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MEMBER DIARY

Today’s Hollywood

Everything is upside-down.

The cool people are deviant, selfish, use drugs, commit crime, cheat on their loved ones and engage in reckless and sociopathic behavior. People who attend services, play by the rules, live clean lives or honor their elders are ignorant chumps and mocked as buffoons.

When depicted in television and film, Liberals and Democrats are almost always the compassionate and humanitarian heroes, while conservative and Republican characters are the greedy, destructive and bigoted oppressors.

Yet, when you speak to people who actually have spent some time working in the entertainment business, they’ll describe to you an industry rife with avarice, misogyny and prejudice. Actresses both successful and unknown routinely describe the prevailing atmosphere in Hollywood as one of harassment and intimidation.

Liberals and the entertainment products they produce, scream racism every day of the year, yet nowhere will you find a more segregated and un-inclusive place to do business. Ask any gay in Hollywood and they’ll tell you what a homophobic and prejudice town Hollywood is.

Phony and deceptive bookkeeping practices in Hollywood are so legendary and prevalent, that even favorite son Michael Moore recently felt compelled to sue his producers for his fair share of profits. Although what a self-described anti-Capitalist cares about evil profits, I don’t know…

And sadly, over the past twenty-five years, the lion’s share of studio films about war much too often depict our military as deceptive, power hungry, fascist and expansionist, and the American soldier as bloodthirsty and murderous occupiers.

So what happened? I’ll tell you what happened – the hippies took over. Greedy hippies. Earth Day, Global warming, private jets and limos.

They scream about tax cuts for the rich, yet run off to Canada or Shreveport to make their next $100 million film because of the tax cuts (and the non-union labor). Through their entertainment platforms, these people routinely tell you how bad you are at raising your children because you dare to give them rules. You’re a fascist if you don’t want your child to do drugs or have sex with the neighbor’s kid.

Gone are the days when movie stars would proudly go off to war and stand shoulder to shoulder with their less famous brothers in arms, fighting for our freedoms, liberty and the American way of life. Gone are the family viewing hours when parents and their children could sit around the television and not be exposed to an onslaught of immoral and explicit behavior, graphic violence and vulgar language.

And gone are the weekends where it was simple to find a movie or four or five to drop the kids off to watch without fear of them being corrupted. Or worse. Yeah, I said it. Worse.

COMMENTS

  • californiasquish

    My personal experience living and working in Hollywood is in almost direct opposition to your diary. Except for the ‘creative booking’ bit, that’s totally true. Haha.

    But seriously, I’ve never been surrounded by a nicer, more down to earth, family-oriented group of people than the people I’ve met and befriended since moving to Los Angeles.

    It’s possible I’m surrounded by the exceptions to the rule, but I like to think not.

    Regarding the industry insider info, are you speaking from your own experience, or is this what you’re gleaning from the news/blogs, etc?

    For the kids, I recommend BRAVE. Admittedly, I haven’t seen it, but my friends with children all said it was pretty good.

    • kowenhoven

      after 25 years in Hollywood, in every medium, I have no idea what industry you’re talking about, seriously.

      Especially the film business, the greed, dishonestly, sexual harassment was so rampant, it’s a way of life.

      I’ve been all over the world making bad TV shows, produced the largest radio show in the country, was a stand up comic for 12 years and worked at several studios, so I’ve had some experience

      Have you watched tv lately? you believe it’s family oriented?

      I’m not saying i haven’t met good people, but where do you work and live where you could possibly be “surrounded” by what you describe? Is it in LA?

      either way, good for you for finding the good.

      • californiasquish

        I’ve worked in the biz for 10. I’ve met my share of shysters along the way as well. It’s definitely a rough business.

        I eventually settled at a tv net, where I work with a great group of people, diverse ethnically and politically, very family-oriented. I’m still there so I shouldn’t say which one, but you know it. I live near Larchmont Village, which is absolutely beautiful and families are the norm. People are wonderful there. There’s certainly exceptions, but overall I am surrounded by really good people both where I live and work.

        My take on the current state of tv is that it is more niche overall. 25 years ago there were only 3 networks, so shows had to appeal to everyone. Now, with over 200 cable nets, you fight for a very specific audience to make a dollar. Overall, there’s much MORE ‘family programming’ then there was 25 years ago, in fact, there’s MORE of everything, it’s just mixed in with all the other programming now, and harder to find. But at the same time, as a parent, you have more control. You can set up channel lists that only have certain channels, etc. You definitely have to work a little harder, but you have access to more of the kind of programming you enjoy.

        Anyway, I’m sorry to hear you haven’t had the experience I’ve had. I hope you find some good ones.

        • merrie7137

          Great movie! But during the previews they showed a trailer for the next stupide Will Ferrell movie. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I have a simple test for deciding if I want to spend money to see something and if Will Ferrel is in it, I pretty much don’t. It showed a scene where he’s playing a candidate running for some office and during the standard baby kiss, he accidentally punches a baby. The whole theater laughed out loud. Well, the whole theater except me apparently. Really people? A grown man accidentally punching a baby is FUNNY to you? I just don’t get i.