Why Diversity in films Matters for everyone. AKA BOYCOTTEXODUS

Before I get into why it matters for EVERYONE (especially you money makers) I’d like to start with a tweet.

I know I’ve briefly touched on diversity in films in the past but this development has me diving back into the subject.

So a few days ago Rupert Murdoch decided to tweet something. I assume when his old wrinkly thumbs were moving across his blackberry screen he was clear-headed and not at all inebriated. But the tweet he sent out was ridiculous nonetheless. A tweet claiming that all the Egyptians he knew were white so whats the big deal about having an all white cast……for a movie filmed….. in Africa. While I don’t doubt uncle money bags only knows white people in Egypt. Your tiny little club of people you know in Egypt clearly doesn’t represent the entire country. And oh I’m sorry it’s not an all white cast, How silly of me. Here let’s see the cast.

So…the main characters, the kings and queens. Those can be white, but for the slaves and assassins, now we have to be realistic. If all of the Egyptians Murdoch knows are white, why isn’t he complaining that the servants aren’t white as well? Blatant racism and whitewashing is why this film has been facing a boycott since its inception. #Boycottexodus is a pretty huge movement as minorities are tired of getting the old “heave-ho” whenever big productions feel like it. Which leads us to some very interesting statistics about diversity in film. Here are a few stats about Race and Hollywood based on a study done at UCLA.

The lack of minority representation has always been known, but sometimes it’s good to actually see it. It’s actually sickening.  But here’s the GOOD news. Because of things like boycotts and people in general just being tired of this mess. There seems to be an upswing in people going to see films and tv shows with higher minority representation. This comes through in data obtained by

Movies with higher minority representation(21-30%) posted $160.1 million in global box office receipts in 2011. Films with lower Minority involvement(less than 10%) made just $68.5 million. That’s 91.6 million dollars MORE just for doing something you should be doing ANYWAY. I mean asinine, archaic Hollywood casting practices aside, the data is very clear. By being bigoted you are losing money Hollywood. Here’s the full report. See that’s why it matters for everyone, everyone makes more money, A LOT more money in the end. So do the right thing. Diversify your talent, your creators, your directors, hell diversify the agents at the agencies that represent these people. Watch your profits (which have been steadily dropping) soar.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Sincerely,

 

Brian Bell

 

 

 

 

 

How DC can optimize their upcoming film list easy as 123

This past week DC released their list of upcoming movies.

2016: Suicide Squad (directed by David Ayer)
2017: Wonder Woman (starring Gal Gadot)
2017: Justice League Part One (directed by Zack Snyder)
2018 The Flash (starring Ezra Miller)
2018: Aquaman (starring Jason Momoa)
2019: Shazam
2019: Justice League Part Two (directed by Zack Snyder)
2020: Cyborg (starring Ray Fisher)
2020: Green Lantern

That’s a pretty intense list. I mean I’m geeking out about Suicide squad, that’s going to be quite the gritty action movie. Let’s take a look at the lessons they should learn from their OLD films and see how they can apply these hard learned lessons to their future releases.

3. Steel – Casting

Several things were wrong with this film(obviously). But for the sake of this article, let’s go with casting. Now it’s 2014 so I’m pretty sure they wont be casting any pro ball players in major roles, HOWEVER the lesson to be learned here is not to cast purely on numbers. See what Hollywood loves to do is test an actor’s name with audiences. The actor with the most positive response likely gets the role. This doesn’t always work, sometimes it’s best to look at someone with little or no name. If they need a refresher course for that they can look at that last green lantern movie.

2. Diversify

Tell me this doesn’t aggravate your soul

Yes, diversify.  John Stewart is the tough as nails Ex-Marine and sometimes ladies man Green Lantern. If you were born in the late 80s early 90s that was your first Green Lantern. The animated series have a LOT of weight regardless of what the “purist comic book fans” would have you believe. Most people are introduced to the comics via the animated series, and according to the animated series, John Stewart was the Green Lantern who helped found the Justice League.

 

*Backstory From 2001-2006 he was showcased on television with the justice league show, justice league unlimited, static shock, and appearances in video games. At one point Common was even cast to play him in a film adaptation but the WGA strike pushed it back and they switched it to Hal Jordan for unknown reasons. *Backstory ends

Why go with a character that your target demographic doesn’t know? Especially when diversifying your film actually makes you money and you ALREADY EXPOSED EVERYONE TO THAT CHARACTER. Anyway DC fix this mess.

1. Writing

I will never let this go.

Lest we forget the original Justice League of America made for tv movie. Pretty much terrible in every way possible when it comes to writing.

Now on the other hand they are using a great writer to headline most of these films. But as great as David Goyer has been for you guys, can he get a break? I mean…seriously he’s done all the Batman films, Man of steel AND signed on for the next one. He’s doing the Justice League movie…He’s going to be completely tapped out!
This time let’s try not to make these soooo “kid friendly” I mean, granted DC can be the boy scouts of the comic world at times…but suicide squad NEEDS to be rated R.

Well that’s the 123 of it, here’s hoping for great releases for all of the films. Really looking forward to Cyborg, Wonder Woman, and of COURSE Batman Vs Superman (still salty about Affleck)

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely

Wiseguy Industries.