Show Biz

Show Biz…

I have found the Entertainment business today to be an exciting and very challenging field of work and study. It is, at once, vibrant and exciting, but can also be cut-throat and brutal. It’s a game with rules, key players and a distinct hierarchy. It can be all fun and games, or pain and suffering… it’s all in how you play; like football. Once you get on a good team and start winning, you start making the big bucks. If you fumble or make a bad play, it’s not over for you, it’s only over if you get to hurt to play.

The rules of the business are written in the sand and change with each new wave. It’s easy to drown, get washed away, or lost at sea in this business. If you want to survive or play you are going to need to find a rock to stand on or a crew to boat with. You need to be skilled, Talented and sharp; with something to bring to the table. Being drop dead gorgeous can also help, but alone is not a guarantee for success. You need to be likeable, passionate and informed at least until you establish yourself. Everybody knows that movies are not made by one person, so learn to put up with massive egos, scummy superstars and needy producers. The movie business brings together quite a cast of characters, so be prepared to deal with all types of people. From polished agents, to dirty crew hands; everyone has a place and a part to play; find yours.

In the postmodern era Hollywood rules the media world. It’s the Hegemonic authority of the visual arts. Hollywood is the place where movie style dreams actually do come true. We know this because we see it on TV! And nobody doubts the authenticity of TV; right?

In Hollywood the sun shines on everyone, and potentially anyone could be the next big thing and hit the big time; i.e. make a sh*t load of money. It's a quasi residential/social/superficial lottery! It’s about 50% who you know, 30% what you can do, and 20% being in the right place at the right time. Always be nice to people too! You never know when you are going to need something from them, or be working under them. The tables turn fast. Don’t get to lofty when you’re and high or too low when down. You should stay level at all times; poker face, bluff how good or bad you are doing and people will always assume the best. It is show business, so naturally it’s all a show, all about image and perception.

If you want to really make it in the film business today however you have to be able to do many things everything. Because of recent transformations, globalization, and general cross promotion you have to be able to do more than just act or sing or write these days. On the flips side you need to be able to do more than answer phones and get coffee, you have to be able to do many things with an effective degree of competence, and still have ability to know how you can do those things and then more things; better. It is a creative business and is always looking for and rewarding creativity on all fronts. After all it is the imaginings of people that is remaking the world as we know it…

The internet and new media has dramatically changed the structure and employment practices of the entertainment world. Competition is now global, decentralized, and has thus has gotten stiff. You are essentially competing with talent from all over the world. These days you will do better if you are able to create jobs not just get them for yourself. If you are not exceptionally talented without training (or after training) they you really need to know somebody. And even knowing somebody is not a guarantee of success. You have to offer something new and something fresh, you have to demonstrate that you can bring a new approach, a new idea, and an ability to tell the difference between the new and old.

If you want to be a Power Player in the biz today you need to be aware of what that takes; a lot. It takes more than just talent, smarts, money or good looks. It takes guts, imagination, intuition and determination. You also need to know the market and trends and how they are changing. You need to understand the business and it’s unconventional operations.

The point is, is that today the media needs artists! People in media today must have the creative ability to express themselves and what they can do. It needs designers with imagination and expression, using computers and market intuition. Being able to artistically express yourself and then sell your creations (stories, scripts, paintings, websites, clothing designs, ect) to people or sell your image to people is the name of the game. Unless of course you work in Administration in which case your job is to spot these people and put them to work for you!

A sign of the times is that big musicians today make much of their money from clothes and products –branding-, not CD's. Actors are following a similar path, getting into fashion design or other arts --or are becoming philanthropists. Postmodern Artists build their empire on their name. They use there name to sell products the have little to do with, or films they were not involved in. They use the aura of there brand to collect tons of money without even doing anything. It’s all about image… reality is irrelevant. Image is all that matters.

How can the used/done be made new and marketable? How is what I bring going to benefit or inspire people? If people like it, if it touches or entertains them, they'll use it. Why would people want to buy what I have? This is what we must begin to ask ourselves in our quest to build an Entertainment. Ask yourself what you want and then listen for the answer; and then go and get it.

Flava flave and Danny Boniduchy...

Disgust me.

Movie: Across the Universe

I liked it.

It didn't quite match the hype I had going in, but I enjoyed it.

Postmodern film making always excites me. I liked the reinvention of songs, the musical, and an over used storyline.

I found the story week but the effects and style redeeming.

I love the music of the Beatles and that's reason enough to watch and listen.

Shows I am liking

Dexter -- Really like it. Great watchable characters, simple and intriguing stories.

The Tudors -- Great casting, historical value, sex, power and the crown... love it. Showtime's coming back!

The Riches -- Really liking it, gonna watch more.

Nip Tuck -- Saw a few of the last season, I liked it. Fun and addictive.

