Like everyone else, I'm a huge fan of movies made before the 2000s, especially movies made in the 1980s which I feel was the pinnacle of creativity in our society. Your opinion may differ, but there was something pretty great about films made from the 1940s to the 1990s.
But discussing these films comes with a lament that you've likely either heard or said yourself.
Take, for instance, the 1974 hit comedy "Blazing Saddles." After you and a friend get done saying various quotes from the movie and remembering them fondly, one of you will eventually say it.
"You can't make films like that today."
"Blazing Saddles" is one of the greatest "message movies" you'll ever see as it highlights the abject absurdity that is racism through hilarious comedy. But it does so unapologetically. It doesn't just lampoon racism, it also uses stereotypes to highlight the ridiculousness that is our society. Whether you're white, black, gay, or a politician, you're getting made fun of.
If you were to release "Blazing Saddles" in theaters as a fresh movie today it would trigger an endless amount of think pieces from major news publications decrying its use of racial slurs and stereotypes which they would claim swallows the message it's trying to push. Major studios, with their ESG-infused bank accounts, wouldn't release a movie like it anyway for fear that it would decrease their score. Not that they'd be able to achieve that level of brilliance anyway, because the writers would have their script go through so many committees that by the time it came out the other side, "Blazing Saddles" would look like a completely different movie.
Jerry Seinfeld noted this in his recent rant about why there's nothing funny on television today. It's all death by committee and fear of offense.
(READ: Jerry Seinfeld's Era of Funny Television Isn't Coming Back, but It's Not All Bad News)
In terms of going through the usual channels to get something created, people who say "You couldn't make that today" would be absolutely correct. Even if your script was bought, it would look like some Frankenwoke's monster by the time it hit screens.
But here's the funny part. If "Blazing Saddles" was released today it would be a massive hit. Why? Because people are starved for that level of realness and honesty in the arts. In a world of modern art and political box-checking, a movie that would cut through the nonsense would be a breath of fresh air.
Here's the good news.
Movies like this can be made today. In fact, it's never been easier thanks to the internet.
It's true that platforms like YouTube would stop something like that from being posted to their platform. The unrelenting pseudo-moralism of the coastal left wouldn't dare allow it.
But Rumble would.
And while that's only one platform that doesn't have the full capability of YouTube, another platform is coming soon. As Elon Musk announced, X is releasing its own television app that would feature this kind of entertainment. It's being designed to take on YouTube, which means both short-form and long-form content will be coming to a television near you.
Elon Musk’s X to launch dedicated TV app XTV to take on YouTube
— Noorie (@Im_Noorie) April 29, 2024
X, formerly known as Twitter, is coming to the big screen near you with a dedicated TV app for videos. X CEO Linda Yaccarino in her post on the social media platform announced the launch of the X TV app. Yaccarino… pic.twitter.com/nnlQKdct9o
I talk a lot about the impending death of Hollywood. Its unchecked greed and inability to consistently release films that actually grab the people's attention have eroded its foundations to the point of instability. Add onto that the oncoming AI boom that will make creating films and art that look high-production with nothing but a prompt, and Hollywood will soon become irrelevant to the art world.
(READ: The End Is Nigh for Hollywood)
People won't strive to become actors, writers, crewmembers, or directors anymore. They'll just want to learn to code and utilize editing software.
We're not entering a world where Hollywood isn't needed anymore. We're there now. You can make the next societally celebrated masterpiece at this moment.
Maybe you're not the artistic type, and that's fine. But someone you know is. Their talents are currently languishing as they know their ideas aren't going to be seen by anyone. Perhaps a handful of years ago this was the case, but outlets are now available that allow these talents to shine.
Make that movie that defies modernity. Create a series that ignores mainstream social guidelines. Feel free not to check any box.
Creativity is back, baby.
