Calling On East/Hollywood

So, I hear some movie theaters have raised their ticket prices to $11. Pretty intense, right? That much money for an hour and a half, and if you didn't like it, you don't even get to complain to anyone who actually cares. But the sad thing is, people will still pay out of the ass to be able to spend some time relaxing. And that's exactly what we're (people all over) are doing. We are paying an industry to entertain us. Stupid when you think about it right? But where else are you going to find that amount of peace (unless you have a screaming baby with irresponsible parents in your theater) where absolutely nothing can bother you? You turn your phone off (something we seem to have a hard time doing at any other time), you really can't talk (unless you are those people) and your surrounded by people who apparently you have something in common with.

You might know this, but during the Great Depression, movie theaters became extremely popular. This was mainly because people needed something to get their minds off their financial situations. Hollywood capitalized big time! "Depression films took on the responsibility of reinstating the mythical American values of individualism, classlessness, and progress. Americans might have come to these films in search of escape from their arduous and hopeless lives," When you think about, given what I just explained in the paragraph preceding this one, it only makes sense. So, I'm wondering if Hollywood is going to be tempted to start making movie not for profit only, but to help out those of us who need 2 hours a week away from the house and away from the bill collectors' calls, and just be taken somewhere else.

I imagine the movies they made had to be something because people were so poor,, but still managing to take in a flick every now and again. 42ND Street was actually filmed and shown during the Depression as well as a musical called Gold Diggers (yikes!). Actors Judy Garland, Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney were very popular during the 30's mainly because of the characters they portrayed on film. They were courageous, they made people laugh, and most importantly they gave people hope. I think filmmakers rarely make movies anymore with the intent to move the audiences who watch them. It's about profit and storyline. And yeah, both are important, but back then...it was about connecting head-on with whoever was watching the film. People were down on their luck so they made movies about people dancing and singing, people who were off as bad as they were. Filmmakers stood back and said, "This is what Americans need. Let's give it to them." And the public responded. And it was a great relationship between producers and the fans that paid to go see their films.

I know it's a little cheesy, but honestly, we're losing our connection with the media industry and how are producers and directors and writers supposed to make movies we'll actually pay out of the ass for unless we feel compelled to do so. I find myself saying all the time, "I'll just download it" (legally) or, "I can wait 'till it comes out on DVD."

I'm just really hoping something good happens somewhere and Americans can once again find something to lose themselves in to escape a trying time. Perhaps the media will bail us out of this economic funk. Besides, if we don't go see their movies, how are they going to get paid?