How is it that big Hollywood studios don’t know how to market a
film about African-American fighter pilots in the 2nd World War, but
they do know how to market a film about the ‘Angry Birds’ app? I mean really?
The film ‘Red Tails’ was released in 2012, directed by Anthony
Hemingway, written by John Ridley and Aaron McGruder (all African-American) and
Produced by George Lucas. The film has an almost entirely African-American cast
looks at some of the actions of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of
African-American fighter pilots in WW2. (If you haven’t seen the film I would
recommend it)
It took George Lucas 23-years to get this film made and when he
go round to asking the big Hollywood studios to join in, they said they didn’t
know how to market this type of film. What the hell is that all about? Even
when the film was finally made and was being marketed, by Lucasfilms, one of
the apparent main selling points of the film was that George Lucas was attached
to the project.
This article from CNN talks a little about the film and the
racial issues it has faced
However the fact the George Lucas and others fought so hard to
get this film made, and got it made and in cinemas around the world gives hope
to the idea that other will. Over the past few years there have been other
historical dramas depicting
the stories of Blacks throughout the world, with casts of predominantly black
actors. Such as Selma, 12 Years a Slave, Mandela and The Butler display a small
step forward in racial representation within Hollywood.
There have been many bad reviews of ‘Red
Tails’ mostly regarding the corniness and clichés but although it’s not
perfect, it’s a good start; racial issues within Hollywood aren’t going to
magically get better over night. Maybe the steps forward feel more like baby
steps to some, but that’s how change happens, you win some fights and loose
others, one-step forward three-steps back. I’m not saying people should be
happy that at least they’re being represented, critiquing these films and ideas
is always important and will help improve the representation for those who lack
representation, but if we push to much, they might stop making films like this
at all because they’re to ‘controversial’. The increase in viewer numbers and
demand for films that have a more accurate representation, not only of
historical events, but of more diverse casts and people, will enable more films
like this get made, and improve on their quality, in many ways.
I thoroughly agree with you argument. I have never even heard of the film 'Red Tails', but upon searching it, I am now putting it on my list of films to watch, despite the low ratings it has gotten from several critics.
ReplyDeleteAlthough 'Angry Birds' and 'Red Tails' are aimed at slightly different audiences, you make the fair point at how they can market this film about an app but when it comes to a film based on true events, they fall short.
It's interesting that in the 'Angry Birds' film, the African American voice actors play roles which are minor and seen as evil or kooky and not socially aware, which is how we see them portrayed in non-animated films.
In no way do I intent my sentiments to be taken as a denial of the overwhelming influence of institutional racism in Hollywood film. However, I think in this case there is a little more to the struggle George Lucas had in getting Red Tails produced and marketed effectively.
ReplyDeleteIn the end it relates to the simple, sad truth that Hollywood merely exists to make money. They depend upon audiences being interested in the content of their films to fund their continued existence. Unfortunately, these producers and directors know full well (and probably feel just as irritated and powerless as we do), that audiences are far more receptive to a simplistic, upbeat, formulaic and downright mediocre film about an app than they are to any kind of historical drama. This love of average, non-confrontational films which don't require much thought to comprehend and enjoy not only ensures comparatively few historical or sophisticated ones get made, but also that all kinds of history, even white history, is butchered and misrepresented so it fits more criteria that will help it sell.
Just look at how infinitely superior the classic historical depiction of the Pearl Harbor attack, "Tora! Tora! Tora!", which was a collaboration between both Hollywood and the Japanese film industry, is to Michael Bay's shameful disasterpiece of the same name. Yet... which one do you think scored more at the box office? The simple fact that most people are apathetic toward history and care little for films which go against the norm, be it with better representing of people of color or otherwise, is what holds back progress in all aspects of the film industry. The love of conventionality and simplicity has ruined everything from historical black stories being whitewashed to the third act of Fatal Attraction, its pervasive, racist, illogical and ridiculous.
Thankfully, there are always glimmers of hope. While I haven't seen Red Tails, I strongly recommend a made-for-TV movie from 1995 called The Tuskegee Airmen. Produced by HBO if I remember correctly, its a fantastic and raw story which does not pander to typical Hollywood convention whatsoever.
As for my earlier points, they are expressed far more eloquently in this video, which (in a see of garbage and unsophisticated nonsense), is certainly one of the better things to come out of YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMmZq0rTpA0