De Niro and Rachel Zegler have ultimately destroyed their brand by attacking half of the American Population and now it is showing in the pockets of Hollywood. Therefore, this is the result, failures at the box office and their brand.
This is a major shift away from Hollywood like we have never seen before. Just 100 years ago Hollywood was grinding out 150-200 films a year and now it takes them upwards to 5 years to make a movie is pathetic and shows how bloated and wasteful they are, and because of this they are way behind.
Why Joe Rogan and so many others have moved outside of the system of Hollywood and they are starting to take over. Hollywood cannot keep losing money like this forever, and could we see Elon Musk buy a major studio at a great price or even Rogan?
Why are you saying all of these things you may be asking yourself, if you have made it this far, well: as a Screenplay Writer, you have to see these trends coming and prepare for them. I really believe that Writers like you and I, will be on the front lines of this change happening now, because we have the stories the new Hollywood Needs.
Please let me know what you think.
Cheers,
Mark!
Story:
When was the last great comedy movie?
It's a question that's been circulating among comedians, comedy actors and writers alike, with "The Joe Rogan Experience" recently dedicating an episode to it.
Fellow comedian Steve Byrne, who just sold out five shows at Rogan's new club during South by Southwest (SXSW)'s annual comedy festival, has an answer.
If you don't know Byrne from Rogan's Comedy Mothership, then surely you know him from his "Sullivan & Son" days, or his viral clips on social media. The veteran comedian sat down exclusively with Fox News Digital in Austin, Texas, ahead of his fifth and final show last weekend, where he laughed about his most notable career flops and cried over his friendship with Vince Vaughn.
But for the comic, the movie industry’s recent trajectory is no laughing matter, citing films like "Bridesmaids," "Wedding Crashers," "Superbad" and "The Hangover" as being the last few "hardcore, R-rated, no-holds-barred" films to hit theaters.
Link:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/entertainment-celebrity/comedian...
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I've noticed a lot of creatives and industry pros are moving outside the Hollywood system to do their own things, Mark Deuce. You're right. Screenwriters have to see these trends coming and prepare for them. I've been working in the indie system my whole career and getting micro-budget and low-budget scripts ready, so I'm prepared for the indie movement we've been seeing more and more of. I'm still aiming to work in the Hollywood system too.
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Congratulations Maurice Vaughan for having your head on a swivel, because things are about to get very interesting, especially with Ai thrown into the mix.
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There seems to be a correlation that in the course of "destroying their brand," DeNiro and Zegler are the architects of the Fall of Hollywood. Nothing could be further from the truth. Bad films with sloppy, repetitive stories are killing Hollywood. Audiences are sick to death of the same ol' crap.
Those actors took hits for speaking their mind during an inquisition of Cancel Culture. In this zeitgeist, some will decry the sun for its color as it rises above their heads. It's all noise and nonsense.
Film and all the arts have always, and will continue to, reflect the times in which they are made. Certainly watch trends and keep an ear to the rail. However, it seems best to write good stuff about what you damn well please.
We are all the caretakers of our own souls. Treasure that.
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Yet, When De Niro went on a Tirade attacking Trump supporters and Zegler basically doing the same by saying if you do not believe like her then she does not want your business is, and has destroyed their brands, and why no one is watching their movies. You cannot attack half the country and expect to keep making money E Langley and Hollywood is learning the hard way not to piss off 200+ million folks which is paving the way for new Indie creators, your right, we are the caretakers of our souls and our mouths as well. Cheers.
Maybe they were contributory but DeNiro stars in another tired gangster flick and Zegler contributed to a spent live action remake of a beloved Disney animated film among more than a dozen iterations. Hollywood should grow a pair.
Two hundred million is a shade high. Thirty-four percent approval. About 70 million rabid diehards.
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Just released, this timely "Deadline" piece about Red/Blue ticket sales.
In the story, "While we can’t deny that the Zegler and dwarves’ controversy didn’t impact Snow White, its ceiling at the box office can also be attributed to the fact that there’s a lack of demand for older Disney IP, not to mention there wasn’t a crossover audience for the film."
Alas, Hollywood is buckling under the pressure of demonizing DEI. The cowards.
https://deadline.com/2025/03/snow-white-box-office-blue-red-states-12363...
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I’m unclear. Are you saying De Niro and Zegler being political is destroying their brand and Hollywood? That filmmaking should not be political? There’s a place for good escapist fun. But for me, stories are a way to tell the terrible truths - about racism, genocide, pedophiles, sexual assault and yes, threats to democracy. Storytelling and art of all kinds throughout history are ways of speaking out against tyrants. May that never change.
