In search of the MODERN AUDIENCE.

[@CallMeChato]

Apparently, 'Go woke, go broke" is wrong, it's "Get woke, go broke". This 'error' has caused many people to correct me. It's like I misgendered Rose from Dr. Who, Special 1. Frankly, I prefer go woke, go broke. It's rolls off the tongue better.

[@MrsGiggles]

I like Razorfist's "Get broke, get woke" because it makes more sense in the context of several companies, including Disney: there are already existing deficiencies that these companies and the people involved try desperately to hide by ramping up the wokeness. Disney is already broke from purchasing Fox, for example, when they became especially obnoxious.

[@randomfeller]

“Get woke, go broke” sounds infinitely better and was the original line, so far as I can remember. The other way is like rhyming the same word. It sounds lame and repetitive….kinda like Kathleen Kennedy’s casting choices… I would take “Got woke, went broke” or “Went woke, now broke” over “go…go…” but the “Get woke, go broke” is a great mix of alliteration and rhyme. Additionally, the writing rule of thumb is to not repeat words in the same sentence if it can be avoided. Of course you’re free to say whatever ya like, but “Go woke, go broke” sounds lame.

[@HyperionMP]

I agree bad writing combined with total risk aversion (i.e. creative bankruptcy) is the key issue. But it often goes hand in hand with token representation and "the message" as Will has coined the phrase.

[@SuperCosmicMutantSquid]

There's also the Razorfist version of 'Go broke, get woke, then croak'. Regardless, it's always a bad idea with bad outcomes.

[@haydenwalton2766]

misandry + fabricated patriarchy x revenge = equity (shit entertainment)

[@RambleOn07]

The biggest problem is that these companies seemed to think that they had their customers by the balls. Unfortunately for them, seeking this new audience kills all interest in the property. And without the original audience, the property has no pull whatsoever.

[@bsharp3281]

They have highjacked our escape from their noise.

[@carried9130]

And I noticed that they never go after their new audience for not supoorting their garbage. They go after us for not accepting what the industry has become and walking away, rather than those they pander to for not putting their wallets where their mouths are. Ms Marvel actress said "fans need to do better." No. Studios need to do better- and need to chase their new audience. Fans already were responsible for the franchise's success.

[@JoJo-vg8dz]

They hate these male centered franchises and they hate the audiences of these franchises. They just bought them as platforms for cultural propaganda.

[@TheSulross]

the fundamental fallacy is that the audience that they want as a replacement audience is a minor minority among minorities and this audience dosen't have any affection for all these properties they acquired

[@josephfisher426]

@@carried9130 There definitely are some bratty fans. But they exist in parallel with the fact that the reviled content tends to have the same script complexity as an Adam West Batman episode while being 5-to-8 times longer and having one-fifth to one-eighth the distracting humor value.

[@deeesher]

Alfred Hitchcock once said, “To make a great film you need three things - the script, the script and the script.”. If Hollywood could figure that out, might solve a lot of problems.

[@chucksucks8640]

A good script is kind of someone's opinion which is why good projects get shelved. Special effects are less of an opinion and advertising is even less subjective. The point I am making is that studios know that a movie with good advertising and special affects are measurable and can generate results. A good script isn't as measurable so those are harder to get produced.

[@animatorFan74]

Somehow they made the first Iron Man without a script.... but this is a rare, rare occurence that such a big hit comes out from no script pre-written :P

[@deeesher]

​@@animatorFan74Very true, but between Favreau, RDJ, and Jeff Bridges, they were all very talented people that had a lot of passion to make the movie work. Sadly, most of the directors they're bringing in now have never done anything like this before, and in many cases, never even read a comic book.

[@Xiy114]

I think that Hollywood is misinterpreting Hitchcock's statement.

[@thezardzone6557]

Every hack writer thinks their script is the best thing ever made. They aren't. None of them. The movies you see in theaters are more from the director and editor side. To cite another quote, which is such a rage since the inception of stupid forum signatures, a movie is made 3 times: when it is written, when it is filmed, and when it is edited. Most writers are lazy and this is one reason why you have fewer good films today. No one carries a creative flame for them, not even the assholes who make the stuff.

[@edwardperkins1225]

Movies always have messages, but modern movies are doing two things that ruin movies. 1. Putting message before story to the point of making them proganda that talks down to the audience. 2. Having main messages that are either insane, or that most people would strongly disagree with. Because of sequels and ideological branding messages are predictable enough for people to avoid new movies because of the main message of the studio or franchise that they already know about. Messages are fine, but not all are equally liked, valid, or keep people immersed in the created world of the story.

[@Annayasha]

Great explanation 🙌 your last sentence is so true. Not every message is valid.

[@solavita306]

They stopped making content for the public and started making content for each other, and no one else. Then they told us we were bad people, immoral, and stupid for not liking what they made. They blamed us for their failure to provide material we wanted to see. It's the abuser blaming the victim, telling them it's their own fault they were beaten. Yeah, I can't imagine how people would come to the conclusion that they don't want to watch anymore.

[@carried9130]

Exactly.

[@NefariousKoel]

That sums it up quite nicely.

