Filmmaking / Directing : Can someone explain this to me? by Hector Valle

Hector, would you please post a link to the article on MSN? I would like to read it before commenting. Thank you!

MSN rotates their stories, so i can't find the original, but here are three sites with similar posts.

https://lifehacker.com/25-movies-that-could-never-be-made-today-1847900045

https://www.throwbacks.com/7-movies-that-wouldnt-fly-if-released-today/#...https://www.bing.com/search?

q=films+that+could+not+be+made+today&form=ANNTH1&refig=4b331f25382a4936b5ec73fca53141c0&pc=DCTE&sp=1&lq=0&qs=NH&pq=film+that+couldn%27t+be+made+today&sc=10-32&cvid=4b331f25382a4936b5ec73fca53141c0&showconv=1

They mention some of the films in the original article,

Why does anyone pay attention to this venal tripe. It's a projection of films from our shared past. Not ones to be released this year. It's no more than an agenda of cancellation bent on destroying our cultural legacy.

News Flash: Things were different in 1961. It's nearly 2024. And things are different.

This article is useless axe grinding palatable to a small gang of self righteous prigs who listen then light torches and march, march, march in support of a warped ideal the world's mind and soul needs to be cleansed with their brand of soap.

I LOVE the way you think E Langley. With some films, the innappropiate innuendo is in THEIR minds and everyone doesn't see it that way. I've had to use 'cancel culture' on some of my posts from years ago which were then considered trite and funny but now seems to inflame the trolls. It is a different world and it's a shame we developed such a thin skin.

Thanks for posting the article, Hector. Nothing to see in these articles. It's nothing more than someone trying to create news and interest in something when there isn't. I always encourage people to see something that has a controversy, and then judge for themselves v being taken down the ignorance path willingly.

excellent discussion and commentary. i am glad I caught this in my feed. :)

To be honest I'm of the opinion that if you don't like something or it offends that don't watch it, it's a simple choice. I can't fathom why the need to cancel stuff that someone considers offensive... why do they get to dictate what the rest can or can't watch. I mean I'm a great fan of the Carry On films and some of the content in those makes me cringe a bit however in the context of when they're made that's how the world was. If I was that bothered about it then I wouldn't watch them. :-)

Well said @E Langley post “Why does anyone listen to this venal tripe Etc. @Hector Agree cancel culture is mainly a shame. @All It’s disheartening someone’s own view of themselves can be used as a tool to dissect, judge & pass sentence on past artistic creations where no “ill intent” was ever meant. I’m against cases of real hatred of any kind but not the mass hysteria of words twisted by knaves to set a trap for fools into joining riots or banning art. Cancel culture crept into all areas, some public events having non binary/non gender toilets so everyone crams into same room on edge. I complained to receive “What exactly are you against?” I answered how can they imply any bias exists in me simply cos I want to use loo in peace? Unable to say male or female is a new idiosyncrasy in society. Different agendas are rising like mushrooms. Two world wars were fought and won for freedom of speech and dignity of all citizens but woke wankers are a rising thought police and it’s pretty scary they threaten everyone’s unique individuality.

Political correctness stifles artistic expression, and Hollywood vomits political correctness.

There are brave voices howling in the forest of let's-not-offend. The Obamas exec produced LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND. It's one of the finest films I've seen in a long, long time. Its frank portrayal of tense, innately distrustful race relations and the effects of disastrous American foreign policy is gripping.

Yet some wonk flew a hysterical red flag focusing on one sentence uttered by a Black character as if the crux of the entire story is encapsulated within; a mission to promote racial hatred.

Interpreted racism versus explicit racism. One is subjective and one is objective. Too bad the wonk wasn't capable of removing his head from his ass to recognize it.

@ E Langley I’ve not seen film “Leave the World Behind” but will try to cos it sounds interesting. We need more voices to stand up against being forced to fear fully fledged creativity in case content maybe misinterpreted by groups with radical ideas on social etiquette. Society is supposed to evolve & grow in diversity not be policed into one politically correct non specified whole. Speech & actions of the masses is insidiously being daily honed in & the calm acceptance of this aids the clone makers.

Let's do this in order, shall we?

1. The article is nearly 6 years old and is an opinion piece at that. In other words, it's an old article that one person wrote about their own personal beliefs. Take it with a grain of salt.

2. The most recent of these films is "White Chicks", and that movie is coming up on its 20-years anniversary. Furthermore, all of the films listed are comedies (I had to look up "Breakfast at Tiffany's", as I have never seen it before). Naturally, comedies are going to gain much more ire than most, if not all, other film genres.

