Hollywood Still Laughing
Going to the movies. Before we started watching movies on laptops and phones, we bought tickets and popcorn, sat down in movie theaters and watched a story made before cameras, in a film studio in California or New York.
Technology has lowered the bar literally, because we make our own movies now, shoot on streets and beaches, lay in sound, titles and distribute it, courtesy of the internet.
Hollywood invented something called ‘stars’ men and women expertly made up with powder and lipstick, not a hair out of place, not a speck of dust on shoes (no sneakers then) beautiful clothes for women, and the kiss.
Early movies were shot in studios where directors could control light and get impeccable sound. Studios also controlled content, which led to conditioned behaviour, like rats in a laboratory experiment. Hollywood gave women red roses and diamond rings to demonstrate love. We still do it today.
Hollywood created the ritual of men going down on their knees to propose to the girl. African women insist on it because of show media like Instagram. Hollywood created the romantic dinner.
We demand it, otherwise the man doesn’t ‘love’ me. Hollywood created the honeymoon, we want it to show that we are as well to do as white folks. Hollywood created the double bed. It is still sold today.
If YouTube and other technology has put film production in our hands, why are we telling Hollywood stories? Bollywood has its flaws, but it is the biggest movie producer because it tells stories with roots in India, the country.
By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.
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