Dr. Horrible just won the emmy for "Shortform Live Action Special Class". Special Class, eh? You know, I'm not sure I'm exactly happy about this. Okay, maybe I'm happy. Just not as elated as someone with a vested interest in the acknowledgment of new media should be. I'm happy for the people. Kind of. We'll get to that later. I'm disgusted that it actually won. We'll also get to that later. I mean, I'm pleased as punch for FELICIA DAY, Nathan Fillion, Joss Whedon, NPH, and a bunch of other people that I don't know at all. This is their night. I bet they all are so drunk right now.
But it's a web series. I can't help but think that the ONLY reason - actually, you know what? IT IS THE ONLY REASON - that it got nominated in the first place was because it was not starring Felicia Day and a bunch of non-stars.
Another reason I'm pissed about the nomination and win is because of how the writers were treated this Emmy Season. This even goes back further. All the way to the WGA strike. Why was Horrible made in the first place? As a creative rebellion against the studio system. So for Whedon to be accepting an award from an industry that very violently is trying to destroy his profession.... that's the biggest joke that I have ever heard in my life.
I don't use the phrase "sell out" often, because there are very few instances when it is accurate.
Oh look, a Dr. Horrible movie may be on the horizon, from a major studio. How's it feel to have sold out, Mr. Whedon? It's quite a feat you've done right there: not only selling your soul to the studios, but also damaging the entire position of your guild and your fellow writer.
Thumbs up!
3 comments:
Did you feel that way about Nirvana when they got a major label deal? Joss and company have been plowing the field for two decades now. They made opportunities for young actors and actresses. They made a series that was adopted by people who were otherwise left out. They created communities. They paid salaries. They learned. Now they are holding a door open for you in the new media, giving it more value than it had in the very early days when all we got for months of work was companionship.
Things have changed. They are the change.
This is what art is when it succeeds. This win is not soulless. Quite the opposite; this is when soul triumphs.
When I still gigged for a living, there was an anonymous dude who would come to our gigs and cheer for us from the balcony. He was in the dark and he was never there when we looked for him, but he cheered us for us on nights when we couldn't give it away. He made us better because he made the gig a little lighter. If you care, cheer for the winners AND the losers, or just because it goes on. Do that and earn a chance.
Way to miss my point completely. But then again, the only reason you're here is to blindly defend, so then again....
Have it your way, Brian. Blind, I am not and I've no skinny in this game.
Never stand in front of a truckload of speeding money.
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