Is Hollywood Getting Screwed? Are We?

[Man-Thing]

People who download movies without permission=theives

People who say things like "movie studios are greedy"=morons

It is idiotic to complain about the price of luxury items, and it is a fact that movies are a luxury item.

 

[Master Chief]

Shut up, we all know you DL everything. leech!

I do both, omg!

 

[The Apatow Crew]

That's not what I wrote. Go back and read it again.

jag

You said if it was a crappy product you don't wanna pay a lot of money to view it. If you think its crappy in the first place why do you wanna see it?

 

[Man-Thing]

Smells like pro-industry propaganda to me. Hollywood churns out an endless parade of crappy films that no one wants to see, charges WAY more for viewing them than should be allowed even when they do make something that folks want to see, and then realizes a huge profit on DVD rentals and sales. If they were a little less greedy and a little more prudent about producing films that weren't total crap and managed their business better, maybe they wouldn't have this "problem".

jag

Are you saying you would like to see the government get involved with how much movies cost to see?

Are you a communist? Sure sound like it.

VIVA LA NO FREEDOM!!!

 

[ShadowBoxing]

People who download movies without permission=theives

People who say things like "movie studios are greedy"=morons

It is idiotic to complain about the price of luxury items, and it is a fact that movies are a luxury item.

Not really. Consumers have a right to be mad when markets charge way to much for something that ought to be available to a wider audience.

I remember when I could afford Celtics tickets, now my same seats go for 300 bucks a seat. But I have no right to complain because it's a luxury item. Foolish statement. I have every right to complain because an industry is charging way too much for a product that appeals to a much wider audience.

Furthermore if your going to charge that much, you should make it worth that much. 8 bucks does not justify making Click. Arguably when a film company markets a bad product knowing it's a bad product that is also stealing. Stealing money from those who go see it.

 

[The Apatow Crew]

Hey its this simple if you don't like something or the price of something don't buy it or watch it. Your pissing and moaning isn't gonna change the price or anything.

 

[Man-Thing]

Sometimes I wish that "Atlas Shrugged" would just happen all ready. All these people that think they are entitled to everything would pull off their heads.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Hey its this simple if you don't like something or the price of something don't buy it or watch it. Your pissing and moaning isn't gonna change the price or anything.

How are you expected to know how good a movie is before you see it? Most people won't take the time to go ahead and read, and often reviews are skewed to who is paying the bills, so when X3 comes out and has "Ebert and Roeper 2 thumbs way up" attached you go in thinking "this will be good...".

But for me it sucked. I was thankful I have a student discount.

 

[Man-Thing]

Not really. Consumers have a right to be mad when markets charge way to much for something that ought to be available to a wider audience.

I remember when I could afford Celtics tickets, now my same seats go for 300 bucks a seat. But I have no right to complain because it's a luxury item. Foolish statement. I have every right to complain because an industry is charging way too much for a product that appeals to a much wider audience.

Furthermore if your going to charge that much, you should make it worth that much. 8 bucks does not justify making Click. Arguably when a film company markets a bad product knowing it's a bad product that is also stealing. Stealing money from those who go see it.

It's your own fault you can't afford Celtic tickets. Hang in there.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Sometimes I wish that "Atlas Shrugged" would just happen all ready. All these people that think they are entitled to everything would pull off their heads.

I don't think people demanding a product that is worth the money paid "is believing your entitled to everything" .

Let's say I decided as the head of ToyBiz/Hasbro/Lego I wanted those to be "luxuries" as you put it. So I raised prices and in effort to break even lowered the production standard on the toys. So now, toys which arguably all children probably want, are cheaply made and expensive. By your logic parents should not complain because "they don't have to buy them". That logic works only in the "ideal world" but in the "real world" advertisements and social settings dictate our needs and wants. In order to have a child who is happy he is going to need some toys, or else all the other kids with toys will make him feel inferior and thus hinder his ultility at that age. Similarly, movies are a very common social setting. You could raise the price another 2 or 3 dollars and people would probably still organize friday nights around mega-blockbusters. Those things have cultural significance.

Therefore if you make the product bad and simply bank on people showing up you are ripping them off if they come. People, unfortunately don't wise up and stop going as a means of protest. They will go so long as TV and other medias make the event seem rewarding. This is something age old John Smith Capitalism never knew about. The ability to manipulate people into buying inferior products.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

It's your own fault you can't afford Celtic tickets. Hang in there.