[@Achates72]

How many movies do you see which depict white men or religious people in a good way? Every white man is bumbling or evil. God help us if a woman is feminine or centered on her family. About the only good rich people I ever see is Bruce Wayne and Ironman. If there is a person with money you can bet they are evil. Christian bad, White bad, work hard and make money bad. Straight bad. Mother or father bad. Makes you want to stay home.

[@rupertsmith5815]

No they stated making content and stopped making art, stories and films It is just content now

[@sleepinglionarchives]

As a kid I remember seeing commercials with taglines like, "Back by popular demand", "You asked for it, you got it," etc. If only studios operated under the same 'give the people what they want' philosophy employed by most potato chip brands

[@georgevaughn6486]

Totally agree. Example - all they had to do was put Luke, Leia, Han, Chewy, & the droids (together, not as a bunch of broken, beaten down dogs) in the sequels & make Luke a badass Jedi, and they could have PRINTED money! That's what the fans wanted. Instead we get hobo Luke, deadbeat dad Han, girl boss Leia, background Chewy, & memory wiped droids. And they wondered why they got so much hatred. Give the fans what they want & 9 times out of ten you will make money and be successful.

[@piotrjeske4599]

Studio/Hollywood just know better , then the audiance, what audiance should want.

[@josebrown5961]

@@georgevaughn6486Any one of us could have written a good sequel trilogy. They chose filmmakers that HATED what Star Wars was about.

[@JB-ti7bl]

Give the People What They Want -The Kinks' best album

[@skibidi.G]

But what about the *message* , to bring intersectional communism to the West? If they stop, they'll fail! 😀

[@basher20]

If the "Mythical Modern Audience" exists, we've established that they don't buy streaming subscriptions, movie tickets, or light beer in quantities that make chasing them an economically viable prospect. I'm an annual passholder at Walt Disney World and go there on a regular basis. It's telling to me that the 6-10-year-olds aren't wearing merch from movies released in the last 10 years, at least nothing since Inside Out. For girls it's the classic princesses and boys it's Cars and "classic" Buzz Lightyear. "Modern" Lightyear, Strange World, Soul, and Elemental are nowhere to be found. Encanto is possibly the only exception, but that was almost a callback with a family story and an excellent original score.

[@karlimo4034]

Encanto had some wokeness with the massive muscles chick though, that put me off and didn't watch it. I'm just sick of the manly girls and girly dudes they sell.

[@orlock20]

The video game market is where the modern audience is. There are plenty of choose your own adventure games with complex stories and decent soundtracks.

[@chrisblanc663]

I keep forgetting that Encanto is part of this era of Disney movies as it’s heads and shoulders better than anything else in its time slot. My wife is weary of the muscular woman in the movie too, and I agree that she should have been comically petite, rather then Herculean big. But outside that, it’s a wonderful film that focuses on a family, and the need to fix its disfunction through open communication, and that every member has an important role, even when not instantly obvious. The score is also the best in at least a decade with only frozen rivaling it. (Encanto’s score is more consistently good, whereas Frozen has 2 or so home runs, and a couple mediocre ones).

[@basher20]

@@chrisblanc663 had that discussion with a friend who is a trained composer and arranger. His point was Frozen seems to be a series of songs, while Encanto is a unified composition in its entirety, the difference between a soundtrack and a score.

[@chrisblanc663]

@@basher20 that’s really interesting!! Makes sense that Encanto would be more consistent then. Thanks for the info.

[@TheGreatSteve]

It bugged me that Disney were trying to blame "The audience" when they didn't have one.

[@skibidi.G]

So true 🤙

[@MiguelFarah]

I would contradict you a bit at 4:40 - it's not *just* that incompetent writers, directors and management are to blame, but *some* of the brunt comes to otherwise competent-enough people who *actively* hate the source material and seek to undermine it because of it. Abrams is an example of the former, *part* of the team behind for The Witcher is an example of the latter.

[@georgevaughn6486]

Spot on!

[@doncarlodivargas5497]

I think also the combination of an obsession with seing themselves in films, that everyone simply must know what they do in bed and a lack of understanding the concept of a story tell us they are a very special type of people which should NEVER been in that business

[@ShawnGilbert1967]

Spot on...

[@Parlimant_Strifey]

you follow ESG, you follow worst outcome philosophy. You get what you force down the agenda poopie trap.

[@TheSulross]

Doesn't anyone remember the famous Star Trek episode where Spock wisely explained to Kirk that barbarians can't really pass themselves off (successfully) as civilized? This is the problem for the Hollyweird industry in aggregate and Disney specifically. They are depraved and degenerate in their mindset (the leaked videos during Disney's confrontation with Forida illustrated that the rank and file employees that make up Disney are as such). They can't produce any content that is convincingly wholesome any longer (i.e., Spock's barbarian law). They tried to do this with the movie Wish - filling it full of classic Disney tropes of their past (presumably). Yet the fundamental morality tale embedded in Wish was completely upside down. In the context of that story plot it is actually their villian character that is the wiser and their hero is completely foolish - advocating what would in practice have disastourous consequences (IOW, a pretty good parallel with Woke ideology). So Disney is innately incapable of producing any manner of nuanced morality lesson (as they used to) because they're all just as Spock's barbarians.

