Hollywod worships young males

[JackLuis]

Dame Helen Mirren has condemned film-makers for aiming movies at young men, saying Hollywood "continues to worship at the altar of the 18- to 25-year-old male and his penis".

The remarks came as she received an award for women in entertainment.

Dame Helen, 65, said she resented "the survival of some very mediocre male actors and the professional demise of some very brilliant female ones".

I kind of agree.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Hollywood worships the fattest wallets.

 

[Fatwa_Morgana]

I worship beautiful young males myself! Morgana

 

[Boxlicker101]

Hollywood worships money. If Lance Tightbutt will bring a lot of people into theaters, Lance Tightbutt will get all the work he can handle.

Some talented young women are eliminating themselves. Lindsay Lohan comes to mind. She should be high on the list of A-listers, but she isn't. There may be male equivalents, but you don't hear as much about them.

I am not a fan of the movie industry. By that, I mean I don't follow it much. I actually can't think of a single young male actor who has currently achieved prominence.

 

[TxRad]

Hollyweird about sums it up.

 

[wet_special]

Hollywood worships one thing or another, but it sneers at the classic hero and at traditional American values. It likes to portray the military brass, the CIA, and the FBI in a bad light. And it sells its movies to foreign markets so who cares what America thinks about Hollywood anymore? I can barely stand watching nowadays. Who else skipped "Avatar?"

 

[3113]

Hollyweird about sums it up.

Well, not really. As someone who knows a lot of people who work in the industry, I'd say that "Industry" sums it up. Always has summed it up. Hollywood may be filled with actors and such who are weird, and strange or shocking independent films may get everyone's attention, outrage and plenty of print in the newspapers, but as Stella said, Hollywood itself, by-and-large, is as corporate, capitalist, normal, and big business as any other industry you'd care to name.

Hollywood hates anything "weird," different, strange or experimental as those may win awards, but they don't make it money. Hollywood is always behind never ahead of the latest thing because it's afraid to take chances. If a weird little film about a galaxy far, far away makes tons of money, Hollywood will suddenly be on board with that--but for years before it proves itself a money maker, Hollywood will refuse to take a chance on anything so "different."

It's not weird at all.

 

[squarejohn]

There's no business like show business.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I'm not sure that Hellen Mirren knows of what she speaks. After looking at this thread, I googled for young actors, and turned up a list of people I had never heard of. Then I googled young actresses, and turned up a list of ten. Some were not familiar names, but the list included Kirsten Dunst, Anne Hathaway, Keira Knightly and Scarlett Johanasson. I haven't seen all these young women, but I have certainly heard of them.

As I said earlier, I am not a big fan of Hollywood, but I have heard of more of the listed women than the listed men.

 

[TxRad]

Well, not really. As someone who knows a lot of people who work in the industry, I'd say that "Industry" sums it up. Always has summed it up. Hollywood may be filled with actors and such who are weird, and strange or shocking independent films may get everyone's attention, outrage and plenty of print in the newspapers, but as Stella said, Hollywood itself, by-and-large, is as corporate, capitalist, normal, and big business as any other industry you'd care to name.

Hollywood hates anything "weird," different, strange or experimental as those may win awards, but they don't make it money. Hollywood is always behind never ahead of the latest thing because it's afraid to take chances. If a weird little film about a galaxy far, far away makes tons of money, Hollywood will suddenly be on board with that--but for years before it proves itself a money maker, Hollywood will refuse to take a chance on anything so "different."

It's not weird at all.

I was joking in part 13. I know the box office drives Hollywood. I also know people who work there and some of the things I've heard from them about how deals are made and careers are made or broken follows no rhyme or reason. That's the weird part.

Most of what they put out is formula crap but there are occasional gems mixed in.

 

[JackLuis]

-
Most of what they put out is formula crap but there are occasional gems mixed in.

Kind'a like Lit?

 

[TxRad]

Kind'a like Lit?

In some cases, yes. In others, it's all crap.

 

[JackLuis]

In some cases, yes. In others, it's all crap.

I don't know if you're agreeing or not?