Dirt -- Only seen parts, but I love Cortney Cox

Weeds -- Saw the first two seasons on DVD, really liked it.

60 Minutes -- I like a good news show. Andy Rooney scares me but the journalism in the show is there.

Bill O'Riley -- While I don't always agree with his views or many of his guests I will say he has become more fair and I like the incorporation of obscure words.

The Real Housewives of Orange County -- Got hooked on it, some characters remind me of friends.

20 /20 -- I love the "What would you do" shows and the feel good journalism. Medical mysteries open your eyes to all that can go wrong with the human body and make me scared to have children. It's almost a freak show but they pretty much succeed in giving it a heart and not make it exploitive.

Simpsons -- Always a fan.

American Idol -- This is the first year I have followed it from the beginning and I have grown to understand the players. Before I always just liked the first three episodes.

History Channel -- Always love Modern Marvels, Engineering and Empire, and the shows on Weaponology.

National Geographic Channel -- good shows here and there.

The Adventure of English -- on at 4am, it's the most interesting and informative show on TV. The history of the English language is fascinating to me.

Keeping up with the Kardashians

This is the stupidest show ever.

Alright I have never actually watched it but judging by what I have seen from clips on Talk Soup I can tell it's awful.

Kim Kardashian is disgusting to me. A classic example of a no talent, self obsesses no scruples person who will never understand what life is about.

It used to be that people became famous for doing something good, or something heroic.

These days people become famous for doing something shameful, like making a sex tape with another disgusting self obsessed no brain. Or going to rehab, or something like that...

Kim represents the decline of television and even the decline America...

so sad.

John McCain

I think John McCain is good man; an honorable man and a true patriot.

But he is not the President that we need in this time of great change.

McCain is not knowledgeable on the main issues that this country is facing: Health Care, the Economy, the Environment...

McCain is a war guy. He likes the war, he wants it to go on because like Bush Co, he gets his strength from it. The trouble is, it needs to end. America cannot afford it in it's present state. A base there is inescapable, but a protracted occupation like we have now is not sustainable.

Because McCain is not very knowledgeable on the economy and health care he is not prepared to address the problems with vision, and this is when the corporations provide one for you a la Bush's Prescription drug benefit Plan that cost the tax payers billions needlessly.

McCain is not a bad guy, but not the man America needs right now.

SNL

SNL is coming back slightly I think. It is still a far cry from the Will Ferrell days but I am really likeing Kristin Wig, I like Amy Pohler and a couple of the guys. I don't really like or get Will Forte.

Lasts night's SNL however was bad. Super Bad's Johah Hill was not good at all. I actually can't stand him after watching the episode. My fears that he is just like the characters he plays was realized. He is just like the characters he plays. He is not really an actor he is just playing himself. I find him gross, crude and horribly crass and almost disturbing. Not funny at all, he had no chemistry with the cast. He dominated the scenes in a bad way. One schetch was him talking non stop about how he is six years old, no one else really spoke... it was practically unwatchable.

Movie: Jumper

On a scale of 1 to 10... I give it a 5.

Hayden Christensin (or whatever) is the worst actor. Horrible delivery, totally unbelievable as any character. Rachel Bilson (who I like) is still stuck as 'Summer' from The OC. She had a few good moments but is really not a great actress either. Samuel L. Jackson also always plays an angry black man. All his roles are the same as well, this time they changed his hair color to make him seem different.... didn't work.

The effects were nice, it is the only redeaming element of the film. The plot was full of holes and clunky, the back story was hard, but poorly explained.

The story is sort of fun, it looked like a great movie to work on, great locations, some great shots, but the film was flat, oddly dull.

The Academy Awards: Revival Plan

The Oscars have been in rating free fall since 1998, that 'Titanic' year.
--Entertainment Weekly reports that the show is badly in need of a revival plan--

I would like to take this opportunity to put in my two cents:

In the postmodern times the film industry has gone global.. All the best acting gold this year went to foreigners. Many of the other talent are not Americans either. This has been happening for a while now but it is now really beginning to disconnect the heart of America from the elite Academy members.

It is essencial that Hollywood embrace talent from all over the world. It is important fot Hollywood that it remains the motion picture capital of the world and as such it must constantly acknowledge and find new talent. While this may alienate Americans it pleases foriengers. So while American viewer ship has been slipping global viewership has gone up. Awarding foriegners makes Hollywood global wich is certianly good for business.

American actors and big studio films need to get better. The problem is the average American consumer would see Saw 5 instead of There Will be Blood, and the studio's play to this. Because the average movie goer does not like, or can't follow a well done movie, it makes it hard for commercial success and critical success or academy praise to go hand in hand.

My solution for this is as follows.

