I don’t disagree with Mr Fraser’s observations, but … hasn’t Hollywood always been this way? If one wants cinematic art, it’s never come from these big studios.

I keep noticing people talking about problems in cinema like they’re new and it’s kinda weird. Corpos bought up the studios and took over the industry way back in black-and-white times. If anything, the lower bar for entry in modern times has made it easier for art to be made without the approval and funding of capitalists.

My son is a budding filmmaker, and we talk about this a lot.

Young filmmakers often don’t realize what miraculous times they live in. You can literally use the phone in your pocket to shoot a movie, edit it on your computer with free software, and then release it to the world on various video platforms, and even generate revenue, all without a nickel of studio or investor support.

But if all you want to do is make Marvel movies, then yeah, you have to sell your soul to The System.

Reminds me a bit of how South Park parodied Marvel & streaming services a few years ago…

“Netflix, you’re green-lit. Who am I speaking with?”