[@OtterloopB]

The "modern audience" was never there... but the audience has flocked to shows like Bluey because it's clean, wholesome, endearing, has nuanced messages that teach valuable lessons for children and adults, and it has an inviting art style. Disney used to know how to do that before they went so far left and queered up that they became depraved mentally and morally.

[@ThereIsAlwaysaWay2]

What is Bluey, never heard of it ever.

[@TheSulross]

the old fashioned words for that is that Disney has become a depraved and degenerate entity ... because the people that run it and much of its employee base are depraved and degenerate minded people - those videos that got leaked during Disney's confrontation with the people of Florida illustrated that absolute fact of the current Disney reality. Not likely that such people are going to be capable of producing things of goodness and decency The latest Wish movie plot shows that they have absolutely no moral bearings to where they can lace nuanced lessons into cintent as they did in the past. In Wish the so-called villian had more sense than the hero, so they had their morality tale completely upside down. As Spock wisely observed (paraphrasing) - a barbarian can't really mimic successfully being civilized. The depraved and degenerate mindset can't really pull off being decent and wholesome. When they try they get results like Wish

[@NashmanNash]

Me neither@@ThereIsAlwaysaWay2

[@matityaloran9157]

@Filtalidapouet, it’s a children’s cartoon show on Disney Channel

[@ArchangelsBlade]

@@ThereIsAlwaysaWay2 It's a kid's show about a family of dogs in Australia, focusing on the adventures and daily life of a young girl named Bluey, as well as her younger sister and parents. It's wholesome, funny, and touching, and contains a wealth of jokes for the parents that have had my wife and I in stitches. Genuinely some of the best children's programming I've seen for my daughter's generation.

[@risinbison1106]

Love the “critical drinker” take on modern pop culture. It’s interesting hearing someone who worked in the industry like you point out the reasons why modern movies are tanking.

[@RolfHartmann]

Tom Wolfe described the 'Art World' that everyone kept talking about as consisting of about 400 people who all lived within 10 blocks of each other in Manhattan. The 'Broad International Audience' is maybe a thousand people who live within a few miles of each other in LA.

[@Otokichi786]

The infamous "TMZ" (Three Mile Zone) of Scum and Villainy.

[@robo5013]

@@Otokichi786 Thirty mile zone

[@arioch2112]

I applaud your efforts to enlighten the masses, I love your insight with the 'behind the scenes' info you provide. Thank you, Paul. We, the viewing audience, are in your debt.

[@OldMan_PJ]

Between the lines of Bob Iger's recent statements was that Disney's failing was not having enough supervision of productions, there were so many productions going on that they let directors make what they want and it bit them in the end.

[@steprockmedia]

I think there's a difference between taking a risk vs intentionally ignoring what audiences are telling you. Sure, we didn't know we wanted The Matrix until we saw it, but we were pretty clear that we did NOT want The Marvels.

[@DeflatingAtheism]

By the same token, “subverting expectations” has become a groan-inducing cliché in the fan space, but for a plotline to captivate us it has to surprise us, which means it has to subvert our expectations on some level. This is the paradoxical fine line the franchise film has to walk- giving the audience what they didn’t want, but ultimately showing them it’s what they really wanted all along.

[@steprockmedia]

@@DeflatingAtheism Sure, sure. BUT there's also a difference between surprising fans with a twist villain vs killing the hero and changing the main character.

[@fillerbunnyninjashark271]

And the matrix was shit after the first one

[@orlock20]

The Marvels could have been passable and not the clunker that it was.

[@boobah5643]

@@DeflatingAtheism The thing with 'subverting expectations' is that for it to work, they have to fulfill _other_ expectations. The trick is to have antecedents for both, while convincing the audience that you're aiming for the one that isn't going to happen. The Red Wedding is an obvious example; the audience expected Robb to have plot armor because he was the Hero King. Robb's plot armor failed, but nobody was surprised that Walder Frey was a touchy guy when it came to his family's prestige; it's practically the first thing we learn about him. So are we shocked when the guy who made Robb's campaign against the Lannisters possible only to be thrown aside for a literal nobody murders him in revenge? Old Walder would have understood, maybe even been impressed, if Robb had forsworn himself to make a marriage alliance with the Reach or Dorne. But the hacks who saw 'subverted expectations' as a marker of quality didn't understand that the 'subversion' has to make sense in the context of the world. The trick to a satisfying subversion is that the audience has considered the actual outcome and dismissed it; for the Red Wedding, Catelyn frets (to Robb and, not coincidentally, the audience) about some sort of betrayal from Frey if they push him too far. The audience knows that people in universe are worried about the Freys changing their allegiance.

[@johnconstantine1604]

A special message to film studios: 1) A movie is not a franchise. 2) We fans are tired of endless sequels -- which are usually a rehashing or deconstructing of the previous ones. 3) And we fans are tired of superhero movies. 4) If you make a movie containing "woke" elements, the fan-base consists of "woke" people. Meaning that your movie is for a smaller audience. So budget accordingly. 5) And if you prefer to make movies for a smaller fan-base, you will become a smaller film studio. (We're watching this happen to Disney.)

[@bellatorpoeta]

True that social messaging alone is not responsible, but it seems like hiring and employment quotas for writers, directors, etc. play a significant part.