3. The article is FULL of buzzwords and phrases specifically chosen to distort the film that they are talking about. For instance, when the author talks about "Ghostbusters", she implies that Venkman is looking to date rape someone just because he carries around a bunch of Thorazine with him. Another one is when she talks about "Pretty Woman" and she implies that Richard Gere's character " essentially buys Julia Roberts for more and more time until he eventually makes her his girlfriend", which is ABSOLUTELY not how it went. In other words, it's someone who's picking on older films to try and get someone riled up so they can get angry and go on rants about it, thus giving the author more clout than they're worth (in my humble opinion).

My final thought is this: there are 8 billion people on the planet. No matter what you make artistically, you're bound to piss someone off eventually. All you can do is make your art, let others judge it as they may, and ignore the critics. If nothing else, think of critics the way Hemingway did when he said:

"Critics are men who watch a battle from a high place then come down and shoot the survivors."

I hope you all have a wonderful day.

"My final thought is this: there are 8 billion people on the planet. No matter what you make artistically, you're bound to piss someone off eventually. All you can do is make your art, let others judge it as they may, and ignore the critics." I agree, Tony Ray. The first part of your comment reminds me of the saying "You can't please everyone."

Great discussion topic. One problem with this is that there is no overarching body overseeing what’s offensive, not that there should be, but it leaves each platform to make a choice and thus we have no consistency. That said I’m not a fan of cancelling or removing shows or films on grounds of offence. In the majority those that are offended are not the group the subject was about and so they are being offended on behalf of a group they don’t belong to, and when you get offended nothing happens. Literally nothing happens. Everyone can go about their day afterwards. In creative fields we have to be allowed to push boundaries to write honest and fresh characters and work.

So many comedies are social commentaries and are meant to be biting. BLAZING SADDLES was a statement as well as a comedic film. Richard Pryor was one of the credited writers. It speaks to so many social mores of its time. But in today's rearview mirror, nobody would make it or touch it.

We try our best to be sensitive to the mores of the time. All we can do is try our best. To say we shouldn't express ourselves because we might offend is to kill the human spirit.

I had considered that a more 'gentle' remake of Blazing Sadlles could be done with Kevin Hart and Ryan Reynolds... But why water down whiskey?

MICHAEL DAVID... so agree with that comment... "...TO say we shouldn't express ourselves might offend is to kill the human spirit."

An artist finally had his first gallery showing. A well known and respected art critic was in attendance and approached the artist. 'Would you like my opinion?'

"Yes, of course!"

"It's worthless!"

"Yes I know, but I'd like to hear it anyway!"

We create to stimulate minds, positively or negatively. It's not always kittens and giggles... and it shouldn't be.

It's so much easier for the studios to bet on the sure thing.

Mel Brooks and Cleavon Little, if I recall the story correctly, swapped dialogue tasks with Mel writing Cleavon's and vice versa. There are far more objectionable elements in contemporary comedies than a "Bean Symphony" or "Let me whip it out!" line from Little.

The sure things are taking a dump at the BO. Marvel's very expensive last few offerings tanked big time. So too for the near perfect record of Disney animated films. They've been taking a financial bath recently as well.

Guess folks are sick to death of the refried plots - mayhem, pithy line, more mayhem, zinger, world saved - that play out with different faces/costumes. Disney should get the hint.

Please allow me to rant here for a moment... I just saw this trailer...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk2OJZHutBM

I am in NO way offended by the nature of this film, it is a modern day Lolita... I'm totally okay with it...

BUT...

I was given some grief for my script 'The Aught've Biographaphy' because a brief three second, non-sexual kiss between my main characters...

It's okay, one day I will get my budget and have my film made...

The trailer for the film is on my page, if... you'd like to see it. Thank you..

We now returned to our regularly scheduled posts...

Hector Valle My answer to your first - and other questions: Because the pack of hyenas in cancel culture and the pack of hyenas in woke culture are not about open minds history or art. They are about political narratives and don't want you to think of anything else at any time. And the pack of hyenas who "greenlight" film in the studios are out of touch, cynical and incapable of determining the difference between art, entertainment, social commentary and propaganda - nor do any of those groups care for anyone else's freedom of speech or expression.

Actually, I see it more like 'Shark Tank', those 'investors' could not care any less about your business model or how it's going to save the world. Their interest is in getting the most control of your company for the minimum investment. 'Hollywood' is no different, they want a winning lottery ticket without having to work for it. If they can 'sell' your art, entertainment or social commentary, they will and cut you out of the loop. It's all bout economics. No one wanted any part of the 'Terrifier' franchise... until the film topped over $15 million worldwide!