Hi Shekar,

The insight into the economics of hollywood is totally amazing. Its cut right into the heart of the matter. I was in Hollywood and Universal Studios a few days back. As a consumer I was enthralled by the movie theme rides at Universal Studios. The way it has been built and is being maintained speaks volumes of the dedication and discipline that goes into it. The American culture is an embodiment of that at least thats what I could see. The legacy of Hollywood is too huge to be drowned away so soon.
The Indian films are seen across the asian and african continents. So the presence and audience is already there only the revenue part needs to boost up.
So it would be interesting to see how things go.

Corporations or not, it isn't the marketing boys pulling the strings at the core level, it is demand and supply based on as you correctly said consumerism.

At the root, it is indeed "Us vs Them" mentality in struggle, which could either wreak the havoc or tilt the balance towards one side. Case in point, American's combined psyche and mentality post 9/11. The Hollywood thrived and raked in gold when Americans were mostly seeing "blue". Now, they're mostly "red", hence you can say bye-bye to Hollywood as it was known prior to 9/11.

The corporations are making products because they have to survive, their bread and butter first and foremost is American audience. I do agree that World may eventually pull these corporations towards their side if they could tilt the balance. But ultimately we have lost the good old liberal and creative Hollywood at the hand of free market.

I presume you are referring to the big budget studios which are fast running out of ideas and looking for inspiration into Comic books, as you rightly pointed out.

However, I think independent films will continue to flourish and we may see some films coming out of Asia which could be the next trend, as audiences worldwide get exposed to these films. I did see an interesting Indian film recently, as I was intrigued by the cover of the DVD. It's a film called Parineeta and it was surprisingly good, rich in atmosphere and unlike most films from Bollywood, didn't have annoying songs interrupting the narrative.

Set in the 60's in Calcutta, the images it evokes of the city are really good and for once, we don't get to see the usual side of Calcutta that is frequently portrayed (with all the poverty and pollution, etc.) I wonder why they don't distribute these kind of films on cable, which have fairly standard fare. The acting was really good and I also liked the sets / costumes, as they were evocative of the period.

The best shots were the images of the bridge and a boat gently careening in the water and reminded me a lot of the images from that great film, "Siddhartha".

Hi Shekhar,

American pop culture has had tremendous success all over the world without bothering to cater to any particular taste except its own. People love Hollywood for what it is. Even Bollywood does its best to resemble Hollywood. Even if the box-office revenue is going to increasingly be generated from other parts of the world, the ideal of the superstar will still remain Hollywood. A lot of the success of Hollywood has to do with the fact that Asians idolize America. Americans do not idolize Asians. The Asian Spiderman will probably be an art film for a niche market and not a mega world wide phenomenon. Just my opinion of course.

Hi Shekhar,
A thought crossed my mind, It is not about this particular blog but anyways.. How about you make a movie on Deepak Chopra ? I am sure he would have enough life experiences that you can carve a nice movie from it.

Nobody would watch it other than his fans. I wish to see Dr. Chopra in day time TV slot, why is he not there alongside Dr. Phil?

She is beautiful ...

Shekhar,

Change and chaos are good, alright, But I don't see how Bollywood is going to provide that. If it is going to, they have to change their "so pathetically predictable, sentimental" formula of making movies. And if they can change, even Hollywood can.

So, as far as I am concerned, the field is wide open.

i agree and disagree at the same time. i believe that the dominance of hollywood may be on the wane, but at this point it is ever so slight. and the lure of the power that is associated with hollywood success is still massive. i mean (with all respect), why do 'the golden age' and not 'the spice age'? on the other hand, in this ever increasing global economy and society, i do think india and china especially will become massive powers. (if we can all solve this little thing called 'energy crisis' that's about to hit HARD, but i believe we can). with this power comes the spoils of culture dominance, which of course will include dominace of entertainment, cinema included.
i could go on and on, and i want to, but i gotta go to rehearsal.

love and respect, mr. kapur.

onegirl

p.s. i have just started to learn hindi and then i will move on to catonese or mandarin. hee hee.