[@karinefonte516]

There was always social messaging on films, books, comics or any sort of entertainment. The point is the good ones, the classics, the pivotal cultural products the intersectional writers think they are producing, all were always *thought provoking and well written*, never closing the debate or crystalizing biased "truths". Chato is right, way more than their feminist agendas, black supremacies and trans activisms, it was bad writting that doomed their preachy propaganda. And I add, had these idiots been better writters and directors they could have presented their ideologies better (though they are fundamentally broken ideologies) and we would have a far greater trouble we're already having now do dispel their delusions from weaker minds.

[@lukeearthcrawler896]

For me it is. Movies need to sell me a fantasy. I need to see believable characters on screen. Do you think people can see past "Eff Trump!" when DeNiro plays a character? Trump had a cameo in Home Alone 2. Do you think Democrats would flock to see a movie with another Trump cameo in it? Or Republicans Star Wars when Stacey Abrams is in it? Once people are annoyed with a certain real life actor/actress - for whatever reason - they will not go to the theatre. Will Smith, Amber Heard, Brie Larson, Rachel Zegler.... ALL are box office poison now.

[@bellatorpoeta]

@@karinefonte516 Yeah but how they were selected was not by talent

[@Parlimant_Strifey]

they are all cast these days. Yes even the writers, directors and producers. The get hired to fill blue checkmarks, not due to actual competence.

[@DeflatingAtheism]

The fact that activists straight out of college will work for dirt cheap makes them attractive hires for management concerned about the bottom line, which is how we got this unholy alliance of corporate gobbledygook and academic gobbledygook.

[@autex2609]

A great balanced take. I totally agree. One thing I'll add (and this is anecdotal) is I know quite a few truly "woke" people. The ultimate examples of the "modern audience" to an almost hilarious degree. I've noticed something with them.. NONE get any entertainment from the traditional means. Movies, books, shows. They are terminally online and it's 100% social media driven. They don't see woke movies. They sure as hell don't see "normie" movies. They get all media from the tribe they belong to, online. So, I'd argue they are there but they have completely checked out from the regular pop culture machine of movies, books, shows. Good luck getting them studios! Not sure how much more money you have to burn but hope it's worth it for you.

[@DeflatingAtheism]

Yeah, I’m not convinced the SJWs who have been calling the shots as far as culture creation actually ENJOY anything. As ShortFatOtaku says, their only emotions are hate and shadenfreude, not fun, nostalgia, sublimity, _jouissance,_ what have you. The people clamoring on twitter for trans representation in Star Trek sure as hell aren’t going to watch the thing. Popular entertainment is- as far as they’re concerned- just another vehicle for pamphleteering.

[@Annayasha]

​@@DeflatingAtheisminteresting, few people mention this, its more a philosophical problem. These beloved IPs bring us joy, inspiration, beauty and heroism, examples of strong men and beautiful women. The wokies hate all this, so they cant enjoy almost anything from media, they have other pastimes like hating and sulking.

[@nolongeramused8135]

Their tastes are so limited and so niche that there is no wider audience for what appeals to them. It is inherently unprofitable.

[@ange1098]

🎯👍

[@ange1098]

🎯👍

[@_XR40_]

These people don't care about the audience because that isn't where their money is coming from.

[@woldemunster9244]

"Everything woke turns to shit" -DJ Trump-

[@Winterascent]

The "Lady Ballers" ad before this was very apropos.

[@andrewmacgregor8717]

I'm an audience (period). I'm neither a modern audience, or an ancient audience. I am a consumer of entertainment that is entertaining. All I ask from the entertainer is that their performance entertained me.

[@lylemcdermott2566]

Would you like some teenager twerking with your entertainment? Maybe a dash of women slapping men?

[@wesmcinerny4524]

Of course, the concept of the modern audience is a myth, especially nowadays.

[@matthewpatrick7263]

They need to realize that the true modern audience is everyone alive today that can choose to watch their show, regardless of their values. It's not just far, far, far, far, far, far,...far left whackos.

[@ronniepatterson2827]

@@matthewpatrick7263 Hey ,hey now ! You leave my guy Paul out of this!

[@StreetPreacherr]

It just makes me sad thinking about how great the Star Wars sequels COULD have been! They had all of the original actors still around and willing to be involved, and essentially unlimited funding & resources thanks to Disney. However instead of giving the original stars a grand reunion and then introducing fans to some exciting new characters, Disney decided to systematically kill off the old cast without ever even putting them in a scene together.

[@georgevaughn6486]

I just replied to another comment saying the same thing. It was a tragedy & so moronic. Unbelievably stupid bordering on insanity. They could have made money hand over fist.

[@steveb9713]

I remember walking out of force awakens thinking it was sort of ok, but how could they not hit it out of the park, zero care

[@josebrown5961]

But they had to feature their “new” characters! Nobody wanted to see old characters being all happy and optimistic. They had to be broken down because that happens in real life-In a galaxy far, far away. Kathleen Kennedy showed us how she is NOT some great filmmaker. She was Spielberg’s coffee girl and that’s all.

[@n.d.m.515]

I didn't see it in theaters, but rented it a year later. Ended up watching it twice because of the great potential with some cool scenes. Never watched it again because it ended up a rip off of the superior original, and the other two ruined any potential. A little known comedy group foresaw the start of the second movie of Luke throwing it all away.

