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Trump announces 100% tariffs on movies ‘produced in foreign lands’

theguardian.com

71–80 of 524 posts

Re: Trump announces 100% tariffs on movies ‘produced in foreign lands’

#71
post #9

I live in Belgium. It feels like 95% of all films I ever hear about are American. Opponents counter MAGA with 'America was never great', but here they'll say 'Movies have never left America'?

Most non-American movies are slop, melodramatic vaudeville, or tear-jerking gut-punches. Most American movies are slop too, but America can afford to swing at more pitches and consequently get more hits. Have you ever tried to watch Korean movies from the last 20 years? It's all melodramatic romance-crime-poverty slop, with the rare Kim Ki-duk or Bong Joon Ho in there to balance it out. And that's a country with a wo…

This is a remarkable statement when Fellini and Kieślowski exist.

Re: Trump announces 100% tariffs on movies ‘produced in foreign lands’

#73
post #11

it s impressive that , despite the US deciding to self-implode there is nobody willing to step in to compete for their place. It's as if the species has culturally peaked after its demographic peak. Europe is already in retirement and US seems to follow. Maybe we'll see African dynamism in a few decades

> there is nobody willing to step in to compete for their place

China has been stepping on a number fronts. They are working on trade deals that exclude the US, and I'm sure are excited about the soft power vacuum left when USAID shutdown.

Re: Trump announces 100% tariffs on movies ‘produced in foreign lands’

#74
post #9

I live in Belgium. It feels like 95% of all films I ever hear about are American. Opponents counter MAGA with 'America was never great', but here they'll say 'Movies have never left America'?

They’re often not shot in the US, due to cost differences and tax incentives. I suspect the latter is the real issue, but haven’t looked into it.

That's what this is about.

Work for IATSE crew union members has declined precipitously.

During the pandemic, there was so much demand for content that the studios spent a lot of money teaching foreign crews how to produce films. They sent a lot of staff to Eastern Europe and Asia to train local crews. Serbia, etc., where the crews are making well below union wages and can work long hours without regulation.

Since 2023, 60% or so of productions have vacated LA, Atlanta, and New York in favor of being shot overseas. They just fly the cast out. It's significantly cheaper than filming at home.

IATSE membership is being decimated. Lots of folks have moved out of California because the jobs just aren't there anymore.

Re: Trump announces 100% tariffs on movies ‘produced in foreign lands’

#75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most non-American movies are slop, melodramatic vaudeville, or tear-jerking gut-punches. Most American movies are slop too, but America can afford to swing at more pitches and consequently get more hits. Have you ever tried to watch Korean movies from the last 20 years? It's all melodramatic romance-crime-poverty slop, with the rare Kim Ki-duk or Bong Joon Ho in there to balance it out. And that's a country with a wo…

This is a remarkable statement when Fellini and Kieślowski exist.

Yes, two directors exist, one who's been dead for 29 years, the other who's been dead for 32 years. I stand corrected then.

Re: Trump announces 100% tariffs on movies ‘produced in foreign lands’

#77
The MAGA people attacking Hollywood is such a big mistake. Yes I know the average celebrity doesn’t share their views, but that doesn’t change the fact that Hollywood projects American culture around the world in a way that the government could never do itself. Movies and music made here are so often cited as the reason why young people around the world idealize America and want to emulate us (buy our clothes, speak English, etc)

It’s the cultural equivalent of being the world’s reserve currency, it’s a massive free advantage in almost any situation. Stupid stupid stupid to threaten it.

Re: Trump announces 100% tariffs on movies ‘produced in foreign lands’

#78
post #5

Defund education then defund culture. Sounds exactly like America First/America Only. Next up is propaganda and filling Americans' minds with only what he wants you to know. He can flood the media as he's been flooding the government, all the pieces are in play. Still nobody putting up a meaningful fight. Your window is closing.

What would a meaningful fight look like?

Look at Spain right now. Not sure I agree with the anti tourism cause but man they know how to cause a fuss.

Re: Trump announces 100% tariffs on movies ‘produced in foreign lands’

#79
post #5

Defund education then defund culture. Sounds exactly like America First/America Only. Next up is propaganda and filling Americans' minds with only what he wants you to know. He can flood the media as he's been flooding the government, all the pieces are in play. Still nobody putting up a meaningful fight. Your window is closing.

Look to Idiocracy for a documentary of what happens if this keeps going unchecked?
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