Netflix, Scorsese and the rapidly changing landscape of Hollywood
With a number of timeless films on his resume,
Martin Scorsese has the kind of voice and influence that is felt around the industry. His cultural impact was on full display when he sat down with The Associated Press in 2017, addressing the film industry at large. The Oscar winning auteur behind films like Goodfellas, Taxi Driver and The Departed pronounced that film, as he knew it is now dead and gone. These sentiments would go on to be the basis of debate for the months that followed, as lines were drawn between film purists and fans of the modern filmmaking style.
Scorsese voiced that the “
proliferation of images” on a growing number of devices such as phones, tablets and laptops have essentially robbed young moviegoers of the cinematic experience. Gone are the days when cinema was a communal event, as films are now watched on crowded buses or the backs of classrooms, on screens no longer than a few inches. His words were backed by a number of established directors, including Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator, Blade Runner) who dismissed the state of film as "Pretty Bad".
With all the above considered, it's still worth noting the positive aspects that the new age of filmmaking has introduced. In previous decades, creating a quality film almost always had to involve millions of dollars and pitch meetings with financiers/gatekeepers that could make or break your story. Now, not much is needed other than a cheap camera or a smartphone, and a dream. It only makes sense for streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu to be just as accessible as the changing filmmaking landscape in which it exists in.
The democratization of filmmaking and the way we watch movies has also ushered in a new age of diversity in the industry. Marginalized groups who have struggled to find a platform to tell their stories have instead taken their talents to streaming giants. Shows like "Master Of None" have flipped the industry on it's proverbial head, challenging viewers to own up to their stereotypes and prejudices. Netflix has also produced a number of critically acclaimed films, including Beast Of No Nation, Okja and Mudbound. These movies can hold up in any era as fine works of art.
https://youtu.be/1Expe7hf6MULike any other industry, the state of films is in constant motion and they only way to stay relevant is to adapt. This is something Scorsese understands, so much so that his next film The Irishman, will be released exclusively on Netflix. While the movie industry is more saturated than ever before, it is also a lot more unpredictable and fearless in the way in which stories are told. Filmmakers, like us for example, are picking up cameras and telling stories by any means necessary. In our opinion, it's a beautiful sight.
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