[@Vulpine407]

I think Harrison Ford saw it coming. The only way he agreed to be in TFA was if Han was killed off by the end. But if so, why did he allow his character to be put through film-hell in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny? The leaked "original" ending was even worse than what Kennedy most likely wanted to do to Han. Guess we'll never truly know. Glad I grew up in what I consider the "golden age" of geek. My generation had the original Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, Terminator, Lord of the Rings and so much more. Looking back, I realize how blessed we were and how utterly abysmal fandom has been for the current generations. They are the true victims of "woke." We, at least, have our memories of a glorious era.

[@TheKulu42]

I often think the creators and producers don't consider us-- the folks who happily pay for good entertainment--their audience anymore. Their peers are their audience. They want to prove how "enlightened" they are and how able they are to spread whatever message is fashionable at the moment.

[@NotaNazgul]

Good point. Virtue signalling is a core problem of our society. And it ruins discussions as well as movies.

[@Jean-qn4fy]

The modern theater going audience now is the same as it was decades ago - young families and youngish courting couples. What they want to see is the same. It's not woke.

[@cryam6428]

Theoretically one day there was a board room meeting, the first meeting, where someone suggested "what if we take our investment, and subvert our audience, for a new audience?" and they somehow successfully argued their case. Assuming they weren't the CEO and able to power house their influence, I would love to have been a fly on the wall for that meeting.

[@als3022]

Happened with comica in the early 2000s before it went woke. Not new, why it's stupid they keep trying.

[@Gladerunner2113]

It's always a case of "this market demographic is overwhelmingly male - we want the female market - let's change it so we cater to both" And somehow, it always ends up as the equivalent of putting tampons in the men's bathroom

[@ShawnGilbert1967]

Bahaha perfect it doesn't add females it deletes men and as such real females don't want to watch it anyway

[@strategicperson95]

​@@Gladerunner2113 so essentially a politically motivated marketing team?

[@blackymir]

As soon as I hear...for a Modern Audience it instantly turns me off to the movie and tells me all I need to know.

[@JordanSeal]

Another great video. You remain the most thoughtful commentator on this topic, because you know the business perspective that's midwife for all mass-marketed art.

[@dinosaurwoman]

I think another problem is sometimes the company does "research," but that means just looking at what's on social media. They still haven't figured out that SM is not a representation of mass audiences.

[@24framedavinci39]

Everyone must go watch Godzilla Minus One in the theaters. It's an absolute masterpiece. 10/10.

[@brentparker7359]

What's funny is that Disney sought what I call the "Breck Eisner Audience" for decades. Michael Eisner wanted to impress his teeanage son Breck, who thought Disneyland was lame. This led to popular liscensed attractions like Star Tours and Indiana Jones Adventure. However, when it came to in-house movies, this audience always eluded Disney. Films like "Dick Tracy," "Rocketeer" and "Atlantis" all fell short of their expectations. Finally, it's like they said, "Let's just buy what they already like!" And they had massive success. But it seems like as soon as they were sure they had that audience, they threw them away in favor of the "College Student That Loves Politics and Hates Escapism" audience.

[@mikkelnpetersen]

I think the "wokeness ruins story" thing is mainly because the write isn't free to write what they (and the audience) want, they have to follow a check list and on that list is various things that just ruins the story.

[@geminicricket4975]

You're right in that woke, in and of itself, is not a recipe for failure, but... when I order a coffee with a pinch cream and get, instead, some cream with a pinch of coffee, I'm gonna complain a bit... when I order a story with (or without) a pinch of woke and instead get woke with (or without) a pinch of story... I'm gonna complain a bit. :)

[@blacksabre5343]

"Indiana Jones and the Search for the Modern Audience" lol great video Chato!

[@billgates334]

I appreciate you Paul Chato. You're not a lemming. Sometimes I wonder about your fellow KZbinr's because I hear the same exact talking points. You are indeed your own man. I totally agree with this video. The part that really stood out for me was when you addressed the "nobody asked for this" piece. Nobody asked for Raiders of the Lost Ark, Terminator, Star Trek, Jaws, etc etc. I think it's stupid to even say that. It never made sense. Also, contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be versed in the material to respect it or make a good movie. Nicholas Meyer proved twice, that a non-Trek fan can make great Trek movies. At the same time, JJ Abrams proved twice that a self proclaimed Wars fan can make garbage Star Wars movies. The lesson is to hire talented people, give them guidelines, let them go to work and help keep them on track. Sadly, I think Disney killed the super hero run, killed Lucasfilm and are really hard trying to kill Disney itself. This era will go down in every good business book as a case study on how to self implode. The sheer magnitude of the money lost is beyond staggering. Even Anheuser Busch can't compare to this. The fallout from the strike and the fact that many studios are not profitable will force and I mean force industry change. Either they adapt or they die. Going forward, the sequels will continue because they are afraid to try a lot of new ideas. There will just be less content across the board. Nobody will be striking for unemployed actors and writers so it may go unnoticed by the masses. Smaller, cheaper less FX dependent films and TV as well. As much as I hate to see this happen, it had to. Hopefully, like the phoenix, it will rise again. Just no time soon. Until next time. :P

[@rollingrock5143]

Modern audiences want masculine action schlock, strong romances and "dear me" dramas. We are begging for it.

