Finally, someone big in the industry takes a fucking stand. I can’t believe it but M. Night Shyamalan, the director of “Signs” and “Unbreakable” spoke out on how the collective movie going experience is on a path to extinction. I couldn’t agree with him more.
What really bothers me is that other starts in the film making industry are silent and that just breaks my heart. What happened to George Lucas? What happened to Spielberg? What happened to Coppola? What happened to the rest of you out there? Were are your balls? I would think David Fincher would be one of those guys who would speak up and I would love to see it. Where is the outrage?
Here are 3 guys going down the road to damnation. Steven Soderbergh, Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner. These guys want to release movies in the Theater, on DVD and pay-per-view at the same time. WHAT?! Are you kidding me? Who in their right mind is going to go to the theaters when they can see a film at home? Very few, I can tell you that. Not to mention the fact that direct to DVD movies usually suck. So basically, these guys have the idea of turning all movies into direct to DVD movies. This will make all movies exactly the same, meaning non will be special? I can assure you, this will mean fewer sales and rentals down the road. As people find it harder and harder to know which movies are worth their limited time.
M. Night (Starting to really love this guy) said in so many words, that if it gets to the point where this idea becomes the standard, he won’t make movies anymore. That takes balls to say and balls is what is surely lacking in Hollywood these days. I think (but I can’t say for sure) what he is trying saying (or more what I am trying to say) is film is bigger than him, bigger than Soderbergh and if he has to walk away from it to make an important point, he would. It’s like dying for a cause and if that cause if just, then it is worth it. I am in agreement with him 100%.
So I ask again. Where are the rest of you? Lucas, wasn’t it you who helped to stop the colorization of movies? What happened to you? Spielberg, you have said some smart and heart felt things when it comes to films, don’t stop now. Though you two should get a crack on the hand for messing with your old films. Shame on you. What about all you other people, where is the protective feeling for this thing we all seem to care about so much. The thing that has put more than enough money into your pockets. Don’t you guys owe it a little something in return? Say something, be bold.
It’s this and all the things I talked about in my last rant. Digital, DVD being released too early, crappy movies, not enough desire to make going to the movies a better experience. So many damn things people could be taking a stand on but they don’t. And truly guys, do you want the Mark Cuban’s of the world reshaping how we go to the movies? The annoying Basketball sideline guy, the guy with the crappy TV show “I am a millionaire, watch me spend money” or some crap like that, he couldn’t even beat the other millionaire with bad hair. So how did this whiz kid make all his money? He made it possible for sports fans to watch crappy little MPEGS and Audio streams of there favorite teams on the web. Is that where you want the future of film to go? I ask all you other Millionaires out there, please don’t let it happen. For all our sakes.
Who knows, maybe film needs to be destroyed by the Mark Cuban type's, before is can be rebuilt.