My father owns his own company moron He makes six figures and he still cannot afford them. It's not his fault they decided to give these players multi-million dollar contracts.

 

[Man-Thing]

I don't think people demanding a product that is worth the money paid "is believing your entitled to everything" .

Let's say I decided as the head of ToyBiz/Hasbro/Lego I wanted those to be "luxuries" as you put it. So I raised prices and in effort to break even lowered the production standard on the toys. So now, toys which arguably all children probably want, are cheaply made and expensive. By your logic parents should not complain because "they don't have to buy them". That logic works only in the "ideal world" but in the "real world" advertisements and social settings dictate our needs and wants. In order to have a child who is happy he is going to need some toys, or else all the other kids with toys will make him feel inferior and thus hinder his ultility at that age. Similarly, movies are a very common social setting. You could raise the price another 2 or 3 dollars and people would probably still organize friday nights around mega-blockbusters. Those things have cultural significance.

Therefore if you make the product bad and simply bank on people showing up you are ripping them off if they come. People, unfortunately don't wise up and stop going as a means of protest. They will go so long as TV and other medias make the event seem rewarding. This is something age old John Smith Capitalism never knew about. The ability to manipulate people into buying inferior products.

Sorry, I can't feel sorry for people who can't control how they spend their money. I just can't.

It's up to the people to investigate for themselves what products they should buy. People who rely solely on advertisments are weak IMO.

 

[The Apatow Crew]

How are you expected to know how good a movie is before you see it? Most people won't take the time to go ahead and read, and often reviews are skewed to who is paying the bills, so when X3 comes out and has "Ebert and Roeper 2 thumbs way up" attached you go in thinking "this will be good...".

But for me it sucked. I was thankful I have a student discount.

You take a freaking chance you be your own person. Don't listen to what another person says. if you thin kit looks good see it. If you don't than don't. its al labout chance. thats wha tthe movie industry is.

Do you need to be told everyone.

 

[Man-Thing]

My father owns his own company moron He makes six figures and he still cannot afford them. It's not his fault they decided to give these players multi-million dollar contracts.

But it's his fault he can't afford them MORON. I can't afford a Corvette ZO6, but I KNOW for a fact you will not hear me complaining about it, and if everything goes as planned I will have one within 5 years, because I work hard, and can spend money wisely.

Maybe you could sue the players union?

 

[Alpha and Omega]

People who download movies without permission=theives

Okay. I can agree that people who illegally download are thieves according to the law, but I don't agree with:

People who say things like "movie studios are greedy"=morons

It is idiotic to complain about the price of luxury items, and it is a fact that movies are a luxury item.

People say that Fuel companies like Exxon/Mobil, Chevron, and Texaco are greedy.

Are they morons? Cars are a luxury item, and they're not necessary or vital to life. They've only been used for briefly over one century. If they were removed from the infrastructure of urban living, people would irrevocably adapt. They'd have no choice.

Movies/dvd's are a luxury item, but stipulating a price is something that consumers have a right to speak on. They're not morons for having an opinion, and they're certainly not inferior for differing in view from you.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Sorry, I can't feel sorry for people who can't control how they spend their money. I just can't.

It's up to the people to investigate for themselves what products they should buy. People who rely solely on advertisments are weak IMO.

Then you feel sorry for almost all of America I am afraid. When your President response to terrorism is to tell America "to go shopping" you have a problem.

You have a problem because the solution to problems according to nearly everyone in "authority" is stuff. I, you and everyone here is a victim of this.

In fact we want stuff so badly we created "services" online to get us more stuff. Sometimes for free. Hence your piracy.

This isn't some group of theives who wish to circumvent the system. This is and always will be a problem created by those who now complain about it. If your message is buy my stuff, if that's all you make people concerned with then they will get it. And those who cannot will find a way as well.

Capitalism will destroy us, mark my words. When you base a system on greed and money eventually you get more greedy people than one system can handle.

Capitalism has no regards for conservation or rational action. The winner is the one who can get the most money out of everyone else. That means so long as you can goat enough people into buying into you it doesn't matter how good your product is.

 

[Man-Thing]

Okay. I can agree that people who illegally download are thieves according to the law, but I don't agree with:



People say that Fuel companies like Exxon/Mobil, Chevron, and Texaco are greedy.

Are they morons? Cars are a luxury item, and they're not necessary or vital to life. They've only been used for briefly over one century. If they were removed from the infrastructure of urban living, people would irrevocably adapt. They'd have no choice.

