Why Hollywood Doesn't Need the Heartland

Townhall.com ^ | 3/14/2006 | Jason Apuzzo

[orionblamblam]

> Maybe some conservative filmmakers will take heed and start making some lower-budget conservative movies we'd enjoy.

One movie with an *extremely* good conservative message came out last year: "Serenity." The director/writer is extremely left-wing, but by sheer accident he made one hell of a movie.

Did YOU see it?

[agooga]

I've lived in LA for 17 years-- that automatically qualifies me as "native."

[Little Ray]

Overall revenues are NOT down - that is the point. If patriotic Americans are no longer watching their crap, then they won't bother trying for 'em. They'll make movies for Mexicans, Arabs, and Euroweenies.

[American Quilter]

One movie with an *extremely* good conservative message came out last year: "Serenity."

My 17-year-old nephew (fine young conservative--I'm so proud of him) asked me to watch the DVD with him at Christmas, and I really liked it.

[orionblamblam]

> What would you suggest for a storyline?

"Footfall" by Larry Niven. Features, among other things, Manly American Rocket Scientists saving the world's ass, and one of my all time favorite scenes: an extreme tree hugger bashing a reporters brains out and burying him in the compost heap... because he realised that the reporter was going to bust open a story about a nuclear project. At this point in the story, the Green had come to understand that nuclear power was the only way to save the environment, not to mention his own keister.

"God was knocking, and he wanted in BAD."

[A Texan]

I somewhat agree with the article but it has one major flaw. These "indie-looking films" still contain supposed A-list actors and the conservative public remembers this. Studios can do a couple $20m movies that make $80 with these actors but when you put those same stars into $100m movies and they only make $30m then you lose. Also, this years "indie" movies were not the only ones made, most "indies" make little if any money, whether they are studio movies or actual independent films.

You won't be an A-list actor for too long if all you do is crappy indie movies, those movies don't pay for the $20m house in Malibu or the Hampton's.

[DesScorp]

"How was Crash left leaning?"

I'm getting so tired of hearing Crash defended around here. Just because it beat Brokeback doesn't mean it's a good film. Crash is just as lefty as any of the other nominees. It's about how everyone, especially whitey in LA, is inherintly racist. Its director is a left wing moonbat from Canada that has an anti-Bush project in the works.

[American Quilter]

Sounds good to me!

[noblejones]

>>
How was Crash left leaning?
<<

White people = evil.

[Rummyfan]

That report is a hoax.

More cowbell!

[theFIRMbss]

>a lot of it coming from the conservative media

No kidding. This place
was Brokeback Mountain's loudest
source of daily press!

[noblejones]

>>
Oh I had plenty of problems with it but any film that shows minorities capable of racism as well can not be described as 'left-leaning'.
<<

Ah, but you missed the message -- whitey MAKES them that way. Not subtle at all. I say that, even though I like a lot about the film.

The director is a major league dickhead, though.

[Rocko]

Hoax.

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

there’s decent money to be made being left-wing, so long as a film’s budget is low.

Too true.

Hollywood has recently perfected a formula whereby low-budget, indie-looking films generate good reviews, controversy, and oceans of free publicity (a lot of it coming from the conservative media) due to a film’s left-wing worldview.

Which is why I try to ignore films like "Syriana," "Good Night and Good Luck," etc, etc.

[Borges]

I didn't say its a good film. I said its ztep up from 'whitey is bad' and everyone else is a noble blameless victim.

[GOPJ]

There's no competition for Hollywood - and in spite of that, many are choosing "none of the above" when it comes to movies.

That Hollywood can keep an industry going by selling violence and sex to 14 year olds is not a surprise. The surprise is that owners and shareholders put up with it...

For me, Hollywood has jumped the shark.

[orionblamblam]

"Sure as I know anything, I know this - they will try again. Maybe on another world, maybe on this very ground swept clean. A year from now, ten? They'll swing back to the belief that they can make people... better. And I do not hold to that. So no more runnin'. I aim to misbehave."

"There's a lot of fine ways to die. I ain't waiting for the Alliance to choose mine."

Won't get that out of a Lib in real life. How that line was dreamed up by a Lib, I'll never know, unless there's some serious cognitive dissonance goin' on there.

[American Quilter]

Also, this years "indie" movies were not the only ones made, most "indies" make little if any money, whether they are studio movies or actual independent films.

But if they're good movies, and can be advertised in a way that lets prospective viewers know the movie is pro-America, and/or pro-military (same thing), and/or pro-traditional-values, I think conservative viewers would show up in droves. And word-of-mouth would make up for a small advertising budget.

[TASMANIANRED]

They are, and are making money.

[orionblamblam]

> Sounds good to me!

And it reads even better. Every time I read it, *especially* the first time, I literally could not put it down when I got within the last 70 pages or so. Missed a day of college to finish it. It's *that* good.