Why Hollywood Continues to Produce Poor Movies: An Analysis and Comparison with Pixar

When did Hollywood start making so many bad movies? Why do they keep getting worse and worse every year? Much like the reason why popular music seems to many to be deteriorating, the answer may lie in your changing demographics and a structural flaw in the movie-making process.

Demographic Shifts and the Decline in Quality

Popular music's decline, much like the diminishing quality of Hollywood films, is perceived by older generations. The target demographic for such content has shifted, and as you age, you are less part of that demographic. This shift in audience taste and expectations plays a significant role in how creators need to adapt to maintain appeal.

The Flawed Movie-Making Process

Structurally, the typical movie-making process is inherently challenging. Unlike writing a novel, where a writer can revise and rewrite based on feedback, filmmaking requires a different approach. Funding molecules, scheduling, and shooting various scenes across different locations make it nearly impossible for a mere human to predict and fix issues in the direction of the movie.

The Inevitable Fallout of Multiple Photography Phases

During the movie-making process, scenes are shot in diverse locations with different sets and costumes. By the time the editing phase begins, the director has hundreds of hours of footage. Editing this footage is a complex task. If the structure of the story isn't clear, the solution is limited. Unlike a novelist, who can rewrite problematic chapters, a film editor is constrained by footage that has already been filmed.

Pixar's Consistent Success through Reinvention

In contrast, Pixar films are known for their consistent quality due to a fundamentally different approach to story development and editing. Pixar takes a script, hand-draws, and scans in minimal line drawings. In just 30 days, employees can sit in a theater and view the full-length film. From there, the process is almost identical to that of a novelist. They receive feedback, adjust the story, animation, and sound, continually refining their production until it is outstanding.

Pixar's Flexibility in Adjustments

When it comes to changing scenes or adding dialog, Pixar can quickly integrate hand-drawn sketches and match them with the rest of the animation. They can also ask voice talents to do short takes at home and later replace them with high-quality recordings. Pixar's ability to continuously "reshoot" their stories ensures the highest possible quality.

The Challenging Reality for Traditional Filmmakers

Traditional movie editors often struggle with footage that cannot be reshot. They are limited to adjusting the dialog and filling in missing scenes, often resulting in suboptimal outcomes. Sometimes, miracles happen and the footage coheres, but more often than not, it does not.

Director's Vision and Its Limitations

Only a few truly great directors can visualize the entire movie in their minds and predict how audiences will react. Even these visionary directors occasionally produce disappointing results. The movie-making process, with its inherent uncertainties, makes it nearly impossible to predict and prevent the occasional miss.

In conclusion, the decline in Hollywood film quality can be attributed to the multifaceted challenges of the movie-making process, from funding and scheduling to editing constraints. In contrast, Pixar's structured approach ensures consistent excellence. As technology and creative processes evolve, it will be fascinating to see how the filmmaking industry adapts and innovates to meet the changing tastes of its audience.