Another trend story about a trend that isn’t happening… even inside the story. The Passion of the Marketers
How does Doug Liman saying, “It’s literally in there for no other reason than I thought, This is cool,” suggest a trend piece about Hollywood trying to
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It shows how out of it I was in trying to be in it, acknowledging that I was out of it to myself, and then thinking, “Okay, how do I stop being out of it? Well, I get some legitimate illogical narrative ideas” — some novel, you know?
So I decided on three writers that I might be able to option their material and get some producer, or myself as producer, and then get some writer to do a screenplay on it, and maybe make a movie.
And so the three projects were “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” “Naked Lunch” and a collection of Bukowski. Which, in 1975, forget it — I mean, that was nuts. Hollywood would not touch any of that, but I was looking for something commercial, and I thought that all of these things were coming.
There would be no Blade Runner if there was no Ray Bradbury. I couldn’t find Philip K. Dick. His agent didn’t even know where he was. And so I gave up.
I was walking down the street and I ran into Bradbury — he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” — and I’d forgot who he was.
So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging — I was with her at that moment — she said, “Talk to him! That guy really wants to talk to you,” and I said “No, fuck him,” and keep walking.
But then I did, and then I realized who it was, and I thought, “Wait, he’s in that realm, maybe he knows Philip K. Dick.” I said, “You know a guy named—” “Yeah, sure — you want his phone number?”
My friend paid my rent for a year while I wrote, because it turned out we couldn’t get a writer. My friends kept on me about, well, if you can’t get a writer, then you write.”
~ Hampton Fancher
“That was the most disappointing thing to me in how this thing was played. Is that I’m on the phone with you now, after all that’s been said, and the fundamental distinction between what James is dealing with in these other cases is not actually brought to the fore. The fundamental difference is that James Franco didn’t seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. There’s not a case of that. He wasn’t using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had — if that were what the accusation involved — the show would not have gone on. We would have folded up shop and we would have not completed the show. Because then it would have been the same as Harvey Weinstein, or Les Moonves, or any of these cases that are fundamental to this new paradigm. Did you not notice that? Why did you not notice that? Is that not something notable to say, journalistically? Because nobody could find the voice to say it. I’m not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, “You know, it’s not this, it’s that”? Because — let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. Times piece, that’s what it lacked. That’s what they were not able to deliver. The one example in the five that involved an issue of a sexual act was between James and a woman he was dating, who he was not working with. There was no professional dynamic in any capacity.
~ David Simon
now its official. jesus is cool.
This is a total non-story. The part that struck me was Peter Sarsgard’s anecdote about Flightplan, how he was told not to take the lord’s name in vain. If you never read this story you would not know he said that until you had already bought your ticket.
How is forcing that line change going to appeal to Christian audiences? Are the producers planning on taking Flightplan around to various churches to sell it because there is seemingly nothing about that film that would have a hook for a specifically Christian audience.
Who cares if someone is offended after they bought their ticket. If someone was going to demand their money back because a movie character took the lord’s name in vain he likely is such a zealot he would never have gone to the movie.
The supposed Christian audience is not of one mind on mainstream Hollywood. Most go to the movies like anyone else and are occasionally offended or disappointed as any audience. When a movie like Flightplan is modified in such a minor way it is catering to a vocal minority of christians who are easily offended and run to the first podium or camera to scream about it. When you cater to this minority you must understand that you cannot win.
I’m glad that Hollywood is finally wakin up and realing that Jesus is a part of a lot of filmgoers lives. As a Christian I do like the fact that they are refusing to use the Lords name in vain.
Shouldn’t the suits know that you can’t pander to the Christian crowd? They won’t buy the force fed crap and won’t be pandered too. And they wonder why no one in the mainland trusts or believes Hollyweird.
Are these writers that lazy? First nonexistent slumps and now this. Aren’t there real stories out there?
I think most people are missing the point with all this religious stuff. I have worked in very liberal and very conservative churches over the years (as a pastor, educator, and youth director), and I think that this talk of offending Christians and catering to them with religious themes is a little off.
Christians go to movies. That’s a fact. Many young, conservative Christians will even go to R-rated films, if it appeals to them. Obviously, there are some films, say The Exorcist, which actively professing Christians will tend to stay away from, but for the most part except for a small group that has no interest in movies (remember, there are non-Christians that have no interest in movies too) Christians tend to go to movies just like the rest of the population…they may just complain about sex/violence more.
So why did the Passion do so well, and why is the Narnia film going to be HUGE (potentially $300M+)? It’s simply because it’s based on source material that millions are already familar with and would like to see translated into a modern film. This isn’t much different than the reason for Harry Potter’s success or any major comic book film for that matter.
The only real difference is that with these films is because of the Christian community’s reverence for the source material, the marketers can effectively utilize Christain communities (which are relatively tight and largely based on trust of their leaders) as a tool to get people into theaters. Christians would have seen The Passion even if Mel Gibson hadn’t directly gone to churches to sell his wares…but by bringing the sell job to the church, Mel was able to get pastors passionate about it and they in turn were able to get people excited about it and wanting to shell out $10 NOW instead of waiting for the DVD…which is the popular response of most people (Christian and non-Christian alike) when they hear about an interesting movie.
Christians go to the movies? No way. Now I have heard everything.
I’m also curious to see how Narnia does. I think this one, more than any of the others being bandied about, has the most to gain from emulating Passion. And while I think it’ll get a boost from religious parents who will have been informed through churchs, religious leaders, etc. that it’s something they should take their kids to, it’s also got a large potential audience from people who read the books and enjoyed them without recognizing the Christian themes (which is why I’m going).
I expect, as long as the trailers/ads continue to look good, this one will have a lot of crossover appeal and the possibility to really break out. (Of course, I also thought Hitchhikers was going to do Lord of the Rings money, so what the hell do I know.)
Waxman needs to do that little thing called “research”. It would help if a journalist actually checked on things.
Next week’s headline … JEWS GO TO MOVIES!
White People Go too! Many Hispanics also seen there!
The notion that practicing-fully pledged Christians are a major force already in the media since PotC is ridiculous, this article is just a puffy little thing that notices more of the obvious stuff. Christians have been calling a lot of shots for awhile.
Like the example of the the word “Jesus” being replaced in a scene with something else that won’t offend. This has been done on TV for years and I think is really prejudice.
You can’t say “Jesus Christ”, “Godamn” , “Holy Shit” on TV, Cable or Network.
But you can say “nigger”, you can say “fag” and you sure as hell can say “bitch” on TV. Look what groups that is offensive too. But the reigious stuff is hands off.
You can’t say holy shit on cable? Denis Leary says shit about 500 times an episode on the excellent Rescue Me. I guess I never really thought if a “holy” ever came first or not.
How did that blasphemer Robin get away with his Holys? Is Holy Toledo not so serious and does it depend what comes after the Holy? Is this a new-er thing re. censorship? Didn’t archie Bunker use christ/god as an expletive? I can’t remember, was too young.
Just wondering. i can’t believe the stuff one can say/not say. Shows who the censorship bullies are, I guess.
Although I think ‘bad language’ may be reserved for a post 8 or 9pm watershed.
Can you say Jesus and christ in Europe? I thought you could, here I lived there so long I can’t remember.
Well there goes my lifelong desire to appear on American reality tv! I say “Holy shit” all the time.
…(I don’t want to be on American tv)
I haven’t read the article (the subject is sorta boring) but did they mention that specialist Christian movies like that Omega movie didn’t even gross $10mil? Or… i don’t think they did.
Christmas with the Kranks did good financially, didn’t it? Like, $50m-$60m…?