Hi Shekhar,
Well.. It is really irony that people who are making original and intersting movies in hollywood is finding difficulties in surviving and coutries like india and china is controlling market because of population...I am sure that Indian movies makers are not creative or should say they love to cpoy from hollowood or european movies..And Am sure you know better than me because you made career out of copying from hollyowood.anyways I agree you are little different than other Indian imitators...However this is not my point.My point is may be Conservatism and Right wing elemets in USA like fox news and o'reily is on rise and Hollywood is preceived as secular left wing by conservative and right wing replicans..So because hollywood is not able to indetify changes happening in american society after 9/11 and may be this is reason for Hollywood slump.

I read in one of stoies by Munshi Prem Chand: "If all the entertainment industry shuts down, whole world will still run fine. Then why do we need to spend biilions of dollars and man hours on movies and pay starry packages to these stars? Just to keep creativity alive and people forget their plight while watching a 3 hour movie?

I wouldn't write off Hollywood so easily. There is no other film industry that has the same wider appeal as Hollywood. You can say Bollywood is getting more and more recognition. But, honestly, it has its appeal in some parts of Asia and westerners who are inquisitive about Indian culture. I don't think it has got anywhere closer to the critical mass needed to dethrone the giant Hollywood. Well, Hollywood might have lost some appeal here in US as people here are under the spell of right wing extremists at the moment. I am pretty sure that they will realize their stupidity and come out of it real soon. Once it happens, I am sure Hollywood will generate the same level of enthusiasm it used to generate.

Interesting site, and very organized too. Good work. Revelations of John: http://anthony.ianniciello.net/blog/archives/000079.html , Naked truth

Before I read any responses to this blog I just want to say BRAVO.

You have identified the decline of the global movie apparatus to a great extent.

And more then the film industry and music.

If we look at overall global trends "everyone" knows on some conscious level that Asia will over take America as a world economic leader.

Or maybe "we the people" of the globe will get sick and tired of corporations and governments dictating to us what "we" like and don't like and the decentralization of the film industry (aided by the new emerging internet based technologies) will so transform how films are made and watched that no one can at this moment imagine what that will look like. Much the same way as the internet is impacting UPS, the world wide mail system, telephony, music and forms of entertainment that can only be experienced through the internet.

I worked in Hollywood. I worked with some pretty "famous" people. I still speak with some on the phone. It is dismal at the moment for many in Hollywood.

Even more detrimental then the corporations are the lawyers. Some years ago they figured out that they could make they're stifling entertainment lives of just writing contracts much more attractive. They bent the laws to the point where now they are determining how and what films get made. The corporate guys are just doing what the lawyers tell them to do. Everyone in America is afraid of a "good" lawyer. Even a "good" CEO.

One last thing. As far as getting the west to sign on to an "Asian" hero? No problem there. The Asian Diaspora that has occurred since man started traveling the globe will insure this.

"Build it and they will come".

CURIOUS:

It is the marketing boys, agents and lawyers. If it was supply and demand Hollywood wouldn't make so many "flops".

And your so right about post 9/11 film industry. The Watjuski Brothers (no idea of how to spell their name) voluntarily changed the direction of "The Matrix" because they didn't think America could stomach the "terrorists" defeat the "system" message.

SKAR:

I worked in Hollywood. I can't emphasize this enough. The "Big Studios" are not running out of ideas. Ideas in Hollywood come a dime a dozen. What is happening is they are paralyzed in the decision making process. Big corporations instead of the old Hollywood system where a Zanyk (studio boss) made the decisions.

"Independent" Hollywood films are mostly financed from outside of Hollywood.

I left my Swiss production company that worked exclusively with Bollywood producers shooting in the Alps. Let me tell you Bollywood is poised to give the International film industry a run for there money. The "old guard" of Bollywood is giving way to young new producers that are in touch with the global community.

DIVYA:

Again as someone that works in the Hollywood industry I must with some authority disagree with you.

First of all it's not Hollywood that people love,

At this very moment if it weren't for Hip Hop culture American pop culture might not exist at all. Not even in America. And that comes out of the Bronx. Really Jamaica West Indies but that's another conversation. How old are you anyway? (Just need a reference point).

