This is under the business category because filmmaking IS a business, and you know what - business politics is my topic when it comes to filmmaking either independantly or in Hollywood.

Frankly, I haven't watched the Oscars in about..... well ok. I was about 13 or 14 the last time I sat & taped/watched it. Now that I'm older, and have been through Audio/Video Production (in a 2 year college) I know better.

Hollywood produced films dramatically hinge on what the people of the world want from entertainment - depending on their mood, which depends on what's going on in the world.

Independant film is produced majorly as art, which does have very good 'sit through' production value (or should), despite the terrible video/film quality because of the low budget. But JUNE BUG is one example of a very good Indie flick, as is RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR. People/characters matter most in both films I speak of, and no one in Hollywood would have the guts to make a movie that is character driven.

Hollywood film is primarily driven by tons of blood, or explosions, mixed in with lots of cussing, violence, sex, and nudity. I'm sorry, but though I love a good gorey film now and again (DAWN OF THE DEAD remake, i.e.), but I am a writer & a lover of people/characters. I can sit long enough to appreciate an albeit slow, but character driven film for 1hr.45min

So to me, the Oscars is nothing but a political game between one big mogul and another big mogul and whomever wins is more popular because of the mood of the 'judges' - whomever they are! And the mood of the 'judges' hinges on the mood of a small majority of the audience ---- CRITICS... To ME anyway.

Ok - hang with me. Critics watch the films, critique them (spew out brown nosing phrases like 'poignant and moving, a gem to be treasured for all time', and 'classic - it will be remembered forever'; or they bash them for all the wrong reasons), and then are either listened to by niave people with little/no taste or minds of their own, or are listened to by the people who like to blow their money when they should be saving up to pay their bills. (I know a few people who should be paying bills, not going out seeing movies & buying more stuff they don't need!) So then, after they listen to critics, the box office listens to these 'numbers' and says "ohhh ticket sales are up for JUNO, so that must infer that people love the movie.

Dude! Just cuz they spent money for it doesn't mean they walked out of the theater foaming at the mouth for another chance to re-watch it! I, for one, don't ever want to see I AM LEGEND ever again - it was too boring despite the good special effects & intriguing real-life possiblity of the plotline. MOULIN ROUGE is the first and last film that the Oscars raved about that I at first cringed about and later found out was actually a really awesome flick. Seriously! TITANIC was even over-rated if you ask me. And to me that's just because it was overly dramatic, and a bit un-realistic. She loved him after, what? 3 Days? whatever.

Take it from me - just because Hollywood produces the movie/film, doesn't mean it's good. And just because critics say it's good, doesn't mean it's Oscar worthy. Do you know the last time I listen to a critic? I can't even tell you, because I was under the age of 9!! I never listen to movie critics. NEVER. And I also never listen to the Oscar judges to determine the best actor, etc. because 9 times out of 10, who they pick are the opposite of who I want to win.

It's a popularity game! It's all rigged, and none if it *really* matters except in HOLLYWOOD, and for Hollywood politics it helps get you ahead and get you a newly revamped trailer... and that's about it. Because *real* everyday people know what's really going on, and *intelligent* people see right through the game.

:sigh: You're not fooling me Hollywood!!

A lot of my faves show my reminiscense of days of old. "Perfect Strangers", "Three's Company", "The Facts of Life", and even "seaQuest DSV". I loved those shows as an adolescent, all the way up until now. I didn't add "Perfect Strangers" onto my Christmas list because "Three's Company" was on the list. (giggle) And then I got every season of "Three's Company"!! So - now I can start collecting "Perfect Strangers".
So far as "seaQuest" goes - I can't wait for the 2nd season to come out, because Dagwood is on it - and he was my fave character other than Lucas himself (which of course used to be my sole reason for watching- other than the interesting plots).

So yeah - I said it. I was an 80's baby, and it shows. But really I think it's because they just don't make sit-coms like they used to. "seaQuest" is like a 'Star Trek' but underwater. LMFAO

Don't you love life? It takes you where it wants you to go even though you try to grab it by the horns and take it where you want it to go. But sometimes the "Have To's" get ahead of the "Want To's" and you end up working on days that your favorite shows air. By the time you get home, it's midnight, and all the good stuff is gone and done. By the end of the year, you have no idea what's going on, who shot who, who died, and who in the world is that guy!?
Yeah - I bought the 3rd season of LOST - watched it all in about 2 weeks. And now the fiance and I are itching to know what'll happen in season 4. But guess what!? We both work when it comes on T.V. - so I guess we'll have to wait another 6 mos. to 1 yr. before we'll know!! *Again*!!

Ahhhhh!!!

*huff puff huff puff* I'm ok now...