Movies/dvd's are a luxury item, but stipulating a price is something that consumers have a right to speak on. They're not morons for having an opinion, and they're certainly not inferior for differing in view from you.

yep

 

[ShadowBoxing]

But it's his fault he can't afford them MORON. I can't afford a Corvette ZO6, but I KNOW for a fact you will not hear me complaining about it, and if everything goes as planned I will have one within 5 years, because I work hard, and can spend money wisely.

Maybe you could sue the players union?

It's still not his fault a**hole. He doesn't have to match his salary to some bastard player from the NBA just to see his games.

Furthermore unions are anti-capitalist idiot.

 

[Man-Thing]

Then you feel sorry for almost all of America I am afraid. When your President response to terrorism is to tell America "to go shopping" you have a problem.

You have a problem because the solution to problems according to nearly everyone in "authority" is stuff. I, you and everyone here is a victim of this.

In fact we want stuff so badly we created "services" online to get us more stuff. Sometimes for free. Hence your piracy.

This isn't some group of theives who wish to circumvent the system. This is and always will be a problem created by those who now complain about it. If your message is buy my stuff, if that's all you make people concerned with then they will get it. And those who cannot will find a way as well.

Capitalism will destroy us, mark my words. When you base a system on greed and money eventually you get more greedy people than one system can handle.

Capitalism has no regards for conservation or rational action. The winner is the one who can get the most money out of everyone else. That means so long as you can goat enough people into buying into you it doesn't matter how good your product is.

Move to Cuba already if Capitalism is soooo bad.

All this crying over the price of movies and because you can't see your beloved Celtics. Cry me a river...

 

[Man-Thing]

It's still not his fault a**hole. He doesn't have to match his salary to some bastard player from the NBA just to see his games.

Furthermore unions are anti-capitalist idiot.

tee hee....


I know unions are anti-capitalist, that's why I said that you dope. It's people with thinking like YOU the reason you can't go see your beloved Celtics.

You could always go and watch Celtic Pride, but you may have to buy one of those "greedy" DVD's.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

tee hee....


I know unions are anti-capitalist, that's why I said that you dope. It's people with thinking like YOU the reason you can't go see your beloved Celtics.

Ummm no one but you brought up Unions. In fact I think people here argue the former. That consumers should set prices. You do realize there is an Actor's Union and that is why they make so much a film, right . Hmmmm...I wonder if that factors into the price....maybe, just maybe it does....

 

[The Apatow Crew]

It's still not his fault a**hole. He doesn't have to match his salary to some bastard player from the NBA just to see his games.

Furthermore unions are anti-capitalist idiot.

Than watch it on tv. There entertaining you. You choose to watch them.

Your just all about anti stuff aren't you?

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Than watch it on tv. There entertaining you. You choose to watch them.

Your just all about anti stuff aren't you?

No it's fine to have stuff. But I am anti-television advertisement (hence why I refuse to watch television). They brainwash you, plain and simple. Sociological tests prove that television is seen as authority. Similar tests have shown that people who watch more TV (recently) tend to "ask" more about these medicines they don't need and actually some believe they in fact have the disorders. That's no a good thing. Capitalism is about maximing utility. However if you are being told to buy things you honestly don't need, and that more stuff equals more utility then you are being lied to. Your needs and wants are being manipulated and that is not a good thing. For capitalism to function people need to be able to "freely" make their own decisions.

When Capitalism was purposed over 500 years ago there was not that much stuff a person could have. Now there is. However the point of Government is to "provide for people what they could not otherwise provide on their own". Education, police, etc. But Government also "allocates values" whether it wants to or not. And if it's policies are aimed at protecting those who make a lot of money, as the current trend seems to be, then you invaritably step on the poor and middle class.

Jag is right, piracy, which is a form of black market comes about when companies don't provide services equal to the price requested.

 

[The Apatow Crew]

Dude if you think the USA is so damn bad the njust move away to like where Capitalism isn't allowed. Then you won't have to worry about the evil hollywood people trying to sucker you out of your money.

 

[Danger Mouse]

What Tom Cruise and friends should do is come out in public and, on their own free will, make this announcement:

"In realising the epidemic piracy has been, I pledge to fight it by helping slash down production cost so that movies can be priced more competitively with the pirates. To that end, I am announcing a 50% reduction to my acting and producing fees."

I don't know, but I'm sure TC can live with just $10 million bucks instead of 20.

I'm just saying that the combat of piracy should be a concerted effort and not just that of the consumers, you know?