Before the Academy announces it's nominations, a seperate group should begin the process of polling and asking regular Americans there choices for best movie of the year, best actor, best actress ect. They could have a website where after January 1st people can regisiter to vote and people can vote for their favorites pics for all the major catagories. The Academy would then make it's own announcements and both would be announced at the awards show. The First 3o minutes of the show would be a compilation of the best moments of the years movies, and the results of Americas votes would be announced.* This would provide insight for the academy (on it's connect or disconnect for the year), interest for the masses, reason for then to tune in, and would seek to promote more movies making the award show about all movies, making the studios and the networks happy as well. The awards would still only be for Academy pics but it would help give praise for the Will Ferrels and other comedic types who do great work but are not recognized.

*It would not be a 'Peoples choice' type thing, it could be done with class.

I would also condiser adding a comedy catagory. it could be for men and women combined, i would love to see comedians acknowledged for there contribution.

1 out of 100???

The New York Times reported today that one out of evcery 100 people is in prison.

This is out of control? Isn't it? America has more people behind bars than even China. Many states spend more on Prisons than they do on higher education!!! Something has to change... this seems completely out of control to me.

We need to figure out a cheaper way to deal with people. We need to get everyone that can work, working for the economy somehow. Working on road, building things or manufacturing something. Whit collar criminals should be punished by forced labor by the governenment. If they do a bad job, or constantly show poor work, the sentence continues. They should pay there debt to society by working for society. This is where I think planeting microchips comes in. --If you commit a felony you have lost the right to privacy-- This way people can be tracked.

For the length of their sentence they must live in governemt housing, and ride a special buss to and from work at there specified state job. If they attempt to go anywhere else, there punishment time gets longer. If they deviate again. They are incarcerated. They would be required to clean and do other chores, much like Army personell. The whole thing would be much like a non-volunteer Army. Because criminals cannot be trusted with weapons we cannot send them to combat. Peace keeping mission abroad would be a possibility for some people. Drugs and alcohol would be strictly forbidden and random testing would be done ontiop of weekly testing.

This would save the government BILLIONS and would not only help rehabilitate people and put them to work for the society they harmed but also teach people who never had a teacher. Education would also be mandatory for all who cannot pass a standardized test. Certian inmates/participants could follow classes over the internet and work towards degrees.

Also to spead the process along, all capital crimes that have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt (unequivical DNA or video proof) should be processed immediatley and the criminals executed within a year.

I know it seems harsh but when you think about how it cost's almost $40,000 to house and watch these people, it is more than obvious that that money should be spend elswhere, like on education and crime prevention!!!

Just my thoughts

Hillary or Obama?

This Democratic Primary is something isn't it? Who would have thought it would drag out this long? Hillary didn't.

But there is nothing like a good fight to gather the crowds and rally the party. This Primary is so important and so viscious because we all know that a democrat is going to win the White House. I think most people are so tired of the Repilican gaurd (including the planet) that it is all but certian. This fight for the Democratic nomination is so huge because it is essentially a fight for the presidency.

** John McCain is just to old and stale for most Americans. Huckabee just likes to campaign, go on TV and collect money from people, he's not a bad guy, but let's be honest he's in it for the fame. He doesn't strike me as Presidential at all.**

So which canidate should be President? Barack or Hillary?

Change is something we will get no matter which of our choices we elect... The question is what kind of change do you want, or to what degree?

I like Barack Obama, he is smart, articulate and a burst of life into a stale and rigid system. I look forward to great things from him. I want to see more of what he stands for, more of what he can do as a leader. But I don't think it is his time to be president.

I personally support Hillary. I think she is more prepared, she has more skills and abilities to get things done. She knows the world leaders, knows the policies, knows what she wants and needs to do to get things back to where they were before the Bush/Rove/Cheney debacle. I want a President who supports and is friendly with California. I think it is time America has a Woman president and I think that Hillary is the most qualified.

Barack has run an awesome campaign, he has vitalized, galvanized and the disenfranchised with his messages. He has great support (Obviosuly the Kennedy's are going to support him because it suits there image as much or more than it suits his, Oprah should stay out of Polotics and just stick to giving stuff away. He also has support from Repulicans who just want to hurt Hillary.) and is no doubt a fine man, and a long needed leader and role model for Black America.

He has become a trend and I am always weary of trends. I feel Barack is un-tested. By comparison he has no credit history and is seeking to buy a mansion. I'm not saying he can't afford it... he very well could, i'm just saying, if I was the Bank I would want a little more credit history before I give out such a loan. America is in a delicate place right now and experience is essential to getting things done, and even more so for undueing things that have already been done. Running America is no easy task and if you don't know what you are doing, or who you can trust, or who can help you or who is out to hurt you... things can go sour. I like that Hillary has been through this all already. She survived the worst smear campaign the Republicans could muster. No easy feat.

