Hypocrisy in Hollywood

Hollywood can be a very complicated and generally deceptive place.  Everything is about appearances and presenting in image to the world.  From billboards to commercials to magazines, images and messages are plastered up all over everything.  For someone who grew up in another part of America, I see Hollywood through a different set of eyes than say someone who was born and raised here.  I notice that many people in this town consider themselves to be the elite and therefore somehow superior to those in the rest of the country.  I’ve met a ton of people out here who aren’t even fully aware that there is much more to America than just New York City and Los Angeles.  I’ve known many who just condescendingly refer to the rest of America as “the flyover states.” 


Having worked in the film industry in particular, I’ve noticed that many people seem to pride themselves on being far more tolerant, educated, hip and open minded than the average person. 


From my personal point of view, a certain degree of that belief is pure smoke and mirrors. 


For example, I’ve been a bit annoyed in reading all of the coverage about how shocked and surprised Hollywood is about the huge success of the Sex in the City film.  Judging by some of the press I’ve read, there seems to be a sense of shock that women go to movies!!!!  It seems that most mainstream Hollywood films are made by men and for men, particularly the 18-34 year old demographic.  Guess what, women make up half the world’s population.  There are very few movies (particularly good ones) that appeal directly to them.  The tremendous success of the Sex and the City film hasn’t shocked me in the least.  I fully expected it.  That show has become a cultural phenomenon that goes far deeper than just the shoes, designer gowns and apartments.  The story is about relationships, friendships and life problems, which is something most women can relate to regardless of their income level or age.  There simply aren’t enough films that target this audience, but the audience is out there!  Take note Hollywood, women DO go to the movies.  I also found a very interesting discussion of this film on the Hollywood-Elsewhere website.  For my part I totally agree with the comments posted by Kim Voynar.

Not only is Hollywood blind to the fact that there is a female audience, but they tend to forget about the minority audience as well.  I found this article about racism in Hollywood, that I thought made some very good points.  A while back I read a profile piece in a magazine about Tyler Perry.  In the piece it said that often times major film executives and studio heads don’t even know who he is.  I’ve also read box office columns that express surprise when his films make money.  While the most of the studios have ignored him, Perry has been off building an empire with numerous successful films, television projects and plans for his own network.  His name above the title means something to his audience.  Again Hollywood often forgets that African-American people attend movies too!


Perhaps the most shocking is that homophobia seems common in Hollywood.  I have a friend who works on a major studio lot and the year Brokeback Mountain was released, she talked to several people on the lot (men and women) who said they were disturbed by the subject matter and had no intentions of seeing the film.  On Oscar night, I put my money on Brokeback Mountain in any case, as I was certain it would win.  My friend said, “I know SO many people in the industry who said they would never vote for that.”  I told her that was nonsense and refused to change my bet.  As we know Crash pulled off a major upset and took the Best Picture Academy Award.  I lost the Oscar pool.


I guess what I’m saying here is that contrary to the image it likes to present, Hollywood can be sexist, racist, homophobic and short sighted on some levels.  I’m not saying this applies to everyone, but I’ve seen, heard and read plenty of evidence that it does exist. 
 

I’d also like to point out that America is in fact composed of 50 states and they are NOT just dust bowls full of “rubes”. 


Ok, rant finished.

First Comment:

1. Have you noticed how most of the people you are writing about aren’t originally from Los Angeles, or even New York for that matter? Many of them are from the midwest.

   Posted by pamela9 on 06/03 at 02:38 PM