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IS HOLLYWOOD DEAD?

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Before I state my opinion and get your response, let me first point out that the whole concept behind the name of this site, HOLLYWOOD IS DEAD, is not based on a statement about Hollywood, its economy, or anything like that.  It’s a catchy title intended to reference classic movie posters re-imagined with the zombie treatment.

That being said, let’s open a can of worms and ask anyway.  Is Hollywood dead?

I’m not sure I have a solid opinion on the matter, but having lived in Hollywood for the better half of a decade, I did make some observations.  As for the city itself, when I first moved there I was completely baffled at what I saw.  I guess I was expecting streets of gold or something, not homeless people sleeping in their own vomit.

During my early years living in the Los Angeles area, I attended several art college schools, including the Art Center College of Design, where I produced the attached painted image for one of my classes.  The assignment was to do a painting of showing the reality of Hollywood.  What I came up with was tongue-in-cheek then, and probably clichéd now.

Fast forward years later. I was finding that working in the entertainment business wasn’t limiting me to live in Los Angeles any more.  Technology could let me live wherever I wanted.  So I decided to plant my headquarters back in Michigan, north of Detroit, where friends and family are close, people are down-to-earth, I can enjoy four different seasons, and for better or worse, cost of living is extremely low.

But an interesting thing happened since I’ve been back (which is totally irrelevant to my move), Hollywood came to Detroit.  At first, (ten years ago) I didn’t believe it.  I would still visit L.A. several times a year on business, and often if it came up in conversation, Hollywood producers would say things like, “Oh, you’re in Detroit now?  Good move.” When I would inquire what they meant, they’d say things like, “Haven’t you heard?  Detroit is the new Hollywood.”

Last I heard, more major motion pictures are filming this year here in Detroit than in Los Angeles, do to the Michigan Film Tax Incentives.

While these are all interesting observations, do I think Hollywood is dead?  Um, no.  Not at all.  Hollywood has changed it’s game the same way every business has.  Like the automotive industry, Hollywood is expanding its productions and going where the labor is cheaper.  Hollywood is evolving.  Maybe in some good ways, maybe in some bad ways, but change is inevitable.

But every time I go into a movie theater, it’s packed.  And there’s all the proof you need.  Hollywood is far from dead.