I also understand why she voted for the war. She, like most people thought it would be like the first Gulf War, quick and easy. It is not her fault that Billions were wasted and 'dissappeared'. That Halliburton didn't rebuild, or the Rumsfeld allowed the torturing of people. America cannot help but be involved in the Middle East. The Saudi's wanted us to dispose of him, Isreal wanted us to dispose of him, and Exxon wanted the oil. America needed that oil to stabalize it's economy, we needed to bring change to the region, the question was only how?

Bush Co.'s method of maddness f*cked Iraq up royally, wasted billions and dragged it on for as long as it possibly could/can so the checks for Halliburton keep coming, and so we can secure our control over the oil. It has all been done on purpose, there is no mistake about it.

I understand why Barack would vote against the war (remember it was a vote to dispose Sadaam, not a vote to send 140,000 troops over to Iraq for 5 years), but I also know why Hillary would vote for it.

No one wants this to get ugly, but everyone likes a fight. Obviously I am going to support whomever the nominie is but I would love to see a Hillary Obama ticket. I think that would be the best way to unify the party, and that way Barack would be fully prepared for the Presidency 4 or 8 years later.

Change we will have no matter what, and that is something I can't wait for!

TWB Farwell

No one is going to think anything of TWB until someone from TWB sells a script. Or until someone finds a script on TWB and buys it.

And the people whose thoughts matter are never going to even know about TWB unless that film is made AND makes money.

There is no getting around that.

So the question then becomes How is someone at TWB going to sell a script?

If you ask me you should make it a group effort. Write great scripts, with peer reviews et al. Collaborate and share methods and contacts, have four people work on getting one script seen and sold. You stand a much better chance focusing on one script, than four people working on four scripts or eight.

Find a project to rally around, work as a team to write it, promote it, get it buz, get it seen and read. Then if you sell it the credit TWB and the main contridutors. This would make TWB the contact that it so needs. It would make it a place where scripts go to get polished and sold, and it would give it cred that would make Agents or producers more likely to look for material.

What is important to remember is that everyone at TWB is writing 'Spec Scripts'. No one asked for them, they were written on speculation and by definition need to be four quadrant high concept, very marketable stories. Juno is the perfect example. No Country for Old Men would never sell on Spec.

I moved to LA almost two years ago and have worked on TV shows, feature films, Agencies, and management companies. I have leanred so much in this and i am still trying to understand how it all works... when you think you know, it all changes again or the rules you thought existed are all being broken. There is a definitate path to the biz, and Lit agents and producers can smell an outsider from a mile away. If you don't follow the path you will never get anywhere. There are shortcuts and there are hurdles. But if you don't even know the path you will wander aimlessly forever.

So what is the path?

Know someone in the biz who wants to help you.

or

Write a verified excellent Spec script; marketable catchy, relevant, and interesting. Make sure everyone knows about it; agents, producers, managers. Find that one person that wants to make it and buy it. Pray it makes money.

**

I have feel I am getting close and I am building up some contacts of my own, but i am not in a place to get anyone elses material read, especially if it is not amazingly good. I have enough trouble getting my material read! Remember you are competing with thousands of writers who have sold scripts, so it has to be really good or really original to even have a chance.

The issue with TWB is that is doesn't help people like me: young, in LA and work in the biz, and aspiring screewriter. When I first began looking for help in my screenwriting career/mission I found TWB. I was immature and rambuctions; but was overly criticized, even discouraged here. I went elsewhere for help and found it. Today I have a great relationship with a Literary Agent and I make new contacts on every job. I know it's only a matter of time before I write a perfect spec and get it into the right hands. It takes a lot of work, dedication and timing. But I am in for the long haul.

I think there is a definate place for TWB. This thread got me thinking about TWB and how I used it. There were some great discussons from 2005 I am copying before they get deleted. The way I see TWB today is the same way any Agency or Production house is going to see it? What have you done for me lately? No one is this biz is going to stick there neck out for you. It's unwise. It is better to say no on something that seems viable, than to say yes on something, spend millions and be totally wrong.

I know many 'senior members' don't like me as far as I can tell. None have really been helpful to me whe I asked for it; so it is hard for me to want to help them. I am in a position to help people these days but I have found a circle that I trust and that supports me, we support eachother. Helping people is a great way to help yourself. The sucess of your friends is your success right? Choose your friends well.

Once my membership expires I will not be renewing it. Wish me luck! I wish TWB the best of luck. Don't stop beleiving.

Oscars 2008

Not a bad show. Not a great show.

Dark themes, alienation, death, pain, greed, evil...

As Jon Stewart said, "Thank God for team pregnancy!"

I would have like to see more clip shows like the ones Billy Crystal did. I like Jon Stewart I think he is a great host, but I want to see the show more lively and fun. Next year hopefully the movies won't be so dark. It was a dark year for Hollywood and indeed America.

I am actaully really glad that Tilda and the French girl won. I like them both and am going to see 'en Rose' soon.

