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Late in this article, a theater chain owner hits a big point. He talks about Hollywood needing to stop remaking old television shows into feature movies and start taking some risks with NEW stories.

The people who actually run Hollywood operate almost completely on fear. Everyone is afraid of making a mistake and getting fired. Of course, getting fired is what they have needed for a long, long time.

Movies are now negotiated "packages" that start with agents and producers packaging name actors and directors with a pitched concept. All the players are contracted to work together. This insures the agents get a bunch of money in commissions.

After the package is assembled, the LAST THING DONE is to see if they can find writers to write some kind of story to make the movie.

This explains the revolving door of writers on movies and the endless script revisions and complete rewrites that haunt the industry.

STORY IS NOW THE VERY LAST PRIORITY IN HOLLYWOOD....

...and, BOY, DOES IT SHOW!

The quality of the script is far more important than the big-name actors which is why there can be terrible movies loaded with good actors AND, conversely, great movies made with total unknowns.

Unfortunately today's "packaging" doesn't start with a great script.

Hollywood's problem is systemic and fatally flawed and it will be taken down.

The future of movies will be led by independent filmmakers, shooting digitally, who START with great scripts.

>>"independent film makers">>>

Funny you should mention that, a movie is being shot in Houston right now by a young independent film maker, a woman. She shot for 4 days last week in my house and yard. It is a romantic comedy, her first feature film, starring no one you ever heard of. I hope she does well with it.

Gimme 20 million, and I'll start makin' Keith Laumer's Retief of the CDT into movie - SF action comedy with a nice dose of T&A added.
After I clean up on the first Retief move, I'll start make a Bolo movie - Bolo: For Honor of the Regiment. Sort of an anti-Terminator movie.
After that, I look at the feasibility of makin' John Ringo's Gust Front or March to the Stars into a movie.

With all the lovely material out there, makin' an old TV show into a movie is an effin' sin.

STORY IS NOW THE VERY LAST PRIORITY IN HOLLYWOOD....
...and, BOY, DOES IT SHOW!

The quality of the script is far more important than the big-name actors which is why there can be terrible movies loaded with good actors AND, conversely, great movies made with total unknowns.

Two very excellent points.

THE STORY is what is missing from Hollywood flicks these days. It has been replaced by ACTION, SEX, OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE and VIOLENCE. We could add THE GLAMOURIZATION OF DRUG USERS, GAYS AND TERRORISTS and the universal replacement of the nuclear family with SINGLE MOMS AND DADS and DIVORCEES.

The star thing, however is a little bit different. A few actors and actresses consistently make good movies (at least relatively good.) I personally think this is due to the fact that they know good writing (and directing ) when they see it and have the clout to pick and choose.

In any case, my movie going days are over. I have a brand new 65" 1080p HDTV, a great speaker system, three motor driven La-z-boy type theater seats and a cheap microwave popcorn maker. They show old 40's, 50's and 60's thrillers (and G-rated stuff for the grandkids) in my theater and I love it.