Secondly the last time I looked not all Asians idolized America. But what about Bruce Lee. We loved him. Are you American? (Just need a reference point).

If someone with "balls" put up the money and put an Asian in the lead role of a quality production like "The Gladiator" Americans would flock to see it.

HARI:

I agree. The field remains wide open. No one really knows.

ONEGIRL:

Smart idea.

JIGNESH:

Hollywood has been copying from the beginning. Shakespeare wrote all the stories that have ever been written. Hollywood just changes the wardrobe.

HIMANSHU:

Good point. And why am I spending so much time on this ridiculous theme? Boy I'm off.

Hey A Guy In A Diner,

What abt Conservatism and right wing extremism is on rise and Hollywood is full of left wing pot smokers hypocrites who drives Hybrid Car like prius and will say only one thing 'Bush is stupid'...I mean do you think normal American will buy this Hollywood crap...
Jignesh

I agree with your balls comment, quality Hollywood film with an Asian cast is a key. But this tide can be turned around with quality Asian films with Asian cast (you just need to have Tarrantino collaborate more with Hong Kong). I also agree with your hip-hop comment, you are so absolutely right.

Last I heard, they are churning out products based on focus groups assessments. Surely, Shekhar won't be making a sequel without a scientific research. But again, these marketing boys are judging the public's taste and demand, and audience ultimately has gone south since liberal's last great hero, the guy with blue color and red accent has left the white house.

When you demonize artists like Tim Robbins and Sean Penn in their own country, then you got to suffer the consequences of sequels made by Vin Diesels of Hollywood. Its not that 40 year old virgin didn't make a dough, it did, but don't forget the Latinos, they are the next big market, they just need a winner like Rodriguez perhaps.

I wouldn't know where Hollywood is heading.

But I am reasonably certain that Bollywood is heading even further away from cinematic utopia. The producer wants to do the directors job, the director wants to do the music directors job, the actor wants to be the director, the cinematographer wants to override the screenwriter... and so goes the insecure chain... doesn't seem like a place that can churn out good cinema.

Shekhar: Great Post! I am glad that you are a significant player in making sure the "world's untapped creative resevoirs" don't have to find their way through Hollywood's, and America's, "corporate bottle-necks."

As an American--it is suffocating to me to even try and find my way through, let alone remain interested in, "The World According to Corporate America (not 'According to Garp!)."

I am increasingly noting that the greater populace of Americans are also "choking" from the corporate strangleholds that are nothing but a "veil of immunity" from personal responsibility.

Since the 1840's, when the notion of corporations really took hold as a "business vehicle," it seems that the corporation as we structure and apply them, was a "destined learning experience."

Now--it is time that "we" learn to apply corporate structuring differently, or dispose of these structures as a means of "doing business," where the current "Enron and WorldCom" bottom-lines are the tool of decision making. Dave

Shekhar, this is very true. And to take it further, its true for many other fields. To sum up, there is this wave of equality engulfing the whole world. Creativity to me is - breaking the rules. And the process of mega-corporatization hinders that. Remember, in Men's Tennis the Americans adorned the top seeds until very recently. Now I see only Roddick, somehow struggling to remain in fray. I foresee that even the degrees from the so-called top notch universities will become trite. You may hail from Andorra, not completed your studies for want of money, but if you have that "creativity", the world is ready to embrace you. The movie Iqbal stands a testament to this fact. It has been pretty long since you directed a movie. Looking forward to one.

Indeed an interesting post..
Everything comes full circle. Hollywood is almost beginning to feel it doesn’t need humans to make films anymore, it’s so mechanised, the special effects and all. Certain Hollywood traditions had inspired people all over the world with. Now it just captures money. So, I think this new emerged world cinema(european, iranian, asian) can only go from strength to strength.

hey all of u,

hollywood was the greatest place for film makers to come to - in 40's right up to the 60'- and then in the 90's the creative process began to get corporatized. Whe I firsy came to hollywood people used to call what we made film. Now they call it a product. The distribution behemoth needs to be fed - and now, more than ever a commitee decides what the dragon needs to eat -

and the theory of the films bieng made are what the consumer want is wrong. We are into a phase of what I call swamp marketing. The noise in your head for example when Batman or Spiderman comes out is impossible to shut out. The theory is that make the noise so loud that all other noise cannot compete in sheer decibel (read spending) levels.