I have been watching the Academy awards since i was a kid. It is one of my favorite things, my family has always been into it. My Mom was always routing for the underdog foriegn films... it seemt that the international is now winning the prestige war with the Hollywood studios. And the foriegn acots are stealing all the American Academy gold!

Hollywood needs to take a good hard look at itself and try and understand why this is happening. Why are the people who don't live in LA better actors?

I hope the 'Britney Spears' disease is not spreading... mediocraty we cannot have.

Movie: Michael Clayton

Very good movie.

It was very Syriana, highly convoluted, hard to follow, and confusing. This film however comes together perfectly in one swoop. It all makes sense all the sudden. It truly is a great film, I would highly recommend to all intellegent film viewers.

Not Clooney's best performance I thought, he brought the gusto in the final scene, but other than that scene I didn't see a great performance.

I liked No Country for Old Men better, but this film is certianly justified as a best picture nomination.

8.6

It's a sign.

I am currently writing a script called "The Nigerian Letter". On the Tonight show with Jay Leno the term came up. It's a sign. It's gonna be a great movie. This was a sign.

Movie: There Will Be Blood

Very good.

Danielle Day Lewis is amazing. A truly powerful performance. He was the film, and he was rivetting. A great story, with a good cast.

I don't see it as best picture, but DDL should get best actor, hands down.


8.5 out of 10.

Hollywood Types

I feel like I am turning into a 'Hollywood' type.

I am not an actor, but sometimes I act like one.

I am not a director but I direct things.

I have never sold a screenplay --yet but I am close.

I live in Hollywoodland in a dream.

I am always looking for friends and networking contacts, I am going to start to put a production company together in the next year and I am going to add Producer to my resume.

I don't want to be just another Hollywood type, I want to be the guy that went Hollywood but never forgot where he came from.

Producing (Old re-post)

"A Producer is nothing but a dog with a script in his mouth."

I learned something interesting watching this DVD a friend of mine has, given to her buy a producer about producing. She works at a coffe shop he frequents, and he likes her but she said he's kinda 'creepy... and sexual' but the point is he gave her a copy of "Hello, He Lied... And Other Truths from the Hollywood Trenches (AMC Program starring Linda Obst)" and it is actually really enlightening on Producing I thought...

Basically what I gather about producing* is that it is very hard and is filled with unexpeted bumps problems, choas, good luck, awesome/horrible timing, magic, disater and sometimes a movie. What you are going through now is nothing compared to what you are going to be in for once the ball starts growing... It's all about relationships, and you have to be a good sales man, excite people about the idea... LIE WHEN YOU NEED TO... you have to make people think you have gold even though your holding lead. It will either all come together... the movie gods will smile upon you... or curse you into development hell! AAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Noooooooooooooooo....

Sorry I had a panic attack.

I think it sounds like you guys are not in a bad place. What has to start happening (agian in my baseless opinion) is you have to start to build a relationship with this actor, he is your new best friend and your co-worker... a tough place to be. You are his boss but he is your job, he has a lot of the power and much of your buget may be going to him, it sounds like he is the movie so...

You could be facing creative control issues, if you plan to go to a studio... get ready for that, I don't ever hear about it being an easy process... I mean once you get funding you have to make the fucking movie! You need to find a Director this actor will like who understands your vision... the movie might end up completely different than you imagine it if you are not careful... or maybe it was a good thing

It sounds to me like you are entering the realm of development... which can be a decade long process or like rolling a snow ball down the hill and a film ends up at the bottom and you win an Oscar (we can dream can't we?).

I wish you the best of luck, and I hope to learn from your experience. I am no where near ready to produce a film at the point I am at, I am just trying to sell my idea and hope it turns out well, maybe get a speaking part on it.

Some day I will produce an Oscar film... Some day I will produce an Oscar film...

Some day I will produce an Oscar film...

I tell myself that everyday.

Best!

*(I know nothing about producing but you can sure as hell bet I am going to figure it out!)

Postmodernism #4

One thing you should know about the information age, about postmoderism.

Secret#1

It is all about launguage.

No knowledge that cannot be transfer-translated-or-caputured by a computer will survive the postmoder transformation. Period the end.

If it cannot be be put into a computer language, it is not knowledge.

Experiences, dreams... not knowledge.

Words and text... knowledge, power.

Pictures... worth a thousand words.

If you master the art of communication, if you are able to translate your knowledge into a computer, if you are able to use launguage (not as many people as you think are really capable of this) to communicate your knowledge, if you can transfer it to a computer and thus share it with the postmodern-cyber-image-media driven world, then you have leanred the art of...

Postmoderism.

Language is magic.

Smoke and mirrors.

Rhyme and reason.

Law and rules.

Math and science.

Religion and philosophy.

Everything.

The reality of many people, people take books for literal truth.

Books are falable because they are created by man.

