Anthony Mackie on what's wrong with the film industry today

[The Laughing Fish]

I saw this footage of Anthony Mackie speaking at London Comic Con in 2017 about the state of films right now.

He is quite correct on a lot of issues, such as the rise of superheroes and other pop culture icons becoming movie stars instead of the actual actors playing them, as well as unnecessary remakes and ever increasing ticket prices.

I do have some gripes with what he said though. As much as I agree with him about the evolution of superheroes having a detrimental effect on cinema, the guy is still contributing to the problem by playing the Falcon in the MCU. Then again, you might say his self-awareness about his status as an actor ought to be commended.

I have a bone to pick with his comment about "making movies for specific audiences as opposed to making good movies". The problem is the vast majority of the films that are popular among mass audiences and break box office records are, in my opinion, dismal crap. I don't think making some movies for specific audiences are necessarily a bad thing, unless they have ulterior motives i.e. Ghostbusters 2016. Most films, such as a lot of sci-fi, are made for niche audiences. I'm not sure if that's what he meant, but I for one would take Blade Runner 2049, Ex Machina or Annihilation over Infinity War or Endgame any day.

[thecolorsblend]

The idea of making movies for specific target audiences is something that has plagued Hollywood for a long time now and will probably plague them still in the future. The fact is that audiences are not limited anymore by three major networks, thirty or forty cable channels and whatever is playing in the local cineplex.

Today's consumers have a huge array of choices. The concept of a mass audience went out with the nineties. Studios really have no choice but to cater to specific audiences with micro targeted content.

Movie stardom is a logical casualty of all that. Narrowcasting content and the obsolescence of mass audiences means that virtually nobody can rise to the level of true blue Movie Star. Considering how many famous movie stars of yesteryear are on record for loving performing but hating fame, this could very well turn out to be a positive development.