We now call that swamp marketing - so you are not then getting what you CHOOSE - you get what gets your attention the most. So adverstising has effectively turned you from a chooser to a puppet.

So we should welcome and encourage individuality and more and more of that I think is goig to come from the east where the cinema is supported by enough of a home audience - and the ambitions to go out and conquer a global market are now strong.

shekhar

sorry - the second para should read " the theory that films are bieng according to consumer preferences is wrong".

will promise to be more careful in future - was rushing this one off

shekhar

JIGNESH:

"What abt Conservatism and right wing extremism is on rise and Hollywood is full of left wing pot smokers hypocrites who drives Hybrid Car like prius and will say only one thing 'Bush is stupid'...I mean do you think normal American will buy this Hollywood crap..."

Once again I will state that I have worked inside of Hollywood. There are as many "right wing extremists" pulling strings in Hollywood as there are "left wing pot smokers".

Also since the 80's the use of drugs by the majority in Hollywood has declined to a minority.

"What's drugs got to do with it?"

CURIOUS:

You hit the nail on the head.

VISH:

"The producer wants to do the directors job, the director wants to do the music directors job, the actor wants to be the director, the cinematographer wants to override the screenwriter... and so goes the insecure chain... doesn't seem like a place that can churn out good cinema."

In my working in Hollywood I personally experienced that the producer wants to do the directors job, the director wants to do the music directors job, the actor wants to be the director, the DOP wants to override the screenwriter.

In short I think this is just a case of the universal dis-ease that the grass must be some how greener over there.

Maybe because of iron clad unions or maybe because everyone in Hollywood is so paranoid about loosing there jobs this phenomenon is much less "apparent" in Hollywood.

I worked with some rich boy from Bollywood shooting scenes in Switzerland. I have to give you a benefit of doubt. This guy WAS the director, producer, main character, DOP, writer. And it wasn't some student film, short or low budget indy.

This can never happen in Hollywood or if it does the quality of the film is stymied. I have learned from Hollywood that film making is truly a collaborative process. It is a team event and not a one man show.

JIGNESH:

"What abt Conservatism and right wing extremism is on rise and Hollywood is full of left wing pot smokers hypocrites who drives Hybrid Car like prius and will say only one thing 'Bush is stupid'...I mean do you think normal American will buy this Hollywood crap..."

Once again I will state that I have worked inside of Hollywood. There are as many "right wing extremists" pulling strings in Hollywood as there are "left wing pot smokers".

Also since the 80's the use of drugs by the majority in Hollywood has declined to a minority.

"What's drugs got to do with it?"

CURIOUS:

You hit the nail on the head.

VISH:

"The producer wants to do the directors job, the director wants to do the music directors job, the actor wants to be the director, the cinematographer wants to override the screenwriter... and so goes the insecure chain... doesn't seem like a place that can churn out good cinema."

In my working in Hollywood I personally experienced that the producer wants to do the directors job, the director wants to do the music directors job, the actor wants to be the director, the DOP wants to override the screenwriter.

In short I think this is just a case of the universal dis-ease that the grass must be some how greener over there.

Maybe because of iron clad unions or maybe because everyone in Hollywood is so paranoid about loosing there jobs this phenomenon is much less "apparent" in Hollywood.

I worked with some rich boy from Bollywood shooting scenes in Switzerland. I have to give you a benefit of doubt. This guy WAS the director, producer, main character, DOP, writer. And it wasn't some student film, short or low budget indy.

This can never happen in Hollywood or if it does the quality of the film is stymied. I have learned from Hollywood that film making is truly a collaborative process. It is a team event and not a one man show.

