The Slap Heard Round The World
Why the 2022 Oscars is a harbinger for Hollywood
Hollywood used to be America’s greatest cultural export. It was one of the things that made America so well regarded in the world, and such a sought after place to visit, and to make a life. So much so that people would be willing to risk their own just to come here. A large part of that was the image of America projected by Hollywood (a town founded by immigrant Jews by the way. Just in case you get your history from the Academy Museum which all but cut us out of our own story). So, when during last night’s Academy Awards Will Smith, one of Hollywood‘s leading men, acts out in as immoral and gutless a way as the worst detractors of hollywood accuse movie stars of behaving, it’s a moment to take note of. A seismic shift in an industry already off balance. The Oscars used to mean something. Now they’re a punchline. No pun intended. After last night..fughettaboutit.
For what used to be one of America’s most important industries on what used to be one of television’s biggest nights (from people whose job it is to literally put on a show), it’s an unbelievable (unforgivable) squandering of potential especially at a time when the premium on live tv events is extraordinarily high.
It’s time for a return to form. It’s time for those of us who love movies (and tv) to make the best versions. Its time for stars who know what it means to be movie stars to get the leading roles. It’s time for those of us who recognize and respect a movie’s ability to tell a story that entertains, amazes and transports, not just an audience, but an entire world, into a cinematic dream in which we all share, if only for a couple of hours, to take the helm. Whether you’re a movie star, a writer, director, producer, agent, executive — we’re all in the same boat—and last night it sprung another big hole.
So here’s a little reality check, and some much needed reorientation towards gratitude for our collective good fortunes to work in this business…we are not special. However, we have been given an incredibly special opportunity, a golden one: the chance to make movies. The people who made the movies used to understand that. Sadly, that is no longer the case. The pomp and the circumstance has been replaced with puddle deep virtue, contempt for the audience (aka the customer), and antics you expect to see on a daytime talk show. That’s why movies have become what they are, and hollywood is in the state it is. Those same attitudes contributed to the disgraceful display by Will Smith last night who maddeningly could do what he did, go back to his seat, and then twenty minutes later see a theater full of his co-workers and mine give him an award and a standing ovation. This is how you get Harvey Weinstein.
This is how you kill an industry.
It’s time to get back to basics.
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