[@carminedesanto6746]

If it ain’t on the page …it ain’t on the stage Shakespeare..probably.

[@IlyaKralinsky]

Fantastic work, as usual, Paul. A true pleasure to watch and think.

[@MarkGast]

I have reached the age were I no longer have to see things the moment they come out. I can wait for the verdict. As a result I haven't gone to the movies since End Game and there is A LOT of bad tv I haven't watched.

[@Manolo_Ribera]

Your content is always a treat. Wish you continued success!

[@stevenwilson5556]

The Message was exactly why we got all the bad writing, stupid casting, bad stories, bad characters, everything. The Message IS the reason it all sucks.

[@calamitysi]

Modern audience... kinda like Unicorns, yeah?

[@francoiseeduard303]

Unicorns are extinct. The “modern audience” never existed in the first place.

[@marcmarc1967]

I never did understand the overuse of that "no one asked for it" catch phrase. I'm glad you pointed that out.

[@KirkFickert]

It didn’t come from the critical drinker. The modern audience came from the trades and studios as it kept popping up over and over. Critical drinker was the one that pointed it out.

[@NefariousKoel]

Yeah, it was a phrase being constantly regurgitated by the access media for years, for almost every one of those fecal-fests. They used it so often the phrase "updated for a modern audience" became a joke in itself and a great indicator that the film or show was injected with intersectional woke.

[@ronniepatterson2827]

Its not about that though. Its just a simple reminder of hey, im still in the click, I know Critical Drinker, Nerdotic, & others. Pay attention to the names dropped here, its like a cross promotion of the whos who, of professional complainers. The algorithm demands such things im afraid : (

[@ChrisNoeth]

Follow the sound like the Eloy... LOL! I will laugh about this one for a very long time... HAHAHAHA! :) Thank you!

[@elmarakovideo]

Great commentary from Chato. Current Disney has proven to be the most desperate studio searching for audiences that don't exist! I liked when their output was just entertainment: 2D animated musicals, live-action via Touchstone & Hollywood Pictures, and basic cable TV movies.

[@MrPokemon248]

We live in a fallen world, lacking any cultural morals or values. Everyone is running around doing whatever they want. Which always ends in chaos and disaster.

[@theglanconer6463]

I thought I spotted one when I was on holidays on the isle of Mauritius last year. Swiftly scuttling away in the underbrush. But the guide I was with told me I was wrong. It was probably a dodo.

[@aussieglen1]

I really like & appreciate your ability to consider a subject and provide a thoughtful & balanced view. With quirky humour. Thanks!

[@CallMeChato]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ninjaswordtothehead]

I think that episode of the Simpsons where Homer becomes Poochy was a bit more realistic than I first thought. After the past few years, I can absolutely see some clueless suit asking "Can we 'Rastafy' him by 10% or so?"

[@whitemagus2000]

I really enjoy your point of view, not as an activist or counter activist, but as a business man.

[@borisgalos6967]

It's worth pointing out that both the Indiana Jones and Star Wars successes, as well as the revival of the 240Z, were taking an old IP that had died from oversaturation and bad knock-offs from decades earlier and recreating them for a new audience. It's not like these were new ideas for studio executives to green light. The difference is that in those cases, the new franchise was based on what worked decades earlier and wasn't a case of literally reworking the known old property.

[@DeflatingAtheism]

Yeah, when the original Indiana Jones came out, many people in the audience were old enough to remember the adventure serials Lucas and Spielberg had based it on. By the time Indiana Jones 5 came out, the only point of reference audience had for this genre was… Indiana Jones himself!

[@schwartz2287]

Thank you,Paul for voicing the thoughts of us old geezer geeks who built up these franchises with our fandom back in the day. I don't mind a new direction, but when it comes with an upraised middle finger it will be met with a closed wallet. Going back through the Classic Dr. Who catalog on Tubi now and enjoying it very much. The new stuff simply doesn't exist in my world.

[@orioleaszme3415]

The new stuff doesn't exist in my world either.

[@bondgabebond4907]

People have moved on to better shows like 'Call me Chato' which is more fun to watch than an actual movie.

[@scottannunziata8265]

Brilliant Paul! Thanks! Let’s go Blues!

[@GiggaVega]

Activists are always inpatient demanding uncompromising people. That’s why this garbage is garbage and not actual progress. I really like Chato, he’s a man of experience and knows how to land his message. Great job fellow Canadian creator. 🙏👍

[@OutOfElmo]

‘Get woke, go broke’ is the original phrase.

[@titusvarughese5071]

Best phrase from our modern time: "Get woke, go broke"

[@SlidingRhino]

Well said good sir, ty for your great service to us...the "real audience"

[@vnkfrancis1328]

Modern audience and where to find it.

[@rosmundsen]

I have not been to a movie theater in several years, but I will make the trip to go see Godzilla.

[@pedroares6562]

Great video, The modern audience is like the snark. This mythical group of people who is out there and will pay you million of dollars if you make with values that aren't aligned with your fans, and pretty elusive too. See how well it's working for Disney.

[@chrisw6164]

I’m glad they never made any sequels to The Matrix. That would have been a train wreck.

