Centralization of Media Ponderings

[Poppy98]

I wonder if the centralization of entertainment has lead to a decrease in the number of people who act (even in community theater) and therefore a decrease in one method of studied empathy.


On the other hand youtube may indicate a lot of creative material being produced, but possibly not with deep material.

 

[Jumpinbare]

There's a few gems in the YouTube schlock.

 

[Outdated]

I wonder if the centralization of entertainment has lead to a decrease in the number of people who act (even in community theater) and therefore a decrease in one method of studied empathy.

It would be nice if you could be a little more specific as to what it is you're wondering. Are you referring to Hollywood? That certainly seemed to happen there and for the last few decades they've relied very heavily on actors from Australia and the UK, but Hollywood is hardly the only source of movies. And when it comes to Hollywood I think a lack of acting skills is far from their biggest problem.

As for youtube - more and more professional content is now being created for youtube specifically so that they don't have to deal with places like Hollywood, or Netflix and other assorted media corporation CEOs and their policies. By being out on their own and cutting out the middle man they make more money and also have more freedom in what they create and how they present it.

An example of this is a comedy duo called SuperWog. It's actually 2 brothers from Sydney with migrant parents from Greece and Egypt. They're much loved here and Netflix contacted them to do a series. The series only ran for 8 episodes and it was a complete flop because they weren't allowed to be themselves. Now they're back on Youtube again as well as doing live performances and they're quite happy. And apparently they've decided they're going to do another Netflix series, I doubt Netflix has learnt their lesson though and I expect it to be about as popular as the last series.

I can't link their videos in here for all sorts of reasons, but their youtube name is "superwog1" and the video "Police Officers" will show you exactly what sort of material they're not allowed to produce in the US.

 

[velociraptor]

not with deep material.

Why do people assume I want deep material?

 

[Outdated]

Why do people assume I want deep material?

Time Team now make their videos specifically for youtube too, they ditched the BBC and are happier for it.

 

[Poppy98]

It would be nice if you could be a little more specific as to what it is you're wondering. Are you referring to Hollywood? That certainly seemed to happen there and for the last few decades they've relied very heavily on actors from Australia and the UK, but Hollywood is hardly the only source of movies. And when it comes to Hollywood I think a lack of acting skills is far from their biggest problem.

As for youtube - more and more professional content is now being created for youtube specifically so that they don't have to deal with places like Hollywood, or Netflix and other assorted media corporation CEOs and their policies. By being out on their own and cutting out the middle man they make more money and also have more freedom in what they create and how they present it.

An example of this is a comedy duo called SuperWog. It's actually 2 brothers from Sydney with migrant parents from Greece and Egypt. They're much loved here and Netflix contacted them to do a series. The series only ran for 8 episodes and it was a complete flop because they weren't allowed to be themselves. Now they're back on Youtube again as well as doing live performances and they're quite happy. And apparently they've decided they're going to do another Netflix series, I doubt Netflix has learnt their lesson though and I expect it to be about as popular as the last series.

I can't link their videos in here for all sorts of reasons, but their youtube name is "superwog1" and the video "Police Officers" will show you exactly what sort of material they're not allowed to produce in the US.

My point relates to impact on small vanue actors, ex community theater actors, and the opportunity that theater affords to the actor to try to understand another person (which the viewer doesn't as much have to do in any deep way). Imo, if it decreases acting positions, that's a loss in empathic opportunities.

 

[velociraptor]

they ditched the BBC and are happier for it.

Honestly, legacy media channels are for grey hairs [eyes bottle of Just for Men].

There are so few shows left I feel like watching these days. I tend more towards Camping with Steve and Atik Family on YouTube.

that's a loss in empathic opportunities.

Funny you say that. Most of the performers I have known are raging narcissists. They're good at pretending to be empathic (until the mask slips) but I've yet to meet one who is a true empath.

 

[Judge]

I'm inclined to think that there will always be a few upper echelon actors worldwide, whether onstage or on film who will go the extra mile in love of their craft to portray a specific fictional or actual role.

Then to consider that method actors don't just study a role, but many take them on as if they became that person. Some who extend such a practice beyond when the camera isn't rolling. A practice which sometimes annoys their non-method acting peers and production crew to no end.

Those who don't seize on existing opportunities, but rather those who actually create them. People who more likely are obsessively driven, as opposed to being empathetic.

 

[Dagan]

As I have seen in the industry (the in, in, if you know what I mean) and then those on the outside looking in...the issue is aligned with the mainstream studios taking less and less chances and doing less original content. They keep playing it safer and safer, and that just means sticking to a core 40 to 50 actors constantly. The trade off, though, is that indie filmmaking is a true boom and allows for so many to hone their craft and truly find out if they want to continue on any of it as a career choice. Make no mistake - filmmaking (any job therein) is a lot of work. Most folks never realize the amount of effort and sacrifice that go into making a film or TV show. Also, yes, there's a huge amount of these folks that are narcissistic as hell. Mostly the "visible" jobs, mind you - directors, actors, producers. If they are required to promote themselves or the project more than anyone else attached to a project, those are the ones you will likely find are the prickly personality types.

I've found a niche and really feel comfortable with the found footage / first person footage filmmaking genres. It's full of newcomers, average Joes, working class, but it's also a genre that defies almost everything that mainstream films have become. FF films tend to still be (and fans expect it from them) stories that can build or be slow burn - characters have depth, so you care about them or at least have solid feelings about them one way or another. FF films therefore have story building, atmosphere building, lore creating at times even. They always have real world sets and practical FX, as well. They just always feel more real, no matter how odd the plot or plot device may be. They are certainly full of work that is often shared with the entire crew, as well. Actors, directors, producers, etc. may be doing multiple jobs to make it to completion, but again, it's a great learning experience and really helps weed out the selfish from the selfless that will either continue making such films or just head off pursuing the big shot, arrogance-laden (admittedly higher profit) filmmaking circles.

 

[the_tortoise]

There's still quite a bit of theater in Canada (or at least some parts of it).

Community theater here is still a living thing (originally wrote "alive and well" but I haven't been involved in theater for a long time so I actually don't know if it is "well" vs "sickly" or even possibly "dying" --
but I haven't yet gotten the sense it's dying whenever I've searched for local community theater groups) in most places with strong arts communities (meaning all kinds of arts -- painting, sculpting, writing, textile, music, dance, film, theater etc etc).