Chapter 8 : Movies

1. Why is the amount of sex and violence increasing in motion pictures? Is this a case of Hollywood giving society what they want or is it simply society’s acceptance of what we are given?

I think there is truth to both statements. I think that Hollywood gives us what we want, and as we are given something with not too many other options, we accept it.  It works visa versa.  I believe that Hollywood puts out certain movies due to reviews, and obviously the reviews of sex and violence related movies are coming out pretty well because that seems to be all we are getting these days.  I do believe though that over time we as a society have become desensitized to what is shown in our theaters.  I can remember my mom telling me the first time she heard “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn” on a movie and everyone was completely appalled at the comment.  Now to have a movie with only one swear word is almost unheard of.  I think about the movies with Seth Rogan, it started with “Super bad” and the movie turned out to be super bad.  But then the next movie with him came out and the producers pushed the line a little farther, and then the next movie got pushed a little more.  Now we are to the point where Seth Rogan and another girl are making a porno together! Where does it end?! So in short, I think that Hollywood gives us what we want but only because we slowly accept what they put out there for us.  

 

2. If you were a movie producer, what would you do to make a box office hit in 2008?

I feel like this question has to be asked with immunity! Put all morals aside, all religion, any code of honor that I would have and completely forget about it.  IF I wanted to have a box office hit, I would do what everyone else does and keep in mind that sex sells.  I would keep in mind that teenagers and college students like to see partying, and violence, and girls and I would twist that all into one. Every movie producer is pushing the envelope, and pretty soon it’s going to be way past. 

But since I am a person with morals and some integrity I would try to get into the Disney Pixar Company and see if I couldn’t come out with a classic cartoon movie that would appeal to younger kids.