HOW ‘BOUT A HOLLYWOOD BAILOUT?
November 13, 2008
“Film is an asset class that is truly in distress,” said one battle-scarred dealmaker. “Even if I had access to a billion dollars, there would be better things to do out there than expose that capital to the risks of the film business.”
Hollywood seems to be one of the only industries in America that is completely stand-alone, never having needed the government’s help throughout the years. In fact, some may argue that in the past it was the government that’s called on Hollywood for assistance — begging the studio moguls to help drive propaganda efforts during wartime and the like.
But since it looks like every other industry will be getting a bailout from the government during this economic crisis (deficit be damned!), why not throw our hats in the ring?
Film funding the past few years has relied more and more on the diverse financial products the other industries use, and since funding has dried up quite a bit in the entertainment industry… I say it’s time to make our voices heard. There’s no shame asking for a handout when everyone else is doing it, right?
Maybe some of you saw me mentioned as the lead in a story on the cover of the LA Times business section last week. (Trust me, I’d much rather be covered in the press regarding positive advancements for my projects– but alas, the point of the story was how the economic crisis is hitting independents… hard.) If only I’d been developing a film about Obama, it just might have had a chance: “Ed Norton’s Obama Documentary Draws Worldwide Interest”
OK, time for a rant: Elections Have Consequences. After 8 years of: funding without conditions an unnecessary war in Iraq, massively expanding the President’s warrantless eavesdropping powers; immunizing lawbreaking telecoms; enacting the Orwellian Patriot Act and renewing it with virtually no changes; not even bothering to mount a filibuster to stop the Military Commissions Act; refraining from pursuing any meaningful investigations of Bush lawbreaking; confirming every last extremist Bush nominee; the housing crisis, the credit crisis, torture and on and on and on… The era of constitutional abuse, cronyism, ineptitude, incompetence, theocratic aspirations, intolerance, abuse of power, abuse of privacy, etc etc etc is hopefully over–
And it seems fitting that the American people would elect a Senator (and not a Governor or “other”) for the first time since Kennedy whose first name rhymes with Iraq, whose middle name is the name of the dictator we hanged and whose last name rhymes with the name of the terrorist Bush let get away.
America elected the world’s first global President and hats off to us! The sea change in the rest of the planet’s attitude toward the U.S. is mind-boggling. They like us again! And with all the hope for change and goodwill out there right now, I look forward to the future.
In other news:
The American Film Market comes and goes…
If only “Milk” were released BEFORE the Prop 8 showdown…
Germany officially enters a recession. (Welcome to the club.)
Ratings for the 3 network entertainment magazine shows are down by 20%, yet TMZ’s continue to rise… (no link, but was passed the info from a reliable source inside one of the big 3. Seems they’re all freaking out.)
Michael Moore will give his special treatment to the sicko economy…
THIS might become the new standard for indie types to launch projects.
And maybe filmmaking isn’t your bag after all. There’s other ways to be creative and become famous.
America is depressed, so expect to see more fantasy content.
In personal news:
I got home from my trip to India and ya know what was waitin’ for me? The new G1-Phone (Google phone), and I loooove it. (Except for the lame battery life and not yet having figured out how to save incoming numbers into my contacts;)
Also: am looking for a project/script that can be done for under a Mil with a lead female role… something along the lines of a “Maria Full of Grace,” “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days,” or even a “Run, Lola, Run”… if you have or know of anything, hit me up in the comments.
finishing one up but the protaganist is mid thirties. both those films are two of my favorites but much younger protaganists.
if you are interested give me a shout out.
great blog.
Obama is definitely truly a global president, you said it right. He was the son of a Kenyan Muslim man and of a white Kansas Christian mother, born in Hawaii, lived in Indonesia and is linked to both Islam and Christianity. How much more global can you get than that?
I am not sure if MILK would have affected Prop 8 if it had come out earlier. Don’t doubt the pure hatred and homophobia of some right-wing Mormon assholes (take away their tax-exempt status away NOW!!!). but I think that when BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN came out, it opened some people’s eyes to gay relationships and that gay people need love, too… so hopefully MILK will open more eyes to how homophobia is so wrong, cruel and un-American.
I am very nervous about the film economy… but we can’t stop making movies!!!
I hope you enjoyed your time in India, yes?
the G1 phone looks so fucking awesome, by the way. I have a new Sidekick and it’s really cool, but not as cool as the G1 phone, I guess.
(and I am sick to death of fantasy, superhero, CGI, and big-budget movies, the 2000s has been a real crappy period in terms of so-called “creative” filmmaking)
Hi William
I sent you a script the other day with a great female part….did you get it?
Mark
If I had a script instead of just an outline, I would be pinching myself right now. Alas, too many other ideas have taken up my time.
I think that the Obama victory really is a show, dont tell moment for America. But he is a product of change, not the cause of it. He would not have gotten to where he is if America was not already accepting of other cultures and other nationalities.