Text is meaningless, unless it has meaning. Who gets to descide?

You do.

So go ahead.

What is Postmodernism?

What is Postmodernism?

"The more you know, the more you know you don't know"

I think it helps to think about the market for your script as well as the way in which you think it will fit into the mainstream? Will it be over looked or will it stand out?...

Here is a writing exersise I engaged in that helped me and other writer understand my story and our world...

I would love to hear thoughts and discuss this more with anyone.

AxiomTy
Anything turns to everything as quickly as everything turns to anything!

Reply Criptic Quotes
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"Eclectic Simularum Reality Posted Bricollage."

Darkness and Sunshine

What is Postmodernism? It exists in Language.

jimjimgrande
Registered User
Posts: 2
(2/5/05 10:16 am)
Reply Re: ..@$% Postmodernism? %$@..
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I took a class on it in college and I still don't know what it is.

AxiomTy
Registered User
Posts: 14
(2/5/05 11:55 am)
Reply Re: ..@$% Postmodernism? %$@..
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That's why they should make a movie!

Do you think they should make a movie that adresses this totally cool social theory?

scriptfxr
Registered User
Posts: 47
(2/8/05 1:32 pm)
Reply No
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No.

They should make a movie about great characters in an engaging story. If one of them happens to talk about postmodernism theory as his "thing" then it might make for an interesting character... but to build a movie around an esoteric theory? Good luck...

AxiomTy
Registered User
Posts: 25
(2/9/05 3:09 am)
Reply Re: No
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You don't build the movie around it. You make a movie using it..

That "interesting character" is the professor in the story, and the engaging characters happen to be smart and beautiful, and ever so marketable characters.

The story is built around someone who is trying to understand the world he lives in, trying to make it right.


AxiomTy
Registered User
Posts: 28
(2/12/05 12:32 pm)
Reply What is the Matrix?
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You know what movie is built around postmodern theories. The Matrix. The Matrix digs into the esoteric, and incorporates Pomo theorist Jean Baudrillards 'death of the real' and 'simulation and simularca' as well as many other postmodern styles and concepts.

I'm telling ya, this pomo thing is already big, the market is there, waiting to be addressed.

username
Registered User
Posts: 44
(2/12/05 7:41 pm)
Reply Re: What is the Matrix?
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The Matrix was successful for it's special effects. That's what put asses in seats -- not postmodern theories.

AxiomTy
Registered User
Posts: 30
(2/13/05 3:22 am)
Reply O' contrare
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Postmodern theories of film making drove people to create such awsome visual effects. They beautifully evelated and integrated computer animation flawlessly within the story.

Before that could get on screen, there needed to be a theory for what it is that they (The Wycoski or whatever Brothers who spent five years writing and researching [postmodern] theorists) were trying to bring to the screen.

Special effects don't make up for a weak story, in my book; luckily the Matrix has both.

My point was that the market has already responded well to postmodern elements being thrown at them. I think the market is ripe for a film like the one I just so happen to be selling...

username
Registered User
Posts: 45
(2/13/05 11:39 am)
Reply Re: O' contrare
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Perhaps the Wachowski's (sp?) intended The Matrix to be based on postmodern theories, and perhaps it is based on postmodern theories -- to be honest, i'm not real sure what postmodernism is -- but, the fact remains that it was more successful for it's special effects than for it's ability to get people to buy into it's underlying postmodernistic theories. The Wachowski's (sp?) creatively found a way to turn a decades-old idea into a movie that was able to showcase cutting-edge special effects technology and CGI. That is what the market responded to.

A google of "postmodern" reveals that the concept of postmodernism emerged in the mid-80's. The concept the Wachowski's (sp?) used (machines vs. man) has been done many times before -- even before "postmodernism" emerged as a concept. Take Kubrick's Space Odyssey. That movie was released in '68. It used the same theme of man vs. machine (Hal vs. Dave) as the Wachowski's (sp?) used three decades later (man vs. machine). What about the Terminator movies??? Again, it's man vs. machine.

In ALL of the examples i listed, each of those movies were praised for their special effects, which were cutting-edge in their time. That, is/was the main attraction to those movies, and that is/was what the market responded to -- NOT any underlying postmodern theories, as in fact, postmodernism was still two decades away when Space Odyssey was released.

AxiomTy
Registered User
Posts: 33
(2/19/05 3:40 pm)
Reply The Matrix has you Username...
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I changed the size of the title in that last post and then it just deletes the whole thing, fricken computers...

The Matrix is postmodernism, an instance of postmodernism, an example of it. The effects, the story, the marketing, the concept-- postmodern!

Meaning, new, cutting edge, drawing on the past in a new way, intertextual (drawing on texts of east and west, i.e. Oracles and Kung Fu) and elevating digital effects to the status of the real... entering us into an era of hyperreality film making! Can't get someone to do that on camera? No problem we will just digitally make them do it.

