Amid all the Hollywood union strikes and feared strikes that include lettered acronyms such as, WGA, SAG, DGA, AFTRA, AMPTA, a question may come up as to why? Why and what does all of this have to do with me? If you are one of the millions of people who carry around an iphone or any smart phone for that matter, belong to Youtube, Facebook, MySpace, or simply owns a computer that surfs the net or digital television, you are part of the New Hollywood and you are now dictating the rules, the financial balance and direction of a massive industry.
Unlike the days when there were only three and then four television networks and films that originated on film and not video, Hollywood pretty much dictated what you would watch, when you would watch and how often. Hollywood could and did dictate whether your broadcasted entertainment would be interrupted by a commercial or not. They dictated if you watched in a theater or in your home. Then came technology.
The technology you carry in your pocket or purse or desktop and how you use it has rocked Hollywood to it’s core. For a while now, Tivo and DVR technology has allowed you to set your own viewing schedules with or without commercial interruption. Smart phones like iPhones and iPods allow you to take this entertainment along with you. Broadband internet connections have virtually turned your computer into your own home entertainment center, where you can view movies, television shows and download music at a click of the mouse button. Furthermore, if you don’t like what’s being dished out by the pros in Hollywood, you now have the technology to create, produce and distribute your own original content through MySpace, Facebook, Youtube and a myriad of other outlets that are coming up everyday. Hey, because the price of hard drives and computer hardware is so inexpensive these days, you can start your own television station over cable for practically nothing. How cheap have things gotten you ask? In 1995, when doing my own digital filmmaking, an 8 gigabyte hard drive cost me $3500. Now? That same drive would cost nothing. Nothing? I must be exaggerating. No. I’m not. The hard drive that used to be the center of my whole film editing suite would not be worth packaging and selling even if it were brand new. Remember my drive of 8 gigabytes cost $3500. Today a drive of 500 gigabytes (that’s right 500gb) costs $80.00.
What everyday people can do from their homes with consumer level equipment is amazing! Hollywood knows it. Hollywood can’t control it (for now). Hollywood is afraid of it. Think about the music recording industry. What happened to records? What happened to eight tracks? What happened to cassettes? What happened to CD’s? Finally, what happened to record stores?
You are the new Hollywood and your choices dictate the future of old Hollywood. Look what the networks have to offer you in the way of television shows. Reality has taken over. Talk shows, singing contests, amazing races, who’s lying or who’s telling the truth, big brothers and little brothers, nannies taking over your kids, the list goes on. Why? These shows are cheap to make and cheap to cancel if by chance you should prefer the company of your iphone, rather than seeing if some one is smarter than a fifth grader.
With your computer, iPhone, Myspace, Youtube life, you are now the studio boss and if regulations don’t set in, you will continue to be so in the future. So while you’re standing in line waiting for the newest iphone or other form of entertainment and communication technology don’t think of yourself as a consumer, think of yourself as a Hollywood Producer. Hollywood already sees you that way. Let’s see what you’re going to green light. The world is waiting.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
So, what’re you saying? All you have to do is get an iphone, facebook and youtube and you’re a movie mogul. Sounds a little simplistic to me. I mean you pointed out the music industry. Sure things have changed but, I don’t see any new labels popping up. If there’s more to this I’m listening.
No new labels? Visit MySpace Music. There are companies who’s main existence and some, only existence is on MySpace Music. In fact, the old stalwart labels have found it necessary to have a presence on MySpace. The very term label is out of touch in today’s music. The term should more so be distributor or company. If you are not with a major distributor and your music knocks down download doors, and makes the artist in demand, who cares if they’re with Sony. However, still with deep pockets, these major companies can still ratchet up heavy advertising dollars and front major music videos. So no it is not simple, but the walls are closing in yearly.
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