| A Voice from the Inside
By Ron Underwood
In this issue, GOD, SEX & POWER: The Politics of Society, we explore our tumultuous times of change, both morally and technologically, and how Hollywood is dealing with these changes onscreen and behind the scenes. These are frightening times of polarization in our country. It is a time of intolerance. "My way or the highway" is the attitude of many in America in terms of religion, sex and morality. At the same time, we are witnessing a revolutionary period of rapid technological change, which can be both exhilarating and frightening, depending on your point of view. Where does the power currently reside in Hollywood? With the filmmakers? With the gigantic corporations that own the studios? With the politicians in Washington? Or is it the power of the audience that speaks loudest? These are the issues which come to mind when examining the state of Hollywood in the context of the times. Our cover story deals with one of Hollywood's highest-profile films currently in production. Almost everyone in the world is already familiar with the title, The Da Vinci Code. This is the highly anticipated production of Dan Brown's successful and controversial novel, starring Tom Hanks, directed by Ron Howard and produced by Brian Grazer and John Calley. In writing the screenplay, did Akiva Goldsman change the novel to avoid offending the audience? How much controversy can a studio afford to risk when God is in the picture? And are the powers-that-be willing to explore the marginalization of women by the Church, as portrayed in the book? That's certainly not the usual use of sex in Hollywood. And how is the power of technology changing the rules in Hollywood? New technology is allowing the democratization of filmmaking. For example, Anyone in Anytown, America, can pick up a digital camera and Final Cut Pro and make a feature that has the potential to be distributed internationally. This is truly an exciting, though nerve-wracking time for Hollywood, as these technologies could threaten the entire business. Rapidly transforming digital inventions that aid in artistic breakthroughs can be also used to infringe upon copyright holders and filmmakers' rights. Private companies outside the film community are hijacking films for profit and altering content without the artists' permission, using "morality" as justification for their own immoral, though apparently not illegal, behavior. And digital piracy is the most obvious and growing threat to the motion picture business today, as we have already seen in the music industry. Where will this turmoil in our society lead? Looking back over the years, I see some similarities to the 1960s. The country was at war and faced deep polarization at home. The national goal to reach the moon by the end of the decade brought great technological advancements that continue to influence our lives today. During the social upheaval of the '60s, our culture left the repressive '50s behind and went on to embrace the groundbreaking films of the '70s. The audience yearned for something new from filmmakers. Movies like The Godfather, Klute, Network and Carnal Knowledge, along with so many others, became relevant to the audience and had an enormous effect on society. I am hoping that the difficulties the country and our world now face will allow for this same kind of blossoming of artistic expression. As the pendulum swings, it is the responsibility of the artist to open the eyes of society. As technology opens the door to more diverse points of view expressed in film by a wider, more diverse group of filmmakers, it is the audience that benefits. Photo by Larissa Underwood |