Solutions I do:
1. Don't buy (see) a movie product (hollywood or xyzollywood) just for time-pass. Make sure you read 10 independent reviews before you invest time on a hollywood product. Avoid voilent action and vulgarity as it pollutes mind. Read a book to yourself or kids, walk, listen to music, learn any art (music, dance, paint, etc.) instead.
2. Shut down TV. I use TV ONLY to watch cartoons for my daughter and few classic movies on DVD or cassette, which are not in theatres.
Tough but it works for me.

Hi Guy - For your reference points, I'm 48 and Indian. Notice how no Asians piped up to say that Asians don't idolize America. This is true for the masses, even those that go about shouting death to America. Yes, Bruce Lee is an exception, but you cannot cast him in anything other than his genre.

Shekhar - I understand there's swamp marketing, but you forgot to mention how good Spiderman was. So the spirit is very much alive. And no amount of swamping saved Catwoman (I think that was the name).

The entertainment industry has always referred to movies as the product. Ditto with rock and roll. But these are the businessmen of the industry and out of touch. For the directors and actors it is very much an art form.

On the other hand - look at the product out of Bollywood. Back in the 60's they made good films but now it's 99.9% garbage. The only reason Bollywood (and Hollywood) is successful because people like garbage. This is important to bear in mind.

Wow Divya, I am in agreement with you for the first time.

The genius of "collaborative efforts" of yester year Hollywood was made possible because of combined psyche of artists working together with enough financial/material resources at their disposal.

When Bollywood rich boys make the whole movies, they do it because they have no other choice. This would change as more corporations get involved in the process. Whatever little good movies Bollywood have made in the past, they have made them because of one or two genius collaboration (writer-director combo etc).

But the sad thing is that consumerism is making Vidho Vinod Chopra bank on commercial success and Ram Gopal Verma is struggling to find a product which could appease the audience, so he could remove the label of failure from himself. Shehkhar could not have survived at all if not for Hollywood. There is no guarantee how long these brilliant "individuals" can survive in Bollywood with the onslaught of capitalim (Shekhar had the successful formula with Mr. India, his inner struggle probably made him distance himself from the core, my guess).

As far as Hollywood is concerned, of course we're being fed with no choice, but you're only looking at the market side of the product. How does a successful product initiate is another story. Tell me why would they make Duece Biglow? Why would they make American Pies?, Why would Rodriguez make Spy Kids? How Tarrantino was able to make Kill Bill in two installments? .... Because audience wants to be fed such products. The argument that there should be more Kill Bill is another matter. The piece of art without any success and/or audience is like that fallen tree in the forest. It is futile to argue whether the tree fell or not.

I don't blame the marketing boys for forcing us to see Spider Man, they have a right to advertise their product with maximum force. When humanity makes a great big leap in evolution of things, we can then probably expect the best from all the artists with no strings attached.

Dear Curious,

We recently signed up to do the music for one of the directors you mentioned. A few days later, we were handed the song situations along with a bunch of CDs marked with which song to recreate! We had the luxury of saying "no, thank you" since we are not deep into it nor dependent on it... but most music directors would risk their existence if they did that.

Dear Divya,

Swamp marketing works and works so well that the consumer has no idea that he is already conditioned to accept the product. eg. if a song gets really good rotation on tv and radio channels, however moronic the song, chances are you will be humming it.

Hi Shekhar,

I have promised myself I won't gush, so I won't. Yes, Hollywood is finally waking up to smell the coffee. Yes, it will cater to foreign markets to its east more than it will cater to its own whims and fancies. But why use Aishwarya Rai's pic in your post? I think she's gorgeous and all that blah, but the woman can't act to save her pretty peepers. Somehow, she doesn't gel with what you have to say. Please tell me you are not planning on casting her in your forthcoming ventures. No, don't tell me, reassure me. Please.

Vish, if it is Vish at Karadi, hi. I was with Planet M. Remember me? Read your reply to another reader about the music that you had signed up to do. Sad state of affairs, isn't it? But I have to disagree there a bit, apropos swamp marketing. Having worked in the music/retail industry for over five years, and having seen its peak, I have to say that very few of the "moronic" songs or acts, so to speak, (most of them are, I will give you that) go on to become success stories. Not EVERYONE goes by how frequently the song is rotated on satellite television or radio. I quit just before the industry saw rockbottom. And the industry IS heading that way.

