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Politics in Hollywood! Where are they going?

The enemy of progress is three steps forward and two steps back. In the case of Hollywood, we may be seeing the end of those three steps in the right direction. Political discussions in the film and television industries have increased dramatically in recent years. The implementation of politics in film and TV is not only overt but also deliberate during production.
 
Politics in Hollywood! Where are they going?

A1 Digital India News: The enemy of progress is three steps forward and two steps back. In the case of Hollywood, we may be seeing the end of those three steps in the right direction. Political discussions in the film and television industries have increased dramatically in recent years. The implementation of politics in film and TV is not only overt but also deliberate during production.

The increase has been gradual since 2016 and has been much discussed in publications and on social media. The winds are changing; although political commentary in film and TV has been predominantly left-wing since 2016, mass layoffs and announcements from several studio heads suggest that Hollywood producers are now leaning in a different direction.

Verna Myers, the first woman to lead diversity and inclusion initiatives for Netflix, was recently replaced by Wade Daves, who worked under Myers. Myers’ departure from the company comes at a time when Netflix is ​​set to lose more in 2023 earnings than it has in the company’s entire existence.

After adding ads to his content — a policy that Netflix CEO Ted Saran vowed never to implement — it's safe to say his departure from the company coincides with a financial pivot to the company's overall stance on inclusion. Myers said he has since said he intends to return to his consulting firm, where he can use his skills to implement diversity and inclusion at smaller media companies.

Another example is the departure of Disney's chief diversity officer LaTondra Newton. She left the company after CEO Bob Chapek's slow response to threats made by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. In 2022, DeSantis will end the tax breaks given to The Walt Disney Company due to progressive steps the company has taken in recent years.

Another notable example is the dismissal of Victoria Alonso, executive vice president of visual effects and postproduction at Marvel Studios. Alonso has been vocal and firm about diversity and inclusion in Hollywood, saying in a 2023 interview with Variety, "We've worked hard to get here and we're not going anywhere." The often political statements gradually became anathema to Disney's PR strategy enforced by higher-ups, particularly threats from DeSantis, and eventually led to his release by CEO Bob Iger in 2023.

Newton and Alonso's departures have also been attributed to the company's recent financial issues. Disney films have struggled to break their usual benchmarks at the box office since the pandemic, especially films that cost at least $250 million to make.

Whether it was the pandemic, the gradual increase in ticket prices, or simply poor scripting that caused production companies to take heavy losses is a mystery - or perhaps all three. The layoffs of these politically minded executives are being seen as an effort to bring back subscribers and increase revenues to overcome the disruption the film industry has faced since 2020.

I don't think the film industry will completely abandon diversity and inclusion policies. Finally, with regard to Myers' replacement, Davis' plan for diversity and inclusion at Netflix fits perfectly with the way Myers operates.

Davis previously led diversity and inclusion initiatives at the National Football League, and Myers said in the Variety interview, "I'm excited for the talented Wade Davis to lead the R&D [inclusion and diversity] work on our team's incredible inclusion strategy," and I look forward to seeing how much progress we can all make together.

I don't think we're going back to the days of "Lawrence of Arabia," which was critically regarded as one of the best films of all time despite not having a single female cast member. When "Lawrence of Arabia" was released, Hollywood was in a very different state politically. Yes, the pendulum swings, but it never comes back completely.

Movies made so far will be somewhere in the middle of politics, perhaps even trying to be too apolitical. Movies like "Top Gun: Maverick" and "Deadpool, and Wolverine" have avoided certain political issues, and in turn have been among the biggest economic successes of the years in which they were released. For example, "Top Gun: Maverick" was a military movie with no mention of the country in which the main characters fought.

It doesn't matter what side of personal politics someone is on, it's hard to be angry when the attempt is one of complete and total neutrality. This can anger viewers on both sides - those who prefer the days when Jason Voorhees only killed pot-smoking non-virgin girls and those who believe "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is the best. It's a good movie. But in the end, a good compromise is one where both parties lose a little.

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