I think Dame Helen was priming the publicity pump. Here they call that "Vote Whoring", In Hollywood, it "Promotion", who's more honest?

 

[SweetestThing]

I'm not sure that Hellen Mirren knows of what she speaks. After looking at this thread, I googled for young actors, and turned up a list of people I had never heard of. Then I googled young actresses, and turned up a list of ten. Some were not familiar names, but the list included Kirsten Dunst, Anne Hathaway, Keira Knightly and Scarlett Johanasson. I haven't seen all these young women, but I have certainly heard of them.

As I said earlier, I am not a big fan of Hollywood, but I have heard of more of the listed women than the listed men.

But isn't that the point? She's not saying Hollywood worships young male actors, she's saying they worship young male consumers so a list of four beautiful young actresses will be bound to be better known as they'll be more heavily promoted/advertised in an effort to win those young male consumers' dollars.

 

[amicus]

Couple things come to mind...not long ago, attributed to the vast number of 'baby boomers' passing through middle age, there was an uproar about 'youth' in the films, not just males. A huge outcry about actresses, edging into their 30's, being no longer sought after for roles in popular films.

In addition to age, 'beauty' was also criticized and soon more old, fat, and ugly women were gracing the screen to satisfy the complaints...and of course, integrating the films performers in some sort of numerical equivalency to race and ethnic origin and of course...gender.

Then again, Litsters, as writers, also bear the burden, because, in most cases, a written story precedes the film..oh, duh...

But, ya know what folks...in the end, the market place wins, the free market I should specify, people want to be entertained and people worship youth and beauty; they also just love 'happy endings' and 'tear jerkers'.

I don't care much for Helen Mirren as an actress, nor Emma Thompson, both snobby Brits, I think, who have managed to fit into that old and ugly category and still have some success.

heh

amicus

 

[sr71plt]

But isn't that the point? She's not saying Hollywood worships young male actors, she's saying they worship young male consumers so a list of four beautiful young actresses will be bound to be better known as they'll be more heavily promoted/advertised in an effort to win those young male consumers' dollars.

I'm pretty sure she's mostly ticked that she's gained box office fame too late for the sex pot roles. I think it has more to do with her than either young male actors or young male theatergoers. She's not being offered the scripts with parts she wants to be playing. She's reached "that" age in an actress's life. And she don't like it much.

 

[SweetestThing]

I'm pretty sure she's mostly ticked that she's gained box office fame too late for the sex pot roles. I think it has more to do with her than either young male actors or young male theatergoers. She's not being offered the scripts with parts she wants to be playing. She's reached "that" age in an actress's life. And she don't like it much.

Somehow I doubt that Helen Mirren is especially disappointed that she missed out on getting to play too many sex pot roles. For starters this:

http://media.photobucket.com/image/helen mirren/jet100dragons/helen-mirren-012.jpg

Is how she looked back in the days where she'd be age appropriate for sex pot roles so I'm guessing she could get them if she wanted. I think the point she's making, and it's not an especially controversial one, is that it's very hard to get movies made if they don't appeal to young men which inherently limits the roles available to women and especially older women.

 

[3113]

I'm pretty sure she's mostly ticked that she's gained box office fame too late for the sex pot roles. I think it has more to do with her than either young male actors or young male theatergoers. She's not being offered the scripts with parts she wants to be playing. She's reached "that" age in an actress's life. And she don't like it much.

I don't think it's sour grapes on Mirren's part. She not only got plum roles when younger, but she's getting amazing roles now. She's going to be "Pospera" in the upcoming Tempest. There's every few actresses of her age and status that could get something like that--a change in "Pospero's" gender so that they could play that role.

I think her ire is that she knows too many peers of her own age who are languishing. There are plenty of great roles being offered to her, but too many other talented actress of her age are put out to pasture.

This is why she's irked that Hollywood caters to young men with both young male actors--and older male actors who still have some draw for them--and young female actresses...leaving older female actresses without any work. Mirren knows how lucky she is. She's wishing more actresses her age could be equally lucky.

 

[sr71plt]

IThis is why she's irked that Hollywood caters to young men with both young male actors

I'll have to go with those saying that most young male theatergoers don't generally give two figs for young male actors.

