Post by jo on May 30, 2014 16:53:22 GMT -5
Interesting piece on Newsweek on the current filmmaking trend in Hollywood --
www.newsweek.com/endless-return-spiderman-252845
XMEN producer Lauren Shuler Donner puts in her views on the current trends of big budget blockbusters...and the loss of medium-sized dramas and film fare we used to see in the past. LSD has produced many other film hits which satisfied diverse taste, even if she is now more well-known for having produced the XMEN series. Of late, she is now also looking at musical theatre on Broadway for her new producing options.
Here are the excerpts that involve Lauren...but do read the entire piece, ironically titled " The endless return of Spiderman" --
A few things that she and the other featured Hollywood movers and shakers have pointed out that bears repeating --
*The globalization of film-making goals ( a movie is now made more suitable for a more global culture). On the other hand, compared to the past, worldwide audiences now carry a more universal perspective ( due to wide distribution of movies and TV...the emergence of the internet for news and other shared cultural interests...the emergence of social media to link peoples of different cultures!).
*TV ( cable TV, esp) is now the home of new dramas and new movies typical of the past, even as it shares with personal home libraries, films of the past!
*Ownership of studios have changed the business perspective ( bottom-lines, not artistic goals dominate). On the other hand, film studios's survival may also benefit from the range of media and other entertainment options that the media conglomerates who own the studios have access to!
Some of us are from the generation that enjoyed the entire range of Hollywood films. It is sad that the new generations are now exposed to films that mostly pander to tentpoles - is this a cultural thing that our younger people either do not have time for mind-provoking films but would rather be engaged in mindless entertainment - action/comedy/animation? Or is it a cultural shift because there are many other entertainment/activity options open to our younger kin...they are also eternally busy with their lives! On the other hand, there is now a huge market for movies that cater to the very young ( the little kids who love Frozen and mostly animated stuff).
We want Hugh Jackman to fulfill our desires for certain other types of projects in his choice of roles. It looks like that is remotely going to happen, if we are talking of movies. It is sad that his remaining option for deep or thought-provoking drama probably remains in the theatre ( which only a few of us have real access to). I am not yet keen to see Hugh choose films for cable TV- somehow that still carries the connotation/association of actors who are no longer boxoffice- attractive.
On the other hand, maybe just maybe, musicals belong to a global culture of loving music...and thus, we have seen the worldwide success of films like Mamma Mia! and Les Miserables - so that may not be an altogether dead-or-dying option. It will just have to be a right choice!
Also, there seems to be a lot of interest in straight plays ( new or revivals) on Broadway - why can't the producers consider filming them ( like Trevor Nunn did for Oklahoma! -- not filming an outright show as it is being performed -- but a separate filming for purposes of releasing it like a movie) and release to audiences worldwide? Straight plays are usually limited engagement fare - and releasing them on home video will not hurt any future box office potential. Hey, Mr. or is it Mme Producer - why not? Hmmm - too bad producers names for A Steady Rain and The River were/are Barbara Broccoli and Sonia Friedman. Maybe if it were Lauren Shuler Donner, she would be more ready to embrace a new access to theatre drama!
Jo
www.newsweek.com/endless-return-spiderman-252845
XMEN producer Lauren Shuler Donner puts in her views on the current trends of big budget blockbusters...and the loss of medium-sized dramas and film fare we used to see in the past. LSD has produced many other film hits which satisfied diverse taste, even if she is now more well-known for having produced the XMEN series. Of late, she is now also looking at musical theatre on Broadway for her new producing options.
Here are the excerpts that involve Lauren...but do read the entire piece, ironically titled " The endless return of Spiderman" --
Lauren Shuler Donner is the producer behind the X-Men franchise. She spoke for a generation with the Brat Pack dramas St Elmo’s Fire (1985) and Pretty in Pink (1986). She made You’ve Got Mail (with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, 1998), Dave (with Kevin Kline, 1993) and the Free Willy, free-the-whale series—all great successes. And then in 2000 she made the fantastically successful X-Men, with Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Since then she has made seven X-Men movies, and has another four in the pipeline, according to IMDB.
“It was one of the many projects I was developing," says Donner, talking with great fondness of her superheroes. “I found the theme of tolerance interesting. They are mutants, outsiders; everyone feels like that at some points in life. There are powerful women as part of the franchise. I loved the challenge of the visual effects, I love the cast. We are like a family.”
