Hollywood Talent Feeling The Weight Of Industry's Woes
from the feeling-the-burden dept
One of the recurring themes we've seen, when looking at the movie business, is that the huge contracts offered to Hollywood stars aren't worth it because very few of them are popular enough to consistently have a strong effect on a movie's receipts. So as the industry faces challenges on many fronts, greater tension is emerging between studios and talent. Not only are the salaries of stars taking a squeeze, but other creative positions, such as writers, have seen hostile negotiations. This is a difficult line for the studios to walk. On the one hand, they know they have to cut salaries, but without good talent, they won't have much of a product to sell. And writers who had formerly been well-paid won't be happy about taking a pay cut. Of course, the actors and writers aren't in the best position to negotiate. There are plenty of people who'd be glad to take their jobs for far less than the current going rate (and don't forget the added dimension of dealing with the powerful writers' and actors' guilds, that have their own weight to throw around). There's probably not an easy solution; these are longstanding problems that the studios were insulated from because their huge profits let them avoid examining inefficiencies with their model. However, since it is a difficult problem, there should be good rewards to companies that can figure things out.
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Studios have left themselves in this bind ...
Yeah, it's a difficult problem. But it won't be the studios that solve it.
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http://youtube.com/watch?v=iY2LD5WV-94
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I know some don't like it, but forget the content, its an example of a project that can be successful without Owen Wilson or {insert overpaid star's name here}. Its a movie that didn't cost much to make and made a profit, or in this case a serious profit.
There is hope yet for Hwood!
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As if
The fundemental problem is that they have no way of doing a pay for performance that isn't totally worthless. Of course that is somewhat understandable, given the many contributors to the success or failure of any particular film.
One can take a look at the sports leagues to understand what will happen if there is no limit to costs. the serch for 'good' talent makes the business unprofitable for all except a few. In all cases except one, they have been forced to put a cap into effect. Have no idea how they would do that in hollywood, but the similarities are striking
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Re: As if
I feel the same way about the salaries of professional sport's stars as well.
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Re: Re: As if
In hollywood, it would be better for the consumer if there were more viable studios producing material. Instead there is a concentration of studios who have economies of scale for distribution. The blockbuster really accentuates the economy of scale. But they can't buy a successful movie no matter how much they pay (see NYY).
Hollywood has reduced the economics to size vs quantity (quality isn't a big factor)(SC3?). when size doesn't work then they go quantity. Which means more people to pay for the same over all studio budget.
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Deep Pockets
Now that movie goers are getting more selective in their tastes (meaning they don't choose a movie soley based on who is in it) studios can't afford to dump a big budget and hope that a big name star will automatically equal a large profit. I hope times like this will teach the movie industry to spend its money more wisely but I doubt it.
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we've been brought up to believe short term gratification is the only thing that is important.
but i digress, the whole problem i would be willing to wager is that it starts with no discernible talent in creating a movie. it's all rehashes and remakes of older content. then you move on to the actors ( i use this term loosely) who typically have no concept of real life and so wrapped up in their current soap opera life to care about much of anything other then who's on their arm, how that makes them look to the public, and how much money they think they are worth.
movie goers aren't more selective, they're pissed - they're tired of the whole rate race. well i know i am. i rarely go to the movies because:
a. i can wait till it comes out of video
b. most movies out today suck
c. i hate theaters
d. i hate the people at the theaters
e. i can download it (oh crap, i'm a purse snatcher) and watch in comfort at home
f. i'm a cheap bastard and don't think it's worth the money they want
g. i don't think the actors are worth it
i could go on, but who wants 200 reasons why i don't go to the movies
let's give california back to the mexican's start over and pay actors what they get paid in local community theater...i bet we get some fun stuff then...there's a lot of creative people out there who don't get enough exposure...
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