bhryun Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 . Being a nineteen year-old girl with an itch to direct, I find myself the last one ever asked to go to the movies with my pals - because I sit there scoffing whatever's going on in whatever film we watch. I have very high standards when it comes to movies, and I have my grandfather to thank for that. . A WWII vet, my grandfather filled my childhood in England with classic American movies. My favorite two movies as a young girl were "On the Town" and "Singing in the Rain," and I remember how excited I was when I leaned we were going to be moving to America - home of Hollywood and the best movies! I honestly expected Gene Kelly's to be roaming around, breaking in to song and dance at the slightest provocation. . I am sorry to report that I was greatly mistaken. It seems I now reside in the land of instant gratification. The popular audience of movies seems to be a wild-eyed bunch who latch onto anything with explosions and blood and demand more. Luckily for them, this is a simple thing for Hollywood to provide - they simple drop the plot and good actors, to speed up production, hire a hundred special effects people in their place, and voila! Before you can say "Bob's your uncle," the next explosive waste of money and time is ready to be seen. . Then there is the crowd in Hollywood so caught up in the prospect of making money, they have abandoned any true aspects of the craft. No longer are they intent on making a good movie, but rather an amazing profit. The most annoying of this kind are those who sweep through the archives, finding all of those movies they so dearly loved growing up - maybe even choosing to rape the movie that inspired them to become a part of Hollywood, and then plunge into the film, ripping out the still beating heart and turn the once masterpiece into a broken waste of celluloid smeared with special effects and a dash of gore. A hilarious example of this revolting process is the remake of the 1961 classic, "The Haunting." I mean, who was the genius in Hollywood who said "Oh! Remember that really brilliant horror flick with no special effects? Let's remake it with nothing but special effects!" I mean, the most beautiful aspect to the film was that everything you saw (except the bending door) could be explained, and yet you felt like there was something more terrifying than you could ever imagine still lurking around. The remake... is pathetic. . Getting back to my aspirations as a director, I would like to share my plan with you all. Since I have always adored the art of parody and the stinging sarcasm found in such movies as "The Great Dictator" and "Duck Soup," I have been planning a film that would make a mockery of the current state of Hollywood. I think I'm just going to take two colors, let's say blue and pink (that would give the film a good cover - we could say it was a battle of the sexes or something silly.. I mean, uh, profound) divide my cast of hot, sexy and talentless youths evenly, dressing each half in a separate color. Then, for a good two hours, my cast will do nothing but fight. They will blow things up, shoot at each other, maybe we could even throw in a "romance" between a pink and blue that has no meat to it, but does feature a steamy scene or two before the pink gets blown to bits. . I think a movie like this could go on to win an Academy Award - I mean, we could throw in a guy to desecrate slap-stick comedy, that always does well in the box-office, and then we'd have the whole spectrum: laughter, love, tears, violence - BAM! Instant success. I think that Hollywood would jump on this idea - I mean it's so easy to make and people would love it - and with the pink and blue, the struggle for one pink to have sex with one blue, oh! The humanity! Just by paying to see this movie, the morons of the audience would be openly labeling themselves as such. In making this movie, the greedy men and women of Hollywood would stand out more than they already do. . Can you imagine the interview on "Today" where Katie asks, "How did you manage to make a film that speaks such volumes to the human heart?" My reply: "Actually, this movie means nothing. I opted to forgo plot, character and other such sacred aspects of movie-making to create this waste of money. I just wanted to see if anyone cared about movies anymore... the answer is no." Silence in the studio. . *Sigh* Thank you all for listening to my rant, and my often harsh words. I am sure, however, that my rambling has not fallen on uncaring ears, and I take comfort in that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vecchiolarry Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Hello Jenn, You sound like a young character who is very imaginative and quite irreverent. And, good for you!!! However, please don't prostitute yourself with drudge and muck, sanctifying that type of film. I'm sure you are much better than that and it is a 'lazy man's' way of industry.... Give Katie Couric and her ilk a cold shoulder and the bum's rush... Instead, put your fertile mind to work and fashion a completely fresh, innovative script and story. One full of verve and wit and spark. and don't forget the double entendre!!!!!!!! Supply some cliffhangers and false trails in the story and a big surprise ending; that'll sell your movie. And who knows - maybe you'll revive a cognizant art form, movie making. Good luck to you. Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted July 8, 2005 Author Share Posted July 8, 2005 Oh Jenn I completely agree with Larry - don't make *that* movie - ever! :-) Write & make the kind of movies you, yourself, would pay to see. From the sounds of it they'd also be the kind of movies I'd pay to see! There are still some out here who appreciate a good/interesting story, substance, quality acting... *and* appreciate the efforts that go into producing such a product! (I, and many others, go out of the way to see an unfortunately low-budgeted independant film before plunking down money on a heavily endorsed, heavily commercialized "hollywood hit".) The stuff that lasts and leaves an impression (be it movies, books, works of art, personal memories, etc.) - last for a reason - someone put their heart into it and left a piece of themselves for eternity. Drivel never makes that category. Altho some drivel is momentarily entertaining to some - we won't be discussing and fondly remembering such works as Dude, Where's My Car... we won't even refer to them as "works", know what I mean. LOL, I liked your "interview with Katie". ;-) They still wouldn't get it even if you spelled it out for them that way -- but we get it! :-) Stay focused - I'll be looking for good things from you in the future! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njprecode Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 I can't watch much of what Hollywood puts out today, it's just garbage. Rehashes of other stuff, bad writing, bad acting and lots of special effects to try and cover up for all the stuff I listed above. I haven't been in a movie theater in probably 6 years, I mainly rent anyways. It's no surprise that I'll be stepping inside a theater again after all this time to see a movie made 70 years ago, at the paramount film forum going on now. Hollywood puts out maybe 2 or 3 good movies a year, and there are also the sleeper movies too which sometimes can be really well done. Not blockbusters, but less noticed films that are still good. I liked that movie The Notebook from last year or the year before, not a blockbuster but I thought it was a really good movie and so well acted, especially the girl, Rachel McAdams. She did a great job in that movie. Gena Rowlands and James Garner were wonderful in it. But movies like that are the exception these days. All I can say is, thank god for TCM! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vecchiolarry Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 Hi, I also championed "The Notebook" when it came out and took several older people to see it on a Sunday afternoon. (I'm on a senior's board). The theatre was packed with "over 40's" and many "over 70's" and they all loved it. Another movie out now is "Ladies In Lavender" with Judi Dench and Maggie Smith and that afternoon was packed too. So, if Hollywood or the independents make good pictures, people will go to them. Seniors' money is just as good as teenagers. BTW, there were several young people at both of these movies also...... People were bussed in from the surrounding communities in Southern Alberta and "The Notebook" played for a good 2 months. "Ladies In Lavender" is still playing and I saw it 3 weeks ago. There is hope for more good movies but we need them now!!!!!! Larry PS - Another good movie from a few years ago is "A Month By The Lake" with Vanessa Redgrave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fssbdgtsue59 Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 That's why I'm buying all the pre 50's classic movies-all genres. Hollywood today is playing to the masses to make the godawful dollar. But there are a few exceptions to this mindset and I truly appreciate these films. But since we have so many actors and actresses coming and going(not like the classic years), it's hard to even want to watch any of today's movies. I find them quite uninteresting so stay with what I know is good--TCM. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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