Posted on 03/02/2019 12:22:28 PM PST by wardaddy
Director Steven Spielberg is facing a backlash from fellow Hollywood filmmakers after suggesting that the Oscars should no longer allow Netflix-produced films into consideration for its top awards.
The 72-year-old filmmaker, who has won multiple Academy Awards throughout his iconic career, has long been critical of Netflix’s approach to producing films as online streams, which he argues will detract from the theatrical industry.
“Steven feels strongly about the difference between the streaming and theatrical situation,” said a representative from Amblin Entertainment. “He’ll be happy if the others will join [his campaign] when that comes up [at the Academy Board of Governors meeting]. He will see what happens.”
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
The budget for Game of Thrones is I think 120 million for final season plus any distribution and ad costs...that is big.
Production for internet and cable release is the future no doubt whatsoever Steven
What? Speaking out against the Soetoro’s new enterprise? Heresy!
He had a great run in the Hollywood studio system. At 72 he should be more magnanimous to the new media.
Times change, and technology changes. He’s thinking that the only “legitimate” movies are those which have been shown in a traditional movie theater.
I don’t know for sure, but give it a few years, and services such as Netflix might have higher revenues than traditional movie theaters. And if that happened, it would just be part of how technology changes. People would still be watching the movies but just watching a different way.
Ironic choice of words since the theatrical realm may have not been all that thrilled when motion pictures came out ... and the radio folks perhaps were a bit slighted when TV came out.
For TV shows like Game of Thrones, there are the Emmy Awards. For Broadway plays, the Tony Awards. The Oscars are for Movie theatre motion pictures.
Size of budget has almost nothing to do with it. A movie like the Godfather or Citizen Kane is filmed for the big screen, while Game of Thrones is filmed for any screen.
Perhaps there should be (or already is) an awards show for streaming content.
The only thing different about Netflix and traditional Hollywood is the distribution process. Actors, crew and cameras are the same.
Spielberg is correct.
People do not value electronic internet streaming.
Electronic has as low value as an email. There is no substance or effort required.
A digital movie is an email, cheap & free.
A digital fiction story on Kindle, is an email, cheap & free.
Digital news is cheap & free.
When people plop their lazy bottom on a couch, no effort is required and the content is cheap & free.
Spielberg has a competing, separate standard, one of effort and substance. At least a DVD has a box and a disk. A movie theater has a ritual, people and a place.
Horse and buggy industry leader says automobile makers should be shunned by transportation awards
I personally spent zero time watching movies and don’t have television in my house
It is a colossal waste of time
Any free time of course should be spent only on free republic!
Thank you Jim !
I hate Netflix but online streaming is the new way for the kids.
Spielberg is a bitter old man who doesn’t understand
Baraq is not pleased, Steven.
5.56mm
Good point. Technology always has evolved, and will continue to evolve. So what’s his beef?
I use Roku some.
Mostly for reruns of Unsolved Mysteries and campy 60s Batman.
If The Godfather were made today, it would have been a series on HBO instead of a movie.
To be Oscar eligible it has to be shown in a theater. In LA. For 7 days. Most of the Netflix movies to get small theatrical runs. That makes them Oscar eligible.
Spieldberg is fighting a losing battle against technology and social trends. While LCD and OLED displays with their 4K and HDR are outpacing projectors in quality, my Panny VT series Plasma is still amazing, and streaming the same content I watched in the theaters is a better experience at home. My home theater is more comfortable thanks to power reclining leather theater seating, and has better sound than the theater. No teens talking or texting, no one getting up in the middle of the moving to go to the restroom, and much better food.
Theater attendance is trending downward, and box office sales are dominated by Marvel and DC comic book movies. Streaming is trending upward, and the quality content will follow the money, as will directors. Spielberg is particularly angry that Netflix won Best Director this year. The Horror! Just as AMC, TBS, HBO, STARZ, etc produced superior content when the broadcast networks were asleep at the wheel, Streaming services have gotten their foot in the door of Hollywood. If Hollywood wants to compete, they will have to adapt. Shutting Netflix out of award competition will not help, and figuratively screams “get off my lawn”!
His points are valid. As craft, there is a distinction between movies and television. As entertainment, that distinction may be without difference. The consumer will eventually have the final say.
More importantly, and not addressed, is that this is an argument ultimately based on display venue, not production. Whether or not the item is projected in theater or streamed to home devices, production is accomplished by large entities. This used to be necessary. Not anymore. So called fan films are being produced using very little infrastructure. And they are being distributed via streaming media. Some rival studio quality.
The motion picture/television industry has lost its monopoly. And while it is failing to provide worthwhile entertainment, it squabbles about what qualifies to be nominated for an "Oscar". Seems to me that they are worried about deck chair reservations while their ship is sinking.
if netflix is banned, then that will start the balkanization of the oscars, with many different oscars arising that each have different ridiculous criteria for inclusion or exclusion ... not necessarily a bad thing since it would pretty much finish off the oscars anyway ...
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