It's AWESOME That There Is So Much Crap!

When it comes to movies and shows, it is good that so much is bad.

I am sure there are facts somewhere to back this up, but in my data set of one (i.e. me!), I see it clearly: an artistic cohort’s best work comes after a prolonged period of drought and suffering.

You want to see or hear or experience genius? Make sure that a group of diverse creative people are all in the same space at the same extended period of time and with a few great spots to meet up and share ideas, but be sure to deprive them of meaningful work by others. Whatever you, Do Not INSPIRE Them, at least not initially… For good measure, it is probably beneficial to have this cohort be young, opinionated, and somewhat impressionable too. I am telling you: it’s a sure-fire formula for excellence.

I am not talking about creating a minor blip on artistic improvement meter. If you want to take it to 11, you have to be willing to wade into dangerous territory. In my recipe for revolutionary aesthetic disruption, please mix in a little of the common enemy. That Band Of Outsiders needs something to direct their fury towards while defining themselves in opposition to. Look at any youth movement across the ages. When it comes to the creative industries, the EZPZ path to raise your finger at is The Corporate State. Once you and and your cohort have the X-ray vision to see the formula within the mainstream marketplace’s cultural output, the gasoline has been poured and it’s time to hand the kids the matches. Sniff, sniff, boom.

I’ve waxed on before about the origins of my time in NYC 90’s Indie Film, both here, in my book, and many other places. D. Boon & Mike Watt were not alone in feeling that punk rock changed their lives. It showed me the way for what I wanted to do in film. You get served too much of the same old, same old and how can you not want to tear it all down and build something better? You stop caring so much about mastery or perfection and just want to make some noise. And that is such a gift. To recognize that first and foremost it is about having something to say and the passion to say it with attitude. Really.

I honestly thought that some of the inherent aspects of streaming could prevent the drift to mediocrity from happening on the platforms, but in goals of reaching for the widest, easiest to acquire audience segments, the streamers have fallen prey to corruption of house styles, standardized formulas, genre dictates, and antiquated IP.

Be careful of giving people what they want because soon all they will be eating only fluffernutter and contracting diabetes.

Yet the rebellion that some segment of the population — be they audience or creator —will initiate is inevitable; we can count on them to get up and scream from the windows. We are moving fast to that point and it is going to be f’n wonderful.

Artists, audiences, and the art change far quicker than the business or the marketplace. I have experienced this multiple times in my professional life. The experts are wrong time and time again. Anticipating such changes, enabling them, and engaging in them has led to the best things that ever happened to me professionally.

And always the best people to lead us in such times are those that have nothing or nothing left to lose. Don’t get me wrong, when it comes to problem solving I love to work with those with experience; but when it comes to doing something new, you want to surround yourself with those who are not prone to the legacy practices. I am going to bet that the best new work comes from those who haven’t had a chance yet.

The bright side of the Global Streamers all committing to a constant diet of tremendous mediocrity is those who don’t succumb are going to be stronger, different, and bold. They won’t care what you think. They will do what they want. Hopefully they will be committed for a life time. Hopefully they will launch and never look back, carrying others with them.

I can’t wait just to read the manifestos, let alone see the movies, and listen to the music. I hope I get to work on a few too… But we need some manifestos. Why did only rock fans and Danes get them? Time for some more better flyers!

PS. Perhaps you’ve missed a few of my recent posts and need some additional Hope For Film? Try these on for size:

Musings On The Awards-based Industrial Complex

Where Did Indie Film Go Wrong?

How Many Times Must A Good Idea Fail?

PSS. If you ONLY get this newsletter in your inbox, you are missing out. Give the Substack App a try. Not only will you be able to easily access all my posts, but also those of anyone else you subscribe to. You can all post hearts and comments via online or the app and that goes a LONG way towards fostering community. We are all in this together and I know you have a lot to add (so please do). Plus posting “likes” helps drive others to the material you think is worthwhile. Finally the app has a nifty “chat” feature, a bit like Twitter and bit not; the writers you follow (like me) initiate conversations that all subscribers can participate in. I’m digging that.