The Cinema 'Scene' by Seymore Flix

Movies Go Dark

Is the zombie craze over?  Have audiences moved on to happier more lighter fare?  Not by a long-shot.  The demographic that's driving both movies and TV shows to the dark and gloomy (the Millennials) is getting stronger! Gloom and doom dramas are the Millennials (18-34 age group) most watched. In fact, post-apocalyptic films and dark-themed fantasy movies are stronger than ever.

Sociologists say that Millennials, having grown up under the constant threat of  terrorism, a stagnant economy, high unemployment, and the burden of high student loans are not an optimistic group.

The darker movies of today are a far cry from the upbeat films of 30 years ago as the boomer generation viewed the world in optimistic terms and movies reflected that with happy endings, and certainty.  Today, Millennials see the world as a dangerous place filled with uncertainty and fear - and this is manifested in the movies they view.  In fact, this darker and foreboding theme is now influencing the boomer generation as well.

Movies and TV shows that feature chaos mixed with an ounce of hope for salvation are hot - be it 'The Hunger Games' or 'The Walking Dead'.  The trend is dark movies that feature antiheroes who are angry, conflicted and flawed.

Like all fads, this dark phase in movies and TV shows will pass but it appears this trend will be with us for awhile.


Hollywood Stars Get Pay Cut?

What's all the buzz about 'A' Listers working for less. And what is the driving force behind H'wood pay cuts.  It seems that some of the biggest big screen stars are working for less pay these days
- the question is why and the answer lies with both the stars themselves and the box office in general.

'Bad Teacher' was big payday for Diaz

The current thinking by stars these days (including 'A' listers) is to just get good roles. For example, Jonah Hill got just $60,000 for his role in 'The Wolf of Wall Street' but the part brought him his second Oscar nomination.  So, currently, actors will often take work for the prestige over pay in the hopes that the project will evolve into a 'hit' at the box office.  Cameron Diaz (an 'A' Lister) agreed to a $1 million salary for her part in 'Bad Teacher'; however, the movie was a box office hit and her back-end deal pushed her paltry $1 million salary up to $42 million - the risk was definitely worth the reward.

A low pay deal can also work as a long-term tactic.  Jennifer Lawrence made $500,000 for her role in the first installment of  ' The Hunger Games', but after that film grossed over $700 million, she demanded and received $10 million for the next 'HG'  installment.

The other reason for the pay trimming is that the studios don't see the value in paying 'A'. 'B', or even 'C' listers high salaries, simply because 'star value' ain't what it use to be. While Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, Will Smith, and other stars may have ruled with huge eight-figure salaries in the past, they're all on losing streaks now.  So, there is less need to pay their inflated salaries.  To be a blockbuster today a movie doesn't need 'named actors' - just look at 'Fifty Shades of Grey', or the 'Twilight' series. In fact there is a greater risk for the studios in signing a 'big name' to a project than not.

It seems that the earning power of the stars is shifting to the advantage of the studios.  Moviegoers aren't demanding that the movies they frequent require named actors, it's all about the action, special effects, stunts, crashes, and a. sort of, coherent plot.

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Seymore