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I am beyond tired of current-day politics in entertainment. It’s why I largely consume older media (that and I’m catching up on stuff I missed out on at the time which is… a lot lol).
As a writer I want whoever reads my stuff to have fun and forget about real life because of all the worlds they could have stepped into, they chose mine. And I personally don’t like getting political unless a situation calls for it. This is probably gonna make it very hard for me to sell material but I don’t care, I have too much pride as an artist :)
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I think the opposite is true. If there’s ever a time for fun scripts, now is it!
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I appreciate everyone's comments. Although I am drawn to humor, I love a good thriller. I am not apposed to watching work that is political. Being completely honest, I need a break from the real world more often than not. Good comedies don't keep me up at night...unless I'm writing one. :)
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Well Phoenix Black it is not working out well for De Niro and Zegler and all of Hollywood as you can see everything that has come out of the big box studios are complete failures and folks are tired of it. It shows because no butts in the seats means no money funds for the future and investors retreating to indies who can turn a quick profit on little. Like Hollywood was 100 years ago where they turned out 150-200 films a year! This is an opportunity for us writers as well!
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Here! Here! Banafsheh Esmailzadeh I totally agree and just look at the 80s and 90s, I had no idea that would the golden age of film and wish we could see that again. The movies were prettymuch all FUN. Terminator, Indian Jones and more.
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That has been lost in Hollywood Nancy Pushkar and why we see it falling. Hopefully we can see a course change soon or else it is bye, bye.
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Tarantino's movies are all great comedies. But other movie makers need to stop trying to create the same roller coaster rides as QT, because they only get the pain right.
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Mark Deuce My thoughts exactly, entertainment from back then especially was just that, entertainment. Not to go on a whole rant, but film today definitely has lost a lot of its magic due to forgetting that simple fact.
Comedy I feel has especially suffered; too many rules and restrictions and concerns of not alienating certain viewers and reinforcing certain messages, whereas comedy shines brightest in the dark. Most comedy movies I see now barely get a "heh" out of me. Meanwhile I most recently watched "Team America: World Police" for the first time with my friends a while back and I absolutely loved it.
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'Butts in the seats'... way too old school thinking. More channels exist for films of more different types than ever before. The movie industry is burgeoning with opportunity to create product. Using Hollywood as the nexus for movies ignores the global nature of the creative class that makes up the movie industry. I find your thesis less as the end of Hollywood and more as a pitch for comedy clubs. A movie has a much longer life due to the variety of channels where it can be marketed to a targeted audience. If you still define box office as a booth where tickets are sold, you need to catch up. So Mark Deuce , what else you got on the business of movies?
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Comedy Clubs are just the beginning Robert Franklin Godwin III and a sign folks are moving out of Hollywood. Just look at all of the A-List Actors, they have all but with a few exceptions have moved out of Hollywood, and they did this way before Trump. Just look at A24 who is taking the industry by storm and is going to be the next Brick and Mortar Netflix. And I agree that Butts in the seats is old school, but ticket sales are whats driving everything and soon theatres will go as the Drive-ins. This is an opportunity for us Screenplay writers to get a new lease on life, because Indie studios are easier to pitch to. Plus, they are looking for new material as well. Cheers.
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You are Spot-On Banafsheh Esmailzadeh and when was the last great Comedy? Dumber and Dumber, Napoleon Dynamite, Airplane, Scary Movie series? Hopefully, we can get some of that comedy back.
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I agree Wal Friman
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Totally agree with your take, Mark! It'll be up to writers and creators alike to pick up the slack and start making stories and films that people actually like and want to support. With that said, I hope to be part of the fight to bring back epic stories lol Viva la Revolucion!
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I think it is a bit sad that artists can't speak their mind or make a stand for something they believe in without it being considered an "attack". Let's agree to disagree. No attacking involved.
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Lol Maria Restivo Glassner again, you cannot be political when making movies, because this is the result: Zegler and De Niro attacked, not voiced their opinon which is different. Alienating 200+ millions potenital customers is called Brand destroying. Zegler also went on to say if you did not agree with her politcal views that she did not want your business was complete sabotgae of her brand, Disney´s, and the film in all one fell swoop of disaster. Opinion is one thing, but these two took it to a whole other level. And we ll can see the results. Cheers!
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Exactly Holly Fouche and that is why A24 and Netflix is doing so well right now and this is a great opportunity for us writers as well. Cheers!
