With the increasing demand for “content” in so many channels of entertainment and other media, are people who write, create illustrations and movies and other artwork highly respected, in high demand and getting great compensation?
Not so much.
According to at least two people in a position to know, the present “system” is far from encouraging of artists.
Anna Wilding is a film executive, director, producer, writer and actress, according to her Huffington Post bio. She commented in an article:
“The craftsmanship, skill and talent that was revered in Hollywood even as late as five years ago, is now not so revered or appreciated in the new media age.
“In fact the art of writers, producers, directors, still photographers, and artists (or ‘content creators’ as we are now ubiquitously called), has become somewhat devalued in this age and ease of digital data gathering resulting in more often than not, poorly made, dumbed down content creation.”
From her article Digital Hollywood and the Role of Content Creators, HuffPost May 14, 2013.
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Interviewed by Willow Bay at the Milken Institute Global Conference (April 28 – May 1, 2013), Brian Grazer commented on the shifts between creators and the “system.”
He is a writer and producer, nominated for four Academy Awards, and winner in 2002 for Best Picture Oscar for “A Beautiful Mind.”
He says, “Power sort of shifts in seven or eight year increments, it feels to me, where the power structure or system has dominance, and then it will shift to where artists have dominance.
“About four years ago, it felt like artists had dominance: they made more money, they had power over the system, they could dictate decisions about what they were going to do with their narratives.
“Now, the system has more power, and makes more money.
“But I think that is going to change.”
[Photo from his Facebook page.]
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[Photo at top: John Turturro in Barton Fink (1991) – “A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.”]
As a creator, what do you think of the climate in the current marketplace?
Does it encourage your self-esteem? Does it motivate you?
Related article:
Building Your Most Creative and Satisfying Life in the Arts
As an actor or other artist, you are called to a career in the arts. How do you feel about that career and your identity as an artist? How do you stay in touch with your motivation, confidence, and energy?
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Douglas Eby (M.A./Psychology) is author of the The Creative Mind series of sites which provide “Information and inspiration to help creative people thrive.”
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