The American New(er) Wave - Blu-ray Forum

Snicket · 02-14-2013, 06:55 PM

We broke Hollywood.

What will replace the studio systems?

Somewhere down the line of the last 10 years cinema became a spectacle of entertainment that was celebrating "turn your brain off and enjoy" films. It apparently never occurred to the masses that you can have just as much enjoyment from turning your brain on. In this respect modern films have become a prostitute, we pay them, we demand no emotional connection or attachment, and only demand that the most primordial parts of out brain be stimulated. As long as we are satisfied, we pay the $10 and walk away.

How we got here is no big surprise. In the 1970's we saw the spectacle of what movies could do, and we wanted more. Budgets for effects grew and grew as the years went on, risks were taken more and more into consideration. The bottom line of the studios became ever so important. Even Avatar, a narrative that is so simple on paper, is wrapped in a blanket of millions of dollars in special effects. The narrative takes a back seat to the spectacle. Something that is the status quo in major studios earnings leaders. The potential for a payoff of hundreds of millions of dollars is leading this charge.

Scripts need to be boiled down to appeal to the greatest common denominator. If you spend so much money on a film, mathematically you need to reduce the risks you take, thus you are forced to appeal to every demographic in some way or another.

The international market needs to be considered as well, scripts need to be kept simple to make the translation process cleaner. Big ideas or moral ambiguity are discouraged in tent-pole movies.

We have abandoned innovation driving art, for commerce driving art. Make no mistake, there are a good handful of talented people who use the current system to do a lot of good and are not afraid of taking risks.

If the history of film has taught us anything it's that things change. This current situation cannot/will not last. Just as the system was different in 1970, 1950 and 1930, the system will change in 2020, and 2050.

The purpose of this thread, is, what comes after?

I have heard a few film critics and scholars talk about an American New Wave, a generation of filmmakers who will thrive outside of the studio system.

The precedence for this thought is that cameras, the rise of super high quality DSLRS, cheaper equipment that can be purchased by anyone who want it and more open sources for distribution.

It used to be the tools of the trade were put of public reach and the studios had major control over what was accessible. Now that simply is not the case. Anyone can make a film (for better or worse) and with things like YouTube, Vimeo, and even Amazon Studios distribution is available for the masses as well.

I think we are a long ways off from this being the new norm, but its already starting to happen. Lena Dunham (lover her or hate her) is a product from this new wave, she got her start making YouTube videos and her low budget films.

The trade off for this new wave is that:

1. Ideas will replace spectacle.
2. Films will cost much less.
3. Films will make much less.
4. Experimental films will surge.
5. Films will be more divisive than ever before.

Whether or not you embrace or reject this change is up to you.

Where will film be in 2020 in your eyes?

02-14-2013, 06:55 PM	#1
Snicket Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jul 2010 4K collection:622 Blu-ray collection:1160 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:56	The American New(er) Wave We broke Hollywood. What will replace the studio systems? Somewhere down the line of the last 10 years cinema became a spectacle of entertainment that was celebrating "turn your brain off and enjoy" films. It apparently never occurred to the masses that you can have just as much enjoyment from turning your brain on. In this respect modern films have become a prostitute, we pay them, we demand no emotional connection or attachment, and only demand that the most primordial parts of out brain be stimulated. As long as we are satisfied, we pay the $10 and walk away. How we got here is no big surprise. In the 1970's we saw the spectacle of what movies could do, and we wanted more. Budgets for effects grew and grew as the years went on, risks were taken more and more into consideration. The bottom line of the studios became ever so important. Even Avatar, a narrative that is so simple on paper, is wrapped in a blanket of millions of dollars in special effects. The narrative takes a back seat to the spectacle. Something that is the status quo in major studios earnings leaders. The potential for a payoff of hundreds of millions of dollars is leading this charge. Scripts need to be boiled down to appeal to the greatest common denominator. If you spend so much money on a film, mathematically you need to reduce the risks you take, thus you are forced to appeal to every demographic in some way or another. The international market needs to be considered as well, scripts need to be kept simple to make the translation process cleaner. Big ideas or moral ambiguity are discouraged in tent-pole movies. We have abandoned innovation driving art, for commerce driving art. Make no mistake, there are a good handful of talented people who use the current system to do a lot of good and are not afraid of taking risks. If the history of film has taught us anything it's that things change. This current situation cannot/will not last. Just as the system was different in 1970, 1950 and 1930, the system will change in 2020, and 2050. The purpose of this thread, is, what comes after? I have heard a few film critics and scholars talk about an American New Wave, a generation of filmmakers who will thrive outside of the studio system. The precedence for this thought is that cameras, the rise of super high quality DSLRS, cheaper equipment that can be purchased by anyone who want it and more open sources for distribution. It used to be the tools of the trade were put of public reach and the studios had major control over what was accessible. Now that simply is not the case. Anyone can make a film (for better or worse) and with things like YouTube, Vimeo, and even Amazon Studios distribution is available for the masses as well. I think we are a long ways off from this being the new norm, but its already starting to happen. Lena Dunham (lover her or hate her) is a product from this new wave, she got her start making YouTube videos and her low budget films. The trade off for this new wave is that: 1. Ideas will replace spectacle. 2. Films will cost much less. 3. Films will make much less. 4. Experimental films will surge. 5. Films will be more divisive than ever before. Whether or not you embrace or reject this change is up to you. Where will film be in 2020 in your eyes?

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