Postmodernism did not just appear in the 1980's. You have completely missed the boat. The term Postmodernism, the term, has been around since the 19th century (the 1880's to be exact) and where the modern era ends and the postmodern era begins is not yet answerable. But one thing is certian, we are in the post now.

"The concept the Wachowski's (sp?) used (machines vs. man) has been done many times before -- even before "postmodernism""

This is exactly why the Matrix is postmodern. It is taking a conceopt that has been visited millions of times and making it new, bringing new elements to it and making a story conbination that relies on many elements, together. Man vs, Machine + mind over matter + hyperreality computer worlds + men in black + gangster neo-noir + spoon bending Budhists + action, explosions and unkillable computer programs. and more.

Postmodernism is best thought of as the world today, a world where all rules are out the window. All the worlds ideas, cultures, creeds, religions, races, concepts, sciences, stories and facts are stirring together contradicting eachother and making it impossible to understand who is right and who is better looking? Postmodernism is the era of the image, image is everything and money is the only sign of value, everything is sex and nothing is sex, TV and reality have blended giving us a world of simulated hyperreality where we watch TV as it watches us. In this world we can google answers and find information about anything instentaneously, whether or not it's true is only a matter of perspective anyway! In this way religion is both dieing and being reborn, falling appart and coming center stage, it becomes absolete and necessesary. Everyone is simply lost in a world of images, we perfer them to reality anyway, and we all go about our lives living in a dream world we can't rise out of, why would you want to leave anyway...

Darkness and Sunshine: A Postmodern Story

username
Registered User
Posts: 46
(2/21/05 6:41 pm)
Reply The Matrix has you Username...
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I don't know what postmodernism is, and quite frankly, i don't care what it is. The only time i ever even thought about postmodernism was after reading your posts here. A google of "postmodernism" returned...


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Postmodernism is a complicated term, or set of ideas, one that has only emerged as an area of academic study since the mid-1980s.
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That quote comes from the first link returned by google. That link is...
www.colorado.edu/English/.../pomo.html

That is where i came up with the part about postmodernism originating in the '80's. But, like i mentioned, i don't know anything about postmodernism, and if you say it started earlier, then that's fine with me. I'm in no position to question that.

However, i would like to question one of your claims. You posted...


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where the modern era ends and the postmodern era begins is not yet answerable. But one thing is certian, we are in the post now
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How can this be??? If it hasn't been answered as to when the modern era ended and the post-modern era began, then how can we know for certain that we are in the postmodern era now??? Wouldn't it be impossible to claim that we are in the postmodern era now, when we don't even know for sure when the modern era ended, or even if the modern era did in fact, end??? Perhaps we are in the modern era now -- maybe even the pre-modern era??? Is it grandiose of us to assume that we are in the postmodern era???

I watch movies to be entertained. When i watch a movie, i'm not looking for enlightenment, knowledge, understanding, etc. I simply want to be entertained for two hours. Maybe i'm shallow, but i don't want to have to think real hard at the movies, and i don't want to have to try and figure out underlying postmodern concepts or how i can apply them to my everyday world. A movie, to me, is an escape, where i can forget about the day's worries, and just relax and get lost in what's happening on the screen.

I liked The Matrix movies, because i like Mr. Smith and some of the other baddies, and i particularly liked watching them fight with Keanu Reeves and his gang. That was the entire attraction to me -- the special effects and action sequences. To me it was about man vs. machine and really cool CGI. If that's postmodernism, then so be it, but that's not what i was thinking about while watching. The main draw for me and countless others was the special effects and fight sequences. The story was secondary and nonessential. All the viewer needs to know is that the machines want the humans dead, and the humans don't want to be dead. If people want to analyze it on a deeper level, then that's up to them, but that's not what i go to the movies for, and that's not what Hollywood marketed when they advertised these films.

I'm not into the "red pill, blue pill" or "The One," or any of that other crap. I just want to see some fighting and Carrie Anne Moss in that skin tight suit. (IMO, The Matrix would have been a much better movie if they had put Angelina Jolie or Teri Hatcher or somebody like that in that skin tight suit.) The Terminator was the same way for me -- cool fighting, and in the last one, a really hot chick playing the "bad machine." Personally, i didn't care for Space Odyssey because it was too much story and not enough action.

Don't get me wrong, though -- i do like a good story, but i like it even better when there's some big explosions and big tits to back it up. If they're able to package it into a movie that is based on postmodern concepts, then that's cool too, but don't blame me if i pay more attention to the cleavage than to the concept.

AxiomTy
Registered User
Posts: 34
(2/22/05 2:59 pm)
Reply The Matrix has a lot of people...
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First of all I don't want to offend you dude, and I want to say I enjoy our difference of opinion and discussion and I hope it is mutual.

