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April 14, 2004

LA-ology

Posted by nerdling | April 14, 2004 11:59 AM

In general, I like Los Angeles. Granted, I probably feel more kindly toward it because I grew up in close proximity to the city and have lived in it for the past six years. If you are willing to look for it, LA has a rich and interesting history, full of vibrant people and places. The architecture here is outstanding (if you like Arts & Crafts and mid-century modern a la Neutra and Schindler), the weather is impeccable, there are great record stores and restaurants, year-round farmer's markets, cheap bookstores (because no one here reads), some interesting bars and clubs, and there is no better place to be if you like film.

Unfortunately, that last recommendation is also the biggest problem with LA—other than the lack of useful public transportation, which necessitates owning a car and contributing to traffic. I'd even be willing to deal with the traffic if venturing out of doors didn't mean dealing with legions of struggling actors, or worse—people who have already made it in Hollywood. People come here to see stars; that's part of what drives the LA tourist economy. What people don't realize is that stars and the people behind them (producers, directors, screenwriters) are by and large the most self-centered, vain, narcissistic, tempermental and vacuous people on the planet.

I deal with people in the film industry all day, every day and I can safely assure everyone that they are exactly how you imagine them to be, and I mean that in a pejorative sense. (I thought State and Main was an excellent representation of what Hollywood is like.)

In the way of proof, I'd like to offer exhibits A and B as representations of the personalities that are symptomatic of the industry at large:

EXHIBIT A: The Quotable Harvey Weinstein, head of Miramax.

To the personal trainer hired by his wife Eve, who was greatly concerned for Harvey's health: "I don't have time now, here's a fifty, get the fuck out of my office."

Filmbrain's all time favorite Harvey confrontation has to be the one with Elliott Goldenthal, composer and husband of Frida director Julie Taymor. Harvey and Taymor had been arguing over a test audience's reaction to the film. Always the gentleman, Harv turns to Goldenthal: "I don't like the look on your face. Why don't you defend your wife so I can beat the shit out of you."

[Borrowed from Filmbrain]

EXHIBIT B: The Quotable Quentin Tarantino, self-aggrandizing director of derivative films.

If He Were Teaching QT101 —
EW: If you were teaching a class on your own films, what deficiences would you point out?
QT: The answer is none. I'm sure somebody else might find weaknesses, but I can't. If there's a weakness, I don't do it — you'll never see the scene.

Quentin On Marty —
"I really do think directing is a young man's game....If I say Martin Scorses's movies are getting kind of geriatric he can say, F--- you, man! I'm doing what i want to do, I'm following my muse, and he's 100 percent right. I'm in my church praying to my god and he's in his church praying to his. There was a time we were in the same church, and I miss that. I don't want to go to that church. If I was headed to that church, I would write novels."

[Borrowed from Cinecultist]

I don't know about anyone else, but I'd be afraid to say such things about Martin Scorsese. He's scary and powerful and I don't believe he'd think twice about ridding the world of someone as over-appreciated and untalented as Quentin Tarantino.