And I read an interview with Mirren recently where she did say she missed out on not having enough juicy sexy roles early. She complained that no one seemed to know her before Prime Suspect and that this set a stereotype for her that she had been fighting every since.

Regardless, I think she's off base. I think mature actresses are getting their full share of lead movie roles currently.

 

[SweetestThing]

I'll have to go with those saying that most young male theatergoers don't generally give two figs for young male actors.

It depends on what you mean by young I suppose. Super Hero movies, which seem to be more or less all that's getting made these days, tend to star young men fairly exclusively.

 

[Liar]

But isn't that the point? She's not saying Hollywood worships young male actors, she's saying they worship young male consumers so a list of four beautiful young actresses will be bound to be better known as they'll be more heavily promoted/advertised in an effort to win those young male consumers' dollars.

Well, she did say:

Dame Helen, 65, said she resented "the survival of some very mediocre male actors and the professional demise of some very brilliant female ones".

If that's really how she feel, I believe it's time for her to name names. Which are the surviving mediocre male actors? Rob Schneider doesn't count. He's neither human nor an actor. And can't there easily be made a list jsust as long of mediocre female models who think they can act?

The only "unfairness" as it were that I've seen is that good parts for middle aged and old women are pretty few. But it's been better lately.

 

[xssve]

Hollywood worship blandness, as does the entire corporate value system - advertisers.

That leads to what subjoe called "Humperdinking", the creep of Madison avenue blandness, so as to appeal to the largest demographic, and offend the fewest people - usually, White Males and midwestern values.

"Yeah, but will it sell in Peoria"?

 

[3113]

I'll have to go with those saying that most young male theatergoers don't generally give two figs for young male actors.

No, but their dates do Look, sr7 they may not give a shit about the young male actor, BUT they are NOT going to see any move if it's staring an old lady as it's lead, not even if it's full of naked dancing girls. That lead has to be young and male. That's why young male actors get work and old ladies don't.

If anyone in Hollywood thought young men would go see movies staring mature actresses then every action film would star them in the lead--along with the naked dancing girls.

I think mature actresses are getting their full share of lead movie roles currently.

Full share? How much is that? And why is your estimate of that more valid than Mirren's? How many movies have to have mature women in them, and in what roles for them to be assessed as having gotten their "full share?" compare the number of films with mature women in the lead to those with young men in the lead. Which group is getting their "full share" or more than their share and why?

 

[sr71plt]

That's why young male actors get work and old ladies don't.

As I've already posted, I think this is a false premise.

It's a premise for you to evidence/prove, not me, if you want to continue to build an argument on it.

 

[driphoney]

I'll have to go with those saying that most young male theatergoers don't generally give two figs for young male actors.

And I read an interview with Mirren recently where she did say she missed out on not having enough juicy sexy roles early. She complained that no one seemed to know her before Prime Suspect and that this set a stereotype for her that she had been fighting every since.

Regardless, I think she's off base. I think mature actresses are getting their full share of lead movie roles currently.

For my sociology class last spring, I did an analysis of the 16 top grossing movies. I looked at the sex of who got top billing, the director, and producer(s). In spite of a huge presence by Sandra Bullock and a couple female directors and producers, women of any age were not equally represented in the movie-viewer popularity contest. Fit men, but not always young, lead the pack. Fast & Furious was a top biller last year. It seems some men do love watching hot men. There were two young women in that movie and a scene of sexy, voiceless females, but by and large it was an all-male show. That I had to watch tol the point of illness!)

There was a large study done by a news organization (I can't remember which one off hand) a few years ago on aging female Hollywood actresses, but all I could assess was the write-up regarding the analysis and not the data. There have been a few scholarly looks at this topic, too. It's easy to skew numbers when doing a content analysis, but they can't all bel bogus research! (We can hope!) Unfortunately, older women aren't very popular. It would be interesting to look at older men, too. I'm sure it's been done, but that wasn't going to get me an A in that class with that particular professor.

Forgive me for jumping in. I haven't read the whole thread, but just caught your comment to 3 about older women in Hollywood.