Is Hollywood about to meltdown? If you listen to Steven Spielberg and George Lucas it is! Speaking at the opening of a new media centre at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles, Steven Spielberg said “There’s eventually going to be an implosion, or a big meltdown… where three or four or maybe even a half-dozen mega-budget movies are going to go crashing into the ground, and that’s going to change the paradigm.”
Not only that, the Jaws director says people should have to pay more for bigger blockbuster movies ““You’re gonna have to pay $25 for the next Iron Man,” he said. “You’re probably only going to have to pay $7 to see Lincoln.” He continued saying that studios aren’t really interested in personal or historical movies “You’re at the point right now where a studio would rather invest $250m in one film for a real shot at the brass ring than make a whole bunch of really interesting, deeply personal – and even maybe historical – projects that may get lost in the shuffle,”. Lucas agreed with his long time pal saying “You’re talking about Steven Spielberg and George Lucas can’t get their movie into a theatre”
Lets be honest, between the two of them George Lucas and Steven Spielberg have generated billions and billions of dollars in box office receipts. Lucas has only directed 6 movies which combined generated over 1.7 billion dollars! And if you include his producer credits you can add another 1.6 billion onto that. As for Spielberg, well as director he’s pulled in 4.1 billion dollars and that’s without even looking at this producer credits. So, yes they are the Hollywood poster boys for success. So when they speak, people tend to listen. Are they right? Well who would I be to correct either of them. But I do agree with what they’re saying to a point.
It’s hard to imagine a complete implosion, but things are definitely changing. It’s one thing for the studios to be hedging their bets on big tentpole movies, but whats missing out of the equation is audiences. With the current financial crisis constantly hitting house holds on your street, people are getting alot wiser with their money. 3D exploited audiences with premium prices for a non premium product. And while 3D is after improving to some degree, the damage is done, and 3D movie releases are down substantially on previous years. Audiences have voted with their pockets. With quite a number of blockbusters in recent years not delivering the goods, audiences have soured towards the term blockbuster after far too many letdowns. On the other hand and to their credit Marvel and Disney have come up with the goods consistently and audiences tend to have some degree to Marvel releases. Iron Man 3 being a recent example as well as the all conquering Avengers.
Cinemas themselves have to shoulder some of the blame as well. With exceptions obviously, certain cinemas have zero quality control, with poor quality sound, let alone surround sound and appalling picture quality where projector bulbs are stretched to an inch of their lumen life and we’re left with dull, washed out and out of focus movies. Ironically enough, while IMAX gets it right (all the time in my book) people still complain at high ticket prices. Regardless, a night at the movies should be an experience to be savoured and enjoyed. In alot of cases, its far easier and more comfortable to say at home and scratch your nether regions. And your cheap 55 inch LCD TV can deliver a better picture than that burnt out projector any day.
It’s not a generalisation and a pop at all movie houses, and I understand cinema is a business, but for audiences and their hard earned cash, they deserve better.Cinema owners need to take pride in their equipment and premises and more importantly remember what going to the cinema is all about.
As Spielberg says, expect a premium price for big blockbuster movies. It’s a possibility that may well happen, but will people pay it? The question is not will they pay it, but can they pay it? Is it not also a bit rich for Spielberg to have a pop off the blockbuster industry? Don’t get me wrong, I idolise the man, as I do Lucas, but these guys made their cash on blockbusters. And while their money is made and as incredibly inspiring as they are, tragically they are victims of their own success to a degree. With a studio system more interested in getting younger audiences into cinema seats than anything else (after all the younger demographics are the ones that spend the money on product), the likes of Spielberg and Lucas are all but unknown to new generations, who are more interested in vampires and wizards. And that saddens me. These two men moulded my childhood like no other! And I’ll include Richard Donner and Superman there too.
Don’t get we wrong, I love blockbusters. I grew up on them. They were fun, exciting and exhilarating. Think back to the first time you saw Jurassic Park on the big screen? The amazement at real life dinosaurs thundering around the place. When the Raptor came through the cage in the bunker and popcorn went flying everywhere! Think about that for a second. Remember how awesome that was? When was the last time you genuinely had an experience like that? I’d hazard far and few between in the last 15 years.
Cinema is changing. We watch more video content at home be it Netflix, Hulu, youtube…the list is endless. Getting people out of the comfort of their own homes is a tough task. Churning out A list stars in chunks of crap time and time again, was great for a quick fix a few years back, people aren’t idiots anymore. Give people a genuine reason to want to see a movie along with a decent movie going experience, and the implosion may well hold off.