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Excellent question Mark Deuce, I definitely enjoyed Napoleon Dynamite and I thought Crazy Stupid Love was also really good for newer releases. I hope comedies like that make a comeback but definitely what needs to happen is a doing-away of modern-day sensibilities of what's acceptable to joke about and what isn't.
Lately I've happened upon Chat Music on YouTube and I've legit never laughed so hard (there's even four videos [so far] dedicated to Rachel Zegler's Snow White). I can only hope my comedy slaps even half as hard but I'm doing my best XD
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All art is political because it's made within the context of a political world. You disagreeing doesn't make it any less sociologically true. Using Indiana Jones and Terminator as examples of nonpolitical movies (Industrial nations dominion over developing countries/Tech progress marching in step with the war machine) would also be hilarious if you weren't serious.
DeNiro had made the same comments about Trump supporters before Joker was released, and it still made a billion dollars, so the argument that Alto Knights and Snow White are losing money because of their politically oriented actors is about the dumbest level of analysis that could be taken from the situation. This site really needs a block feature lol.
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I need to check them out Banafsheh Esmailzadeh and you are going to be a hit!!
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Whether we agree or not David Michael Kelly just look at the collapse of Hollywood films of late: Zegler and De Niro are great examples. It is alright to be political when you are at home, but when you have a 370 million dollar film you are staring in and you tell folks you do not need their business if you don´t agree with me is something else. That says it all and with AI coming on strong, soon many will lose their jobs and the studios will be scaled down to bare bones with those who can use AI prompts and systems.
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Mark Deuce Enough with the crystal predictions of disaster. You're making a mountain out of a mole hill. The vibrancy of this industry does not hinge on a couple of box office flops. Citizen Kane 1941, flop. Heavans Gate 1980, flop. The Lone Ranger 2013, flop. Yet the industry is still producing films. Hits are few and far between. Thirty years ago, a movie had two weeks to show gross revenue. Now a movie can be and is remarketed through multiple channels. Arguably, the industry is healthier regarding revenue generating opportunity than any time since the Nickelodeon arcades. Frankly, you come off in your posts like you are shilling for something, but can't quite spit it out.
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Thank you Mark Deuce! I’ll do my best and I’ll be on the lookout for your stuff, too! Enjoy the chat music hehe~
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Thank you Robert Franklin Godwin III. The DEADLINE article disproves the actor's involvement in sinking these films, and breaks it down Red State/Blue State. Why it's still being harped on is a mystery.
https://deadline.com/2025/03/snow-white-box-office-blue-red-states-12363...
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E Langley Yes I read it a few days ago.
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judging by the absolute trash that has just picked up 4 or 5 Oscars, I'm not surprised Hollywood's "losing it". Then again, this is like, "just my opinion, man" and the discussion has many facets and many angles, a lot of ins and outs. I watched this YT video on the subject of where movie making is today here "Why Do Movies Look Worse Now?": https://youtu.be/w31ywg_3PaM?si=jZEtfbfjN_s9JaOE
Great, Robert Franklin Godwin III. I wish others would.
ANORA won five this year, THE BRUTALIST, three. So you must mean ANORA, Topher Neville.
The natives are certainly restless today.
Lol E Langley this is why Zegler flopped and will probably never work in Hollywood again after this. Disney will lose 200 million, and why they did not premiere this film of her´s because they did not want her talking to press. Deadline article or not. Same with De Niro, they are done. Juss Say´in.
Exactly Topher Neville and most Americans never even knew what these films were, and show how out of touch Hollywood is right now. And thanks for the Video Bro!
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Talk to ya soon Banafsheh Esmailzadeh
I'd debate you Mark Deuce but it's been fifteen minute since I posted a logline for a script I haven't written so I better get on that. Juss say'n. LOL
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You can have a different opinion than Mark, E Langley, but there's no need to mock him. Mark -- and anyone on Stage 32 -- can post ideas for scripts he hasn't written yet.
E Langley am I a native? Anyway The Substance is a brilliant film and I'm not particularly into Horror flix, yet I know what makes a good script, a good performance and sure as hell wouldn't film my feature for cinematic release with poor lighting and smash cuts to amateur porn moments that belong on PornHub!