And oh, most of the "it's" in the post don't need the apostrophe. Sorry, am an English Editor by profession and had to say it. Peace.

Hi Suma,

I should probably hv included the Planet Ms in addition to tv and radio in the swamp marketing scheme...lol. Heard the usually fantastic Asha Bhonsale collaboratively mutilate Farida Khanum's Aaj jaane ki zid na karo, in one of her recent ghazal remixes while browsing at a Planet M. A guy at the store told me it is their best selling album.

Haaye mar jaayenge, hum tho "mit" jaayenge!

Asha is the cause of remixes, she's always been a rebel. Farida Khanum may have a different perspective but junta holds the last word irrespective of the time.

BTW, just watched Parineeta, its the best example of the writer-director combo I described above. I was waiting for Vidho Vinod Chopra to top his 1942 Love Story, he sure did in Parineeta with fine combination of screenplay, story and music.

hi suma

i did not mean swamp marketing neccesarily creates sucess - it just means revenues - but revenues that come at a huge cost of marketing.

so now the marketing budgets of films in hoillywood are sometimes almost 50 % of the cost of the package . and this is a self fulfilling prophecy - u spend more on marketing per seat, therefore you get more revenue's per seat - therefore you add more to the budget of the film next time - and then to cover that you spend more to market it - and so on

shekhar

You replied! YAYAYAYAY! Ok, I broke my promise. As for Planet M, why do you think I quit? I have watched the video once and I was taken aback, too. Asha Bhonsle is the most versatile singer that India has produced, but that was the pits. Even with the floor guys pitching it as their best selling album, (not to give trade secrets away), nothing could be further from the truth. A retail store just doesn't see those numbers anymore. Last year's number 1 record wasn't even pittance when compared to the number 1 three or four years ago.

Quality can never compare with quantity, Shekhar. I think you would know it WAY better than most. WAY, WAY better.

Vish, if you aren't the Vish I thought you were, pardon me. I've replied to you in my previous comment.

But, umm, about the Aishwarya bit? Please?

About Aish: would you rather see Om Puri's face on intentblog's fine homepage then Aish as a global actor? I take Aish anyday even if she's ageing.

DIVYA:

No I didn't. "Notice how no Asians piped up to say that Asians don't idolize America."

Thanks for pointing it out.

Please note that I didn't say, 'Asians don't idolize America.'

I said, "not all Asians idolized America."

Bruce Lee isn't the exception. He "was" the exception. You are right. During the time he lived Hollywood would not have cast him in any other genre.

Wonder what roles he would be getting were he alive today?

I didn't name any other non-American actors because I didn't think I had to. Bruce "was" the exception but not today. And in today's Hollywood "foreigners" are being increasingly cast and excepted in non-traditional roles.

Thanks for the response

Dear Suma... I am the same vish. So you arent at Planet M any more?

Curious: Any day. Blindfolded and both hands tied behind his back.

Vish : How good is this! I sent you a mail just before I left. Didn't you get it? Don't mean to take up space here, do drop me a line at suma.nagaraj@indiatimes.com. Warmest :-).

I think the present generation of "young" and impressionable's are actually tired of boobs and butts in their face all the time; no matter what is on tv, or the silver screen...it's obssessive...my son says so, so do his friends; not everyone is "into" the flesh & fantasy frenzy... Hollywood does not listen to it's "fans."

I think, today's generation; are letting Hollywood "know" they expect more calibre, and less skin and gayism thrown in their face all the time... my son and his friends are right into comedy and sci fi...

my son is 16, and I find it uncomfortable to be watching a movie together, one we'd be waiting to see,,and suddenly an explicit sexual scene is on where the guy is enjoying a breast; ooops, there's a nice butt shot; OR moreso disturbing; is this endless pursuit Hollywood has now, in promoting gayism....

gosh, we don't see heterosexuals having annual parade's do we??

Hollywood is too "close-boxed."

give us more movies like your "Elizabeth"

and i'm a happy movie/tv watcher/renter(and arm chair critic-smile) regardless of language!!

{{~_~}}