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Postmodernism is a complicated term, or set of ideas, one that has only emerged as an area of academic study since the mid-1980s.
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This statement is dead wrong becuase many of the most prominent discourses on postmodernism were written in the 1970's. Loytards "The Postmodern Condition" was written in 1972! And he was building on previous other discourses.

Did World War II ever end? Common understanding would say yes and yet some would say no. This is like modernism and postmodernism. While the war was declared over, we are still dealing with the consequences and aftermath of it. The middle east was a WWII creation, all the countries were divied up in the post WWII and that is far from over (Iraq, Isreal Palistine ect).

Postmodernism is full of contradiction and catch 22's, just like in the matrix. Man and machine trying to kill each other even though they can't survive without eachother; catch 22. This is the post dude, we hate it but thats just the way it is.

"Perhaps we are in the modern era now -- maybe even the pre-modern era??? Is it grandiose of us to assume that we are in the postmodern era???"

Of course it is! But this is also how I KNOW we are in the postmodern era (a catch-22), we are questioning wether or not we are which means we are. Just like the end of WWII came with the delcaration that it was over, the postmodern era began with the delcaration that it has begun. The problem is that it has been delcared man times by many people in many ways. What makes it even more complicated is the fact that not EVERYONE is in the postmodern mode or mindset, many people and many places are still living in the past, the pre-modern as you put it. So in a sense you are right. But only the postmodern era and thinking could give us the Matrix right?

"Don't get me wrong, though -- i do like a good story, but i like it even better when there's some big explosions and big tits to back it up. If they're able to package it into a movie that is based on postmodern concepts, then that's cool too, but don't blame me if i pay more attention to the cleavage than to the concept."

Spoken like a true red blooded American, I love it. Don't get me wrong either dude, I love a good cleavage shot and expensive explosion, but the nerd in me also like a good subtext and high concept. Postmodernism in film only draws attention to the fact that rules are breaking, it is not trying to make people strain their brains. South Park is a great example of Postmodern Television. Pushing content to the edge, and yet it is so simple or as the creaters put it in the South Park movie filled with "crappy animation". See postmodernism is fun, it is all around you, you just don't realize it because you don't know any different. Old people on the other hand grew up in a world that is long since gone, to the masses while to them it may still exist, but such is postmodernism...

Keep watching the cleavage dude, postmodernism want to give you more!

username
Registered User
Posts: 47
(2/24/05 7:34 pm)
Reply Re: The Matrix has a lot of people...
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Oh no, i'm not offended. I'm sorry if i came across like i am/was offended.

"Postmodernism," for me, is a term i've heard many times but never gave a second thought to -- i simply dismissed it, whether correctly or incorrectly, as being "artsy-fartsy," and since i've never considered myself to be much of an artsy-fartsy type guy, i've just ignored the term and/or whatever it might mean.

Then, i started reading your posts about postmodernism, and it made me start thinking about the term and what it means. I guess i'm not very good at it, because i still don't know what it means, LOL. However, as far as postmodernism relates to the movies, i think we are both in agreement, even if we don't refer to it as the same thing. In other words, i think we both liked The Matrix for the same reasons, even if i just refer to it as "cool effects," while you refer to the underlying postmodern concepts that brought us those cool effects.

I guess my point is that even though i might like a movie that is full of postmodern concepts and in fact relied on those concepts in order for the movie to be made in the first place, the red-blooded American in me won't allow myself to acknowledge the postmodern stuff, i guess because, i don't understand it.

Hollywood LOVES guys like me. As long as they keep pumping out explosions and big tits, or really cool story lines and really funny one-liners, then i'll keep buying tickets. AND, if those same movies are considered to be "postmodern," that's fine too, but Hollywood needs to market them to me as action-packed flicks with ultra-hot chicks instead of something that i would consider "artsy-fartsy." I think if Hollywood loses sight of that, and starts trying to push the postmodern angle, then Hollywood is gonna lose.

Even if The Matrix is a postmodern movie, i think you would be hard-pressed to find more than a handful of people who would be in agreement with that and/or willing to discuss the posmodern concepts involved. On the other hand, you wouldn't have any problem at all in finding a plethora of people willing to jump on the "cool effects" bandwagon. I think Hollywood realizes that and will market it's movies accordingly, since i represent the target market, LOL.


AxiomTy
Registered User
Posts: 36
(2/25/05 1:20 am)
Reply Exactly
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"Artsy-fartsy" I love it.

What I love about you is that you both love and hate postmodernism, which is so postmodern.

I have a secret though. Postmodernism is a scam!

I made it all up just to promote my script:
Darkness and Sunshine: A Postmodern Story

I bet I could get you, Joe-Hollywood, to come see my movie. I just need to add an explosion...

*This post was deleted from soyouwannasellascript.com for some reason, this post has been edited so as not to rattle any nerves!