Once in a while, the entertainment industry creates a masterpiece, a classic for the ages. Such successful developments include the Harry Potter franchise, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and arguably every Disney princess movie ever made. The fandoms grow strong, and the pockets of the industry grow full; it’s a win-win situation.
The entertainment industry, however, has a tendency to squeeze every ounce of revenue out of each success. This is showcased in the remaking of animated films into live-action, turning successful movies into television series, and more, in the vain hopes of replicating the massive profits earned by the originals.
Such attempts are not always a miserable and obviously desperate attempt to make an extra buck. Disney’s Mandalorian serves as a great example of a proper revival of a Hollywood masterpiece. The series is wildly successful amongst Star Wars fans as it incorporated new elements to the story rather than just another lazy retelling. Most of the time, however, this is not the case.
According to Forbes, the movie industry is worth upwards of 40 billion dollars. That figure stands without incorporating incomes of the industry’s giants, like Actor Brad Pitt’s 300 million dollar net worth and Chief creative officer of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige’s 200 million dollar net worth, into the equation. With so much money, why can’t Hollywood cultivate originality?
It’s not whether or not the entertainment industry can make new masterpieces, it’s that they won’t. With movies costing millions of dollars to produce, and an additional inflated sum required for advertising, making even one is a big financial risk to take, especially for new creatives. In the rare case that an ambitious person, like Star Wars creator George Lucas, takes the leap and develops a movie masterpiece, their name becomes a household one. With that fame comes fortune. Such a cycle is not necessarily sustainable, however. With the industry being so cutthroat and competitive, it is hard to thrive without complying. This is why people tend to shy away from ingenuity in the Entertainment Industry; chasing creativity, instead of clinging to past success, is a risk many are simply unwilling to take. . If the trilogy made billions, maybe a copycat television series will replicate the revenue.
This cycle is hard to break, as it is driven and perpetuated by a dominating power: money. The entertainment industry needs to redirect its aspirations. The whole point of movies, television, and books was to inspire and cultivate creativity. This purpose was lost in the whirlwind of the industry’s notorious unattainable expectations and harsh competition.
Fandoms and film fanatics are ready to support creativity, the industry just needs to give them the opportunity to show it by allowing space for new aspirants to prosper.
I totally agree with you Ro’aa! I really wish Hollywood would take more creative liberties and open the door for young filmmakers. Taking risks is why Hollywood became so big in the first place! Awesome article.