Sweet profitable lies or the healthy "tough sell" truth?
Everything is a mirror to us... we look for our own reflections in most everything we see... I believe that when we watch a film we cannot help but project ourselves into it some how... through a character... through a situation...
Films for many people are an "escape"... an excuse to "turn their brains off"... films are often referred to as pure entertainment BUT if you fail to acknowledge that many people "learn" about historical events, themselves and the world through film than you're missing something very important...
We live in the age of video... want to learn something easily and quickly? Watch a video...
Now I'm not going to go batshit insane on you (just yet ^_^) and claim that there is an agenda behind Hollywood and the films it produces as the prime directive seems to just be to PROFIT above all things.
Now WE are the media creators... WE are the filmmakers and authors.. WE have a chance to reflect the world through our films more accurately than ever... the truth is usually bent and distorted in films to make it more entertaining or to give things a happier or more desirable ending to the films producers/financiers... and in the end people are lied too... people are misled...
Its MORE CHALLENGING to deal with truths AND make an interesting/exciting film but I believe it is possible it just takes MORE WORK and if PROFIT is GOD then hard work will be eschewed in favor of quick fixes to provide instant recognizability/gratification...
Lies are like a sugary donut... it tastes sweet and provides instant gratification.... the truth is like fiber... it doesn't taste good, it doesn't provide instant gratification BUT it will make you healthier in the end (no pun intended ^_^)
So while its easier to NOT fully research things and its easier to NOT assume any responsibility for the repercussions your films/videos might have... I believe you MUST be aware of the power you hold... and you must decide what is important to you when creating whatever it is that you create...
The media molds and shapes the minds of the masses... So what has the mass media made of the minds of the masses today? It's made mincemeat of their minds if you ask me and created tons of hate, fear, self loathing, alienation, and sadness... all for profit.
So what is an independent creator to do? Decide where you stand. What do you stand for? Are you going to hand out sugary donuts or health food? Do you care about people or do you only care about yourself? Do you care about all people? Or do you only care about your race/culture/religion?
Before I wrote this post I was looking through a timeline of animated feature films and it was so lame... shiny plastic movie after shiny plastic movie... animation has the ability and power to speak to all people... not just children AND children have the ability/awareness to process and deal with subjects in film far more advanced than they are given credit for or allowed to see by the big studios.
Obviously man has no fucking idea what he's doing today... just look around for the truth about what is going on in this world... the real truth! NOT what mainstream media tells you...
Problems cannot be solved until you present the TRUTH! REAL ISSUES! THE FACTS! THE DATA! Running from the truth is insane as it will NEVER go away.
The world is FUCKED UP and mythology/films/media can be used to process and understand these fucked up things BUT if our mythology/films/media is not addressing these things than it makes it FAR more difficult to process...
Filmmakers are failing humanity... each film could be a mirror designed to help people deal with their trauma but instead profit is GOD and the only people served are the shareholders/producers/financiers... why not be a filmmaker FOR THE PEOPLE? YES its MUCH MORE difficult to do it that way and survive but what the fuck? Do we not have a social conscience? If not than you SHOULD NOT be making films because you are a part of the problem.
History is constantly warped and distorted through mainstream films... the human psyche is constantly warped and distorted through mainstream films... yet because they desire that sugary donut of a lie- the instant gratification those sweet lies bring they keep watching.... and the warping continues...
At first the person that tells the truth is always treated like an asshole... but the truth is the truth... so you might be treated like an asshole for telling the truth BUT you must remember that yourself as well as the people you are affecting will be healthier for it- most will still probably choose to consume the sweet lies BUT at least you did your part.
So if you are doubting telling the "ugly" truth in your film DON'T! Show the truth no matter how "ugly" it is... its what we need... work harder to tell the truth AND make a compelling film or whatever it is that you are creating.
Now those familiar with my work might say WTF you make this crazy fantasy wacked out shit! How is that the truth?! I speak in my own cinematic language and in my language I'm speaking truthfully. I'm doing the best I can to tell the truth, given my education, life experiences and exposure to the world.
So don't be afraid to tell the truth! The world needs it!
Brought to you by professional weirdo M dot Strange.