Pumping Gas

[BigSugar]

Is it me, or do all of these remakes and T.V. shows-itno-movies seem like the Boomers are trying like hell to keep a python-like grip on Hollywood? I'm thirty and I'll be goddamned if it doesn't look like we'll have to wait twenty years before any of our generation get a shot at making a mark on the film industry. I don't think we don't have a Scorsese or Spielberg (or Lucas come to that) simply because these old fucks have turned into the very people they were trying to undo in the Seventies. Peter Biskind can beat his chest about how good filmakers WERE in his day, but all that really is in aid of, in my opiniopn, is to accentuate the fact that these bastard don't seem to be looking forward for new talent. They would rather look backward and shovel half-assed versions of their olden days shit in our faces. I'm not trying to take away from the brilliant work that was done in the Seventies, but without new blood, the whole of Hollywood will crumble to the ground. And if they keep going this way, that won't be such a bad thing. That's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

[The Postmaster General]

Although I admire: Wes Anderson, PT Anderson, and some others --- I agree with what you are saying, and I think it's because the market is pretty saturated right now. I blame digital technology that is resulting in movies being churned out at the rate of the oldie days of serial pictures. There is a whole slew of video directors who are coming in of their own, and MTV really changed the movie industry, because it used to be you needed to work in film or (maybe) TV shows before cutting yourself on film, but now making a music video can be a pre-requisite for getting a movie deal. Some fine directors have emerged from music videos, but again -- to me it's just adding to the oversaturation of the market.

Then after music videos, you had the Tarantino-mindset emerge telling studios that independent productions can be the next blockbuster. Now, we have a bunch more saturation coming out.

There's a lot, but I think the main culprit is the notion that anyone can make a movie -- which is true to an extent, but not the extent that movie studios are pushing it to in the name of making more and more money.

[bigred760]

I think there are some filmmakers out there that are part of our generations (I'm 26 - soon to be 27). There's Bryan Singer who was 35 when he made The Usual Suspects and he seems to have continued to make a name for himself.

But I also agree that these Generation X directors like Spielberg, Scorcese, and Lucas are sticking around - but is that they're fault? They continue to make good movies and they still have a faithful fan following. They've been able to change with the times with all the digital technologies that have come along with movies. Hell, they might even be credited with starting some of it (Spielberg - Jurassic Park, Lucas - Star Wars).
One director they weren't able to completely "undo" is Roman Polanski. He's been directing movies since the 50s (Rosemary's Baby came out in '68) and he won a Best Director Oscar two years ago. He's still going strong. Sydney Lumet is another one.

But it does seem to be hard for young filmmakers to get a start in the directing world. I agree with BubbaStrangelove that it seems that directing music videos seems to be a prerequisite nowadays. Not that it's a bad thing, but Spielberg and Lucas got their starts by directing small budget movies (Lucas came up with the idea for his). But all hope is not completely lost - the guy who directed Saw II is one month younger than I am (and he'd directed two movies prior to that).