Charlie Kaufman slams ‘disgusting’ Hollywood studios in scathing reproach

Being John Malkovich author Charlie Kaufman laid into the present Hollywood system throughout a chat on the Sarajevo Movie Competition this week.

Kaufman, who was accepting a lifetime achievement award, wore a WGA-branded “strike” t-shirt to the Bosnian competition.

Throughout a masterclass on Friday (18 August), the screenwriter issued a scathing diatribe in opposition to the foremost movie studios.

“At this level, the one factor that makes cash is rubbish. It’s simply fascinating. It makes a fortune, and that’s the underside line,” Kaufman mentioned, based on Deadline’s Zac Ntim.

“It’s very seductive to the studios but additionally to the individuals who have interaction and change into the makers of that rubbish, particularly in the event that they’re lauded for the rubbish as a result of they don’t need to look inward or assume lengthy about what they’re doing.”

The Everlasting Sunshine of the Spotless Thoughts author advised the viewers that the Writers’ Guild’s “AI challenge” is broadened by the truth that “writers have been skilled to eat and make the rubbish too”.

“So long as they’re in that area making that s***, then you definitely would possibly as nicely have AI do it,” Kaufman mentioned.

In a separate interview with Variety on the competition, Kaufman condemned studio bosses for profiting off of low-paid creatives. “It’s disgusting, as a result of they don’t do something,” he mentioned.

“No, they do injury is what they do. They do injury to the artwork kind. And by doing that, they do injury to humanity. And if the whole lot is in regards to the backside line for them and saving cash, then there’s nothing left to the artwork kind.”

He continued: “[Studio heads] will not be ushering in any form of stunning work by their presence. They’re form of doing the other of that. And I believe it’s evidenced in what Hollywood produces, and the way the dearer a film is, the much less worth it has to the tradition.”

It’s now been one month because the Display Actors Guild – American Federation of Tv and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) joined hanging WGA members in the demand for fairer pay.

It’s the first time that display actors in addition to writers have concurrently withheld labour in 60 years, and has resulted in an efficient shutdown of Hollywood.

Below the phrases of the strike motion, SAG-AFTRA has been authorising some “actually unbiased” productions with exemptions, permitting them to proceed manufacturing.

The choice has proved controversial with many individuals suggesting that the exemptions undermine the remainder of the employees on strike.

The union has authorized greater than 200 unbiased initiatives to proceed filming throughout the strike, that includes actors together with Anne Hathaway, Dakota Fanning, Jason Bateman and Matthew McConaughey.

For a full record of all of the initiatives granted immunity underneath interim agreements, click on right here.