[@hawkward957]

Paul is an important ingredient in my mainstream entertainment-criticism soup. He keeps things balanced. There's a handful of creators in this corner of YT that I think always take one oversimplified stance on these topics. As Paul demonstrates in this video, it's not as simple as "get woke go broke." At the end of the day, these "woke" movies and shows fail for the same reason most high-profile failures fail: plain old poor quality. Of course, prioritization of woke messaging over storytelling can and does certainly result in a bad product, but "wokeness" in and of itself is not the quality-cancer that some make it out to be. Also, LACK of wokeness doesn't ensure success. Barbie succeeded, Dead-Reckoning failed, despite their respective levels of messaging.

[@ronniepatterson2827]

Same here. I love watching Paul dance with the devil with the company he keeps on KZbin, only to try and add substance to the arguments later. Cringe? Sure! So? Its still fun to watch.

[@douglaswarden2584]

Mr. Chato....you certainly know what you are talking about. It must be nice to be so sage.

[@bunberrier]

"The Modern Audience" was an idea that the Woke Empire intended to speak into existance through a media form of magical thinking. By creating media containing "The Message" and gaslighting all of us into believing that everyone else likes it, why dont you? ...it would form by the force of their influence and the conformist outlook that so many unfortunately hold. Their problem was threefold: 1) Most important! It was NOT ENTERTAINING 2) We can ( for now ) talk to one another about our experience 3) We can ( for now ) effectively vote our preferences through spending or witholding.

[@hiair]

When someone uses the phrase "No one asked for that" they always refer to sequels, spin off's, and remakes, not to original stuff; they don't use it to refer to original ideas like THE MATRIX.

[@RaifSeverence]

I wouldn't say Critical Drinker popularized the term so much as popularized its use as a pejorative. Its a term that show runners and game devs and "journalists" have popularized to reflect that their modern remakes/reboots will not be the same as what was initially popular. (Whether for good or ill is up to the individual)

[@Baulderstone1]

Yes, Critical Drinker was taking corporate speak and turning it on them.

[@THall-vi8cp]

His vocal inflection matters. One could easily say, "Minstrels were popular around the turn of the 20th Century wouldn't appeal to modern audiences." That wouldn't be a perjorative use simply because society today doesn't appreciate that type of entertainment.

[@gilgamecha]

Historically accurate yes.

[@leefelts6472]

Great video Chato. Well said. Can't wait for the next one

[@cindyallison2528]

As a 60 yr old I am sorry there is just nothing in the movies I want to see. Our family always went to the movies on Thanksgiving weekend. There was nothing even interesting. People over 50 have money to spend to be entertained.

[@Donathon-qx8kq]

We're not there target audience anymore

[@Michael_1138]

Well said Paul. I’m going to leave this here for the algorithm.

[@Matt_Likes_Comics]

Where is this modern audience? I see the same people all the time and they ain't modern. It's the same one

[@woldemunster9244]

They are like leprechauns. Mostly seen in Irish folklore.

[@GC12345]

Well said. I have no issue with new, diverse characters or storylines. What I do have a problem with is tearing down well-constructed legacy characters to make the newer, weaker ones appear stronger.

[@wherami]

Modern audience only drinks Brondo

[@michaeldavis3819]

Brawndo's got what modern audiences crave.

[@dingleberrysnigglefritz]

Electrolytes.

[@wherami]

@@michaeldavis3819 thanks wasn't sure the spelling but it gets the point across.

[@speculative]

I like watching your channel and getting your views on these topics because you often present things in a more balanced way. I think it's possible to do this without violating your principles. It's more thought- provoking and informing than the KZbinrs who have a one- track mind.

[@knusperkeks2748]

Tell your fairy tales to disney who are currently bleeding subscriptions because fans don't endorse their sh!tty behaviour.

[@geekmastermind]

Bless your heart.

[@UnkleKlumsy1353]

I love that you used the Fairlady for a quick example to your point. Well done

[@CallMeChato]

If you're in the know, you're in the know. My son is restoring a 1970 Fairlady.

[@denny414]

Modern audience aka the small but loud minority of Twitter activists and woke media bloggers who will cancel you out of existence like thanos canceled half of the avengers with a snap ...oh and blackrock 😊 blackrock is always watching .

[@JohnDavidSullivan]

Meanwhile I am in search of Modern Entertainment... oh that's right - it's non existent.

[@swanvictor887]

I believe the most sickening, disgusting thing I have ever seen coming out of Hollywood (and there have been a lot of bad stuff to compare lately) has to be seeing the head writer of She-Hulk (the fat Asian woman whose name I never bothered to remember, as she was completely talentless and a total nonentity) give an interview where she bragged and LAUGHED, as she joyfully recalled the first day in the Writer's Room, when they joked about How Much OFFENCE they were going to deliberately Cause to the Fans. Think about that. WRITERS....Employed to ENTERTAIN...WERE LAUGHING at the Very People WHO PAID THEIR WAGES. They had NO Intention...to write something Entertaining or even mildly average. They were going to Destroy the franchise...simply because They Could. They Bragged and LAUGHED at how much they HATED the AUDIENCE!!!! FFS DISNEY...WHY are you Employing these people???????

