Hollywood exec: Story doesn't matter!

Sad Professor

Interesting Variety article that features comments from a Disney exec in which he admits what we already knew about Hollywood’s approach to blockbuster type films. He suggests that declining ticket-sales means the studios need to focus more on these type of “story doesn’t matter” visual spectacle type movies.

”People say 'It's all about the story,'" Hendrickson said. "When you're making tentpole films, bull****." Hendrickson showed a chart of the top 12 all-time domestic grossers, and noted every one is a spectacle film. Of his own studio's "Alice in Wonderland," which is on the list, he said: "The story isn't very good, but visual spectacle brought people in droves. And Johnny Depp didn't hurt."

Visual spectacle, he said, drives attendance in a film's first few weekends. And unlike years past when a movie like "The Lion King" might stay in theaters as long as a year, almost all movies are out of theaters quickly now. "Once you're out of theaters your maximum profit potential is over,'' he said.

Is he right? Look how much Transformers 3 made: over a billion dollars worldwide so far. Story? Pfft!

If story matters why do people go to see this crap? Everyone complains about these films and say they want something intelligent with a story, but when those films come out they don’t do well. Is this simply a case of audiences getting the type of films they deserve, or is marketing the main factor in the success or failure of a film at the box office? This Disney exec says that how much they spend on marketing is in proportion to their estimation of the film's likely appeal.

mike65

No story is good way to sell a film globally. The more story, detail, dialogue etc the more culturally specific it tends to become and so harder to sell elsewhere. Hollywood isn't interested in films that do 100 million any more.

johnny_ultimate

I don't like generalisations, but this one in my experience is scarily accurate: the general public really don't care what they watch. Sure, they might call out the crappest of the crap, but most people will put up with anything as long as it turns off their brain for an hour and a half. It's why formulaic nonsense is prevalent and does well, and why films with heavy narratives are usually relegated to arthouse cinemas. How many times have we seen people dismiss someone's opinion on here on the simple basis that they "think about film too much?".

That said, the question arises whether people are so undemanding simply because they are unaware that there are alternatives. Would wider releases of more intelligent, story heavy film educate the public to the wide variety of cinema out there? I'd be cynical, but how will we ever know if that option is not available?

So yeah, in the meantime mainstream cinema is dominated by plotless drivel (Alice in Wonderland is a good example - one of the most cynical, pointless exercises I've ever experienced. Test audienced to within an inch of its life). There are a few interesting voices out there - Christopher Nolan being the most financially successful - who don't skimp on plot between the action sequences, but they are a minority in Hollywood. TBH, I've long since learned to stop caring, and just look for the more interesting cinema that exists if you look beyond the multiplex. If someone can't be bothered doing that or indeed is unaware the option exists, then that's their problem not mine. There will always be good cinema as well as the crap.

JohnnyRyan99

3 hours of depressing, soul draining, brooding but brilliant Oscar winning material

or

A couple hours of splosions and noise with some young one that can't spell Oscar.

I reckon it's all about the popcorn flick... I've probably gone to see every "big money" blockbuster in the last few years... But I wouldn't even go near the cinema to watch films like, for example Into the Wild or Requim for a Dream.. I'd prefer save them for a night im going to sit down at home and really get into a film because it's gripping and deserves your attention.

I go to the cinema to switch off and relax more often than not, bu das jus me!!

Sad Professor

Since when did popcorn films have to be mindless trash with no story? Surely you can switch off and relax while watching a really good adult thriller as well? TDK and Inception were both intelligent films with a story and it didn’t do their box office results any harm.

This is the problem with Hollywood. On one hand you’ve got serious dramas, most of which are designed just to win Oscars, and on the other hand you have mindless blockbusters aimed at teenagers. But there’s very little in between. Hollywood doesn’t really make adult genre films anymore. Why? Because they are too expensive, they have a supposedly limited audience appeal (adults only) and they don’t win Oscars.

But to realise how far Hollywood films have fallen you have something to compare them to. There’s a lot of great world cinema at the moment, but nowhere is beating Hollywood at its own game better than South Korea. The Chaser, Memories of Murder, A Tale of Two Sisters, I Saw the Devil, A Bittersweet Life, the Vengeance trilogy, The Man From Nowhere, Thirst, Mother, The Yellow Sea, Brotherhood of War, The Host, The Good the Bad and the Weird. The list goes on. For the last 10-15 years South Korea has been wiping the floor with Hollywood.

However, I have a lot of hope riding on Fincher’s remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The studio is spending so much on it and it seems like Fincher was given free reign. Yeah, it’s a remake, but if it's a big hit I think we may see a resurgence in quality adult thrillers from Hollywood.

losthorizon

All that will happen is that they will go looking fo other remakes. America by and large doesnt make films for adults anymore - its too afraid of getting an over 18 cert so we get landed with dire thrash in the cinema.