as well. I just think there is enough room for a more experimental model to coexist; one that favors the gig workers and artists, especially when you don’t have financiers and banks taking on all of the risk. It would take a collective of imaginative, realistic, innovative, and ambitious people to make this work. People collaborating who are spiritually aligned with the same artistic purpose.
I don’t know… I could be delusional. What do you think? Do you see a world where the artists can reclaim their talents outside of a major institution? Are you tired of Hollywood? Why? Do you think ‘Hollywood’ can change for the better?