Over the past 14 years, the X-Men films have reportedly taken over $2.5 billion at the box office.
"It’s a bit of a cycle," Donner explains. "About six years ago, the studios made some mid-range dramas and thrillers that did not do well. So they decided they would not do them anymore. The studios are now owned by conglomerates, so they answer to corporations and they have to show a bottom line. When they have a tent pole movie, the chances are higher.”
“It was one of the many projects I was developing," says Donner, talking with great fondness of her superheroes. “I found the theme of tolerance interesting. They are mutants, outsiders; everyone feels like that at some points in life. There are powerful women as part of the franchise. I loved the challenge of the visual effects, I love the cast. We are like a family.”
Over the past 14 years, the X-Men films have reportedly taken over $2.5 billion at the box office.
"It’s a bit of a cycle," Donner explains. "About six years ago, the studios made some mid-range dramas and thrillers that did not do well. So they decided they would not do them anymore. The studios are now owned by conglomerates, so they answer to corporations and they have to show a bottom line. When they have a tent pole movie, the chances are higher.”
“Our audience is global and we have to be aware of that. It used to be American culture that sold—and it still sells—but now we are embracing a global culture,” said Donner.
Donner herself is now developing two dramas for HBO as well producing the X-Men movies. “Just like everyone else, I’ve turned to cable to make drama. But it also really depends on the script. One day, you never know, studios may suddenly jump in and develop dramas again.”
She says, then adds: “I don’t know whether movies will ever be able to complete with TV for drama again. You have so much more space to explore the characters. But it’s too bad. In the '70s and '80s movies were so good!”
She says, then adds: “I don’t know whether movies will ever be able to complete with TV for drama again. You have so much more space to explore the characters. But it’s too bad. In the '70s and '80s movies were so good!”
A few things that she and the other featured Hollywood movers and shakers have pointed out that bears repeating --
*The globalization of film-making goals ( a movie is now made more suitable for a more global culture). On the other hand, compared to the past, worldwide audiences now carry a more universal perspective ( due to wide distribution of movies and TV...the emergence of the internet for news and other shared cultural interests...the emergence of social media to link peoples of different cultures!).
*TV ( cable TV, esp) is now the home of new dramas and new movies typical of the past, even as it shares with personal home libraries, films of the past!
*Ownership of studios have changed the business perspective ( bottom-lines, not artistic goals dominate). On the other hand, film studios's survival may also benefit from the range of media and other entertainment options that the media conglomerates who own the studios have access to!
Some of us are from the generation that enjoyed the entire range of Hollywood films. It is sad that the new generations are now exposed to films that mostly pander to tentpoles - is this a cultural thing that our younger people either do not have time for mind-provoking films but would rather be engaged in mindless entertainment - action/comedy/animation? Or is it a cultural shift because there are many other entertainment/activity options open to our younger kin...they are also eternally busy with their lives! On the other hand, there is now a huge market for movies that cater to the very young ( the little kids who love Frozen and mostly animated stuff).
We want Hugh Jackman to fulfill our desires for certain other types of projects in his choice of roles. It looks like that is remotely going to happen, if we are talking of movies. It is sad that his remaining option for deep or thought-provoking drama probably remains in the theatre ( which only a few of us have real access to). I am not yet keen to see Hugh choose films for cable TV- somehow that still carries the connotation/association of actors who are no longer boxoffice- attractive.
On the other hand, maybe just maybe, musicals belong to a global culture of loving music...and thus, we have seen the worldwide success of films like Mamma Mia! and Les Miserables - so that may not be an altogether dead-or-dying option. It will just have to be a right choice!
Also, there seems to be a lot of interest in straight plays ( new or revivals) on Broadway - why can't the producers consider filming them ( like Trevor Nunn did for Oklahoma! -- not filming an outright show as it is being performed -- but a separate filming for purposes of releasing it like a movie) and release to audiences worldwide? Straight plays are usually limited engagement fare - and releasing them on home video will not hurt any future box office potential. Hey, Mr. or is it Mme Producer - why not? Hmmm - too bad producers names for A Steady Rain and The River were/are Barbara Broccoli and Sonia Friedman. Maybe if it were Lauren Shuler Donner, she would be more ready to embrace a new access to theatre drama!
Jo