[@ChrisNoeth]

I really like your comment here! It is exactly what I hate this days. NO ONE THINKS ABOUT WHAT FANS WANT AND LIKE!

[@Attmay]

I was a kid in the 1980s, and even then there was still a lot of stuff getting dumbed down for what they considered “today’s audience,“ especially if that audience was largely children. If you were a child, you were automatically assumed to be an undiscerning simpleton. If you were an adult, you were automatically assumed to be a lech. It’s much worse now in this respect, but the wheels were already in motion.

[@kylestoddard2881]

Wow, a Sisyphus reference. Nice! Honestly, if the entertainment industry just made entertaining movies and TV shows, I think most of us would be able to see past the woke horseshit. Although, I suspect, that the woke horseshit is what has been killing the fun. (She-Hulk being the standard bearer for that idea.) More great work Paul!

[@MundaneGray]

The original version is “GET woke, go broke.” But the repetition of the word “go” seems to appeal to a lot of people. I’m not sure why.

[@smb123211]

A big problem is new stars (?) whose "acting" dooms any project to immediate failure. Increasingly we see obscure, unattractive folks who appear as if they were in a middle school play. Much of this can be blamed on Hollywood's diversity obsession no matter the absurdity. The decision to drive away a good chunk of the audience, especially the over 50 crowd, is still a mystery. We used to go twice a month, then once a month, quarter and now it's a couple times/year. It's either gender/racial empowerment, another sequel, superhero action or martial arts/boxing, etc film. Studios spend hundreds of millions marketing a movie, conducting research, gathering analytics, etc when all they had to do was take a cross-section of ordinary people watch the movie. Their opinion will be right 99/100.

[@giancarloszayas7197]

the modern audience are the loud voices that are tourists in every region to tell others how to spend their time and enjoy themselves without actually partaking in the hobbies they're commenting on.

[@Madmax-rz5hz]

You have a good point, it's not necessarily GWGB, but the fact that so many "woke" media, including ads, so clearly looks down on the vast majority of consumers. I think this is for various reasons, including "moral high ground syndrome", and the fact that the younger people that write this stuff were brought up on a combination of participation trophies and an education system that decided its role was brainwashing not brain-nurturing

[@israelvaldez26]

I miss getting excited for the newest movie premiere.

[@notreal4565]

The modern audience, the audience that don't have the money to support anything to be an audience. Not to mention they will always demand more no matter how far companies go.

[@johnitzimiskes5609]

Great point about the Mission: Impossible movie, Paul. Keep up the good work.

[@TurquoizeGoldscraper]

The question I keep asking myself is: "Where are the adults?" It's not just the activists proselytizing all over the place, but where are the people who own these properties, who should be looking at the results, seeing the backlash they keep getting, and putting their collective foot down.

[@pdzombie1906]

Total on point, Chato!!! Now we learned The Matrix was a trans allegory by the filmakers themselves... Is it woke? No, it's just one of the greatest Sci-Fi film of all time. We would like the net stories form Marvel and Star Wars if they were well made, but unfortunately they're written by people who majored in gender studies and not literature, film, or creative writing...

[@TheFreeBass]

re; "Nobody asked for this" I think a big part of this phrase being overused is its' being used in place of "We told you we don't want this". For one blatant example take Disney's live-action remakes. First couple were interesting (if not good), but pretty much ever since then fans have been greeting each new announcement with "why?" &/or "no, don't do it".

[@luiznogueira1579]

When you start hiring writers, directors, actors and crew based not on their talents but on which boxes they tick on The Message list, then quality will inevitably suffer.

[@boop5725]

I think this is the best video you have done so far. I really liked how you pushed back a bit and the rule of "go woke go broke" does have exceptions. Best piece so far.

[@CallMeChato]

I'm blushing.

[@Whookieee]

Love your thoughtful takes.❤

[@fillerbunnyninjashark271]

It's "Get woke! Go broke!"

[@leipzigergnom]

"Go sequel, go NyQuil!" 😂

[@DuaneL1961]

It’s actually “Get woke, go broke” originally anyway…

[@davidrichardson1636]

I think that many studios have decided that their real business is social reform and education. I suppose the choice of occupation simply proved too confusing for those involved. It would appear that many studios have a mission to change society into what they think it should be. Consequently, these studios are pushing movies people really don't want in the false belief that producing these movies will generate the audience's appetite for them, as well as being a healthy and moral social act. This is much like force-feeding kale, turnips, and broccoli to toddlers in the belief that this activity represents responsible parenting and will ultimately develop within the child a healthy desire for vegetables. The difference is that the vegetables are actually healthy; "the message," in contrast, is simply toxic. Nonetheless, force-feeding healthy vegetables or toxic movies will not make people crave these things. Force-feeding a child a food the child does not want is more likely to generate an eating disorder. Similarly, authoritarian efforts to capture a "modern audience" cannot make that audience exist. The motto, "Build it, and he will come," may have been OK for a movie, but what that movie's protagonist built only made dead people show up to play the game. Now that's an important observation. Despite that movie's message, people who don't actually exist will not play baseball in response to building a baseball field; nor will they buy tickets to movies. That is just one of those non-negotiable things about not existing. It is difficult to understand why studios have difficulty comprehending this.