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Mark Deuce What gets lost in discussions like these is the historical reality of the movie business. The formula for success is Art + Business = Cinema. Two of the most successful producers in the history of movies created some of the schlockiest entertainment. Russ Meyer made money with every movie he made. Roger Corman made millions producing low budget crap while launching some of the most successful people in film. Meyer's cast Jack Nicholson in Little Shop of Horrors and Corman gave Ron Howard his chance to direct a feature. Looking back and opining 'films used to be so good and now they suck' is the rose-colored glasses version of the past. Not real. And by the way, the crappy 1960 Little Shop of Horrors became an Off-Broadway musical followed by a film version. Movies are intellectually property that can generate revenue in many ways and over long periods of time. Looking at a single incident and using it as a predictor of things to come is ill-advised and foolish. BTW, if 82-year-old DeNiro never works again it will be because he didn't want to, not because he spoke his mind.
Okay. Sure, sure. Sitting up straight in my chair and flying right. No more satire of things that many are thinking anyway. LOL
Haven't the foggiest, Topher Neville.
I simply can't agree that Art + Business = Cinema. Traditionally most filmmakers were totally irresponsible with money. It's about the creative vision and getting it to the screen. The money men were separated from the creative process by the demands of running a business (ie a studio). So the conflict always rolled over from production to production, too much money being spent and nothing to show for it! I'm recasting that equation to look like this: Cinema = Art / Business.
Topher Neville I understand that you don't agree, but you are also wrong. A studio is a business, first and foremost. It produces product using creatives. The studio provides the funding to create the movie and the creatives manufacture the product. Movie studios are factories, always have been. Producers need the funding (business) and creative content (art) to make movies (cinema). Your thesis seems to rely on art and business being at odds with each other. Recognize the interdependence and the symbiotic relationship becomes clear. Your statement "most filmmakers were totally irresponsible with money" misunderstands the dynamic between management and labor. There will always be tension surrounding a budget, as most households understand at a very personal level. No different in the studios.
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Why Hollywood is losing money? Hollywood traditionally kept religion out of their pictures. Still today? No. Not since the media created two camps in the society and with that politics practically is religion.
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Wal Friman Have you tried the Google Machine? A couple of Hollywood films with religion as the topic or subtext. Samarsa, Religulous, Zeitgeist, Noah, Jesus Camp, The Passion of the Christ, The Greatest Story ever told, Benhur, The Ten Commandments, The Last Temptation of Christ, Jesus Christ Superstar, Hajj: The Journey of a Liftime, Shoah, El Topo, Jesus of Montreal, The Song of Bernadette; Koran by Heart source: IMDB
What created two camps is not media but rather a suggestion to demonize media.
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Charlie Chaplin was one of the founders of Hollywood and he was a creative first, because he said that if his films were not funny he made no money! He would always have his hand on the pulse of his films and make adjustments before the business aspect, because the money would always flow when the film was perfect and Hollywood has lost that Robert Franklin Godwin III and E Langley . And you are right Topher Neville that the industry needs to get back to creating high quality Art/films that eveeryone enjoys and for me it is Creatives/Art/Cinema = Big Business! Cheers to all!
I agree Wal Friman and thanks to Production Companies like Angel Studios religion is making a comeback in the movie industry.
TL:DR
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Continuing my point for those interested. The opposing viewpoints taught by religion are huge and emotionally loaded. The emotional disagreement is always "only how I was taught is reality based". The media does the same today. Hollywood might have to react to that.
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People have talked about the industry's inner workings for years, both those working in it and outside it. And it's interesting to note that as far back as Chaplin Mark Deuce , the relationship between art and entertainment was forged. And having worked at Pinewood Studios in the UK on independent projects, I've found that any project always boils down to the gulf between the great script and getting the money to make it. Many independent filmmakers find this. That's why Art / Business = Cinema, because the Art and the Business side need to compromise in order to fuse and make a decent 'picture'. (I'm very fond of that old fashioned word for film a 'picture' - especially since there isn't much 35mm film being processed these days)
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The big problem today is that filmmakers think they need large sums of money to create a film Topher Neville and just look at what Charlie Chaplin and the early trail blazers had to work with. Also look at the 30s and 40s how many crew they had, everyone fit on one page at the opening credits. Folks need to get back to the basics of the craft and money will follow.
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One of my favourite movies ever, The Fountain, has precious little CGI, in fact I read somewhere that they got the falling star effect from dripping oil or something. And it looks really cool. I'd like to think the same is possible for my projects, too.
I mean hell, if I absolutely have to I'll make a movie using paper puppets or something lol
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In the early 1900s they were so creative with so little Banafsheh Esmailzadeh and if they did you sure can too. Let´s Goooo!!!!