Hollywood Podcast #50 - CHURCH AND SLATE
Los Angeles actor/writer, Tim Coyne, interviews Dallas Amsden from www. movieguide.org about Movieguide, religion, and Hollywood. Running time 20:54
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- Photo Credit - Wojtek’s Photostream
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Happy belated Birthday,Thanks for the Easter weekend show.Scary topic,I feel its great to organize in America, to get things done.I think religon should stay out of hollywood.The success of the Passion of the Christ shows that there is a market for morality content.I feel you also need more adult content,that is geared to 21 century aduiences.Art takes us into situations that are violent,scary,or perverse.The good guys, bad guys, are not so clear all the time.All art is not appropriate for everybody.The thought police is the first thing that comes to mind,that is scary in America.We go to movies to escape, not to be preached to.Let the church feed your soul,and hollywood feed your imagination.
Mr. Statistics
Hey guys. Yeah. This is a tough topic because we know that Hollywood is mostly NOT about art. It’s a business and businesses follow the money. The interesting thing that I failed to bring up was that the 70’s are considered one of the most artistic and interesting periods in film and, according to Dallas, this was a time when there wasn’t any religious oversight of scripts etc. I’m not sure how the box office did in the 70’s.
I feel that every since Ronald Reagan,ushered in his right wing hyspocrisy.We have been stuck in a nightmare.That peroid brought us tv shows like Dynasty,Falcon Crest,Cosby etc.Movies like Rambo,Terminater etc.The hollywood block buster etc.We didn’t care about poor people,Aids,corruption etc.At the same time religious leaders,and politicians,attacked hollywood and the music industry, over and over.Until it morphed into our pg-13,american idol culture.I do feel it’s changing slowly.With movies like No country for old men,Juno,etc.I feel we are maturing,and want more for our money and time.Like your podcast,good art starts from the bottom,struggling with hope to make it to the top.Hopefully with a fresh point of view.
“The interesting thing that I failed to bring up was that the 70’s are considered one of the most artistic and interesting periods in film…”
What got me was when Dallas held up Midnight Cowboy and Rosemary’s Baby as examples of ‘cinema going wrong’. Surely those are both seen as classic films?
Still, he made an interesting point that a great number of great movies were made in a period of severe restrictions on film-makers.
But imagine if Rennaissance painters hadn’t been allowed to depict nudity or violence - bang goes most of Christianity’s greatest works of art.
I hate movies like Saw and Hostel, but unfortunately they blow Dallas’s theory out the water - it’s possible for studios to make huge amounts of money by catering to a youth-market hungry for blood in films.
But I was interested in his statistic about producers admitting they believe that violence in films affects the viewer. It’s a straw man to say ‘Anyone who goes on a killing spree after watching Saw would have done so anyway’. If films have NO affect on the viewer, then why do brands pay producers millions of dollars to get product-placement in films?
Yo Andrew/Anthony.
Yeah. I’m conflicted about this topic because I love nudity, violence etc. But it would be foolish of me to say that what I see, read, hear has no influence on who I am and my behavior. And I’m not well read enough on the research. Bottom line, I believe parents should parent and reasonable measures should be taken to inform people about content (ratings, etc.).
So, I’m not really against MOVIEGUIDE. Their argument, as Dallas illustrates it, is an economic one. If the numbers back him up then all the power to him. I’m just glad there’s stuff like SAW to throw some confusion into his numbers.
Hey Tim,I grew up in the 70s. I think it was a violent time in media.I feel its not the violence in media that cause the problem,but the people and leaders who by examlpe use violence and fear to solve problems or get their way.Thats why I bring up Reagan, his policies cause a lot damage in the ghettos and inner city.The republicans used racism and fear to keep tensions high and the masses deeply divided,to keep the power.They wanted to shrink the size of goverment down, enough to drown it in a bath tub.One day I’m chilling in the hood no guns no crack,no gangsta rap etc.It was like over night,guns gangs and fear poured in the community.The the goverment leaders and cops and thugs, used this as and opportunity to make the situation worse and get rich at community expense.That is what I consider obscene,in real life.
What a Pompous Egotistical Blow heart! This guy actually thinks that they or their group has anything to do with what movies get green light? Tim I can’t believe that you didn’t ask him the hard questions, and that you didn’t challenge him in some of his self centered statements and made up statistics!
Hollywood is a business. Business succeeds in predicting where their target markets are, and where they are heading.
Like all religion, this guy makes up a job, then pretends to tell us that we need a middle man (him), to tell us what to do.
Richard.
First, Dallas is a really good guy. For sure.
BUT. You’re right. The interview ended up being something that I didn’t anticipate. I had falsely assumed that the interview would be about his personal journey and how he ended up working for this organization. Long story but the bottom line is I wasn’t equipped with the info/knowledge to challenge him. And, to his credit, his arguments mostly focussed on what the dollars say and not as much on “right and wrong”.
Bottom line, I decided that, despite my shortcomings in the interview, this episode would at least pull back the curtain a bit on Hollywood and what goes in to green lighting projects/scripts. It is quite true that you’re going to have a more difficult time getting a movie made that doesn’t appeal to the demo that Dallas described.
Thanks Richard. If you’re ever out here, we’ll catch a flick together with tons of sex and violence.
Tim
Hey Tim ,
Love your show and totally addicted.
I agree it is a hot button topic and I don’t really appreciate the Church and religion getting so involved with Hollywood.
I think it was fine that you didn’t ask the guy the hard questions…However, what I think would be cool is to find a guest that is an expert in the same field to serve as a counterpoint to this show.
OR possibly an expert in the area of immoral /violent/sexual movies that make money and has numbers to back that.
I think it would be fair and even out the scales.
Thanks for all the great shows.
Yo Charlito.
I totally agree. I’m open to suggestions if you have anyone in mind.
If I find some time (ugh) I’ll try to look into it and see what books are out there and if the author is local.
It’s on the wish list. We’ll see what happens.
Tim
HAHA!
If something comes to me as well i’ll send your way!