Tuesday May 22, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Make money not arthouse films: British PM tells industry

Arts & Culture Jan. 13, 2012 - 05:56AM JST ( 8 )

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8 Comments

-1

j4p4nFTWJan. 13, 2012 - 02:39PM JST

Definitely more blockbusters and fewer pretentious, boring art house films. Finally someone who gets it.
0

m5c32Jan. 13, 2012 - 04:03PM JST

just three operators run more than 60% of the screens—which often show the same high-budget films at the expense of independent productions.

These people are there to get a return on investment. If inde productions were popular, they'd play them; they're not, so they don't. It's not like theater operators are out to get them. They're trying to avoid going bankrupt --which showing inde productions would likely hasten.
1

mrsynikJan. 14, 2012 - 01:54AM JST

So we can expect a new series of Carry On films if the goal is bums on seats rather than quality flicks?
-2

plasticmonkeyJan. 14, 2012 - 12:21PM JST

If inde productions were popular, they'd play them; they're not, so they don't.

This is quite a generalization. "Inde" is not a homogenous genre. There have been many profitable films made outside the large studios, and many big-budget films fail to break even. I think the issue here is whether governments should fund or encourage productions that can potentially attract a wide audience, or whether governments should provide funding and support for less mainstream (and more artistically adventurous) films that cater to a niche viewership. Or neither.
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m5c32Jan. 14, 2012 - 01:36PM JST

Or neither.

That's the best option. With the internet and lowcost equipment and post-production, there isn't really a need for gov't to aid the 'unpopular' product.

Do we believe that people are smart enough to know what to consume as art/entertainment, or do we take the opposite and paternalistic view and believe we need to tell people what is worth their while/right viewing? If it's production of niche art for a niche audience --i.e. no possibility of gaining a mass audience, that's pretty much a waste of resources, isn't it?

I didn't mean to bang on inde. Basically, I meant, let the releases stand on their own, whether stock bollywood cliche, hollywood blockbuster/flop, domestic production or inde production.

Another thing is that the success actors and directors and producers have with bigger releases allows them the freedom to get involved in small budget, arthouse, independent productions.
1

FamilienproblemeJan. 14, 2012 - 05:40PM JST

Or maybe Britian could educate its populace in a manner that they don't want to watch Hollywood garbage?

Not to say that all of what Hollywood makes is garbage but it nevers ceases to amaze me the rubbish that does well at the box office.

Perhaps emulating HBO films would be a better mark? I think of "Rome" and "A Game of Swords" when I say that.
0

anglootakuJan. 15, 2012 - 01:24AM JST

Make original interesting story lines not boring boastful crap..
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m5c32Jan. 18, 2012 - 02:32PM JST

The attitude of the arthousians is similar to the take by the organ in China which mandated that Satellite TV providers broadcast programs that "promote traditional virtues and socialist core values" because there was an excessive upward "trend toward low taste and entertainment" in their programming.

As if the regulators knew better than the audience with respect to what they want to watch. Hubris.

http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2011/10/25/chinas-censors-take-on-prime-time-tv/