December
12Hollywood Needs its own Car Czar
While there may be a delay in the appointment of a “car czar” to help rescue the auto industry, show biz should nonetheless take heed: Hollywood could surely use a czar of its own to get things back on track.
The possibility of a SAG strike certainly conjures up those proverbial lemmings heading off the cliff. The actors union lacks a scenario, unless it’s the one called “Death Wish: The Sequel.” Yet top stars who would normally exhibit a sense of responsibility seem reluctant to take an anti-strike stand. The management side also resounds with the sounds of silence.
Perhaps a new Hollywood czar could pummel some sense into both sides before the film and TV industries follow the path of Detroit. For starters, he could remind everyone that the community is only one year removed from the writers strike. The principal achievement of that conflict was to subvert scripted programming and cancel movies.
If a Hollywood czar were appointed, he surely could find other things to do. He could beat some sense into the stolid board of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, for example. The Oscar show could be streamlined, and the arcane nomination procedures of branches like documentaries and foreign films could be brought into the 21st century.
The czar might even meet with the hierarchy of the Golden Globes to ask a few hard questions: “What are your admissions criteria?” he might ask. Sure, the Globes’ fraternity puts on a great show, and their kudo nominations often make more sense than the Academy’s, but a little more transparency would be desirable.
On the TV side, it would be nice if the czar sat down with Jay Leno and led him through a little creative psychotherapy. He could remind him: “You’re going to erase a substantial portion of prime time, Jay, but have you really thought through the possibilities? The same corny gags that work at, say, 11:30, may bomb an hour earlier. How about emulating the adventures of Jack Paar many generations ago and trying some bold new ideas?” The level of guests could improve and so, incidentally, could the level of ideas.
Granted, finding the right czar for these roles could prove dicey. Russia’s last czar, I vaguely recall, was killed in a basement, so some job security would help.
If Hollywood were really serious about the process, an elder statesman like Bob Daly could fill the bill. He managed to build up a strong element of respect among the guilds during his reign at Warner Bros.
If the industry simply wanted to go through the motions, I have the perfect nominee: Condoleezza Rice. She’s managed to maintain her status of dignified invisibility in Washington these last six years and she doubtless could match that performance in Hollywood. With Condi we could have a czar and no one would feel threatened.
Maybe Detroit needs her even more, though.
The possibility of a SAG strike certainly conjures up those proverbial lemmings heading off the cliff. The actors union lacks a scenario, unless it’s the one called “Death Wish: The Sequel.” Yet top stars who would normally exhibit a sense of responsibility seem reluctant to take an anti-strike stand. The management side also resounds with the sounds of silence.
Perhaps a new Hollywood czar could pummel some sense into both sides before the film and TV industries follow the path of Detroit. For starters, he could remind everyone that the community is only one year removed from the writers strike. The principal achievement of that conflict was to subvert scripted programming and cancel movies.
If a Hollywood czar were appointed, he surely could find other things to do. He could beat some sense into the stolid board of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, for example. The Oscar show could be streamlined, and the arcane nomination procedures of branches like documentaries and foreign films could be brought into the 21st century.
The czar might even meet with the hierarchy of the Golden Globes to ask a few hard questions: “What are your admissions criteria?” he might ask. Sure, the Globes’ fraternity puts on a great show, and their kudo nominations often make more sense than the Academy’s, but a little more transparency would be desirable.
On the TV side, it would be nice if the czar sat down with Jay Leno and led him through a little creative psychotherapy. He could remind him: “You’re going to erase a substantial portion of prime time, Jay, but have you really thought through the possibilities? The same corny gags that work at, say, 11:30, may bomb an hour earlier. How about emulating the adventures of Jack Paar many generations ago and trying some bold new ideas?” The level of guests could improve and so, incidentally, could the level of ideas.
Granted, finding the right czar for these roles could prove dicey. Russia’s last czar, I vaguely recall, was killed in a basement, so some job security would help.
If Hollywood were really serious about the process, an elder statesman like Bob Daly could fill the bill. He managed to build up a strong element of respect among the guilds during his reign at Warner Bros.
If the industry simply wanted to go through the motions, I have the perfect nominee: Condoleezza Rice. She’s managed to maintain her status of dignified invisibility in Washington these last six years and she doubtless could match that performance in Hollywood. With Condi we could have a czar and no one would feel threatened.Maybe Detroit needs her even more, though.
(Photo: Nash AP)
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Posted by: Big Bomb | 12/16/2008 1:24:08 PM
Well, we could restore the studio system...
Or install a despotic regime since the threat of an *actual* guillotine may get people to behave. I can''t tell you how many times I have been in debt from living off credit cards during work stoppages. Seems every odd-numbered year it happens.
Posted by: That guy | 12/16/2008 12:46:01 PM
Yeah, a workers revolution led by hollywood actors. Makes me think of Tropic Thunder.
Posted by: bob sanders | 12/15/2008 2:33:06 PM
All labor unions in this country are in the path to new levels of power and control of -not only film industry- but all forms of means of production. It''''s a de-facto revolution of organized labor not seen since the days of FDR. Film corporations are not sharing their immense profits with the workers. These huge creative monopolies are now in a vulnerable position, and in order to save their companies they will quickly give in to labor demands supported by a pro-union new administration. At the end, labor force will sit next to top management and the film industry will never be the same again. Films have benefit a few at the expense of the labor of many. The time as come for workers to truly share the profits of their labor.
Posted by: Leszek Kolakowski | 12/14/2008 1:03:14 PM
Regardless of how much strike talk there is, and the looming threats SAG is making, I highly doubt they are that stupid. To cause any kind of work stoppage in the current state of the economy is not smart, regardless of what SAG feels they'll gain. They're not truck drivers. They make more money for standing in front of a camera than firefighters and police officers do for saving lives.
Posted by: mike NYC | 12/13/2008 8:09:42 AM