Movies

Will Trump have a chilling effect on Hollywood? Insiders say it’s already happening

BBG News

Eight years ago, Hollywood proudly donned the mantle of anti-Trump resistance.

This time around, the industry’s reaction can best be summed up by the tale of two Trump films.

Approximately two weeks prior to President Trump’s inauguration, Amazon Prime Video suddenly revealed their decision to unveil a documentary featuring Melania Trump, who also served as one of the executive producers.

Currently, a movie based on Donald Trump’s life, known as “The Apprentice” biopic, which showcases his journey to power years ago, hasn’t yet found a streaming service deal. This is surprising given that it earned two Oscar nominations for its lead actor (Sebastian Stan portraying Trump) and supporting actor (Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn).

In contrast, the outcomes experienced in liberal Hollywood are subdued, reflecting a widespread apprehension among industry professionals about the future. This stems from the rapid implementation of wide-ranging executive orders by Trump across the government, as well as the apparent agreement from corporate leaders. This situation could potentially shape the direction of future creative work.

Tom Nunan, who’s in charge of a grad program at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television, mentioned that people haven’t found the best ways to act or speak yet, nor do they know what will work best,” said Tom. “He added that it’s tough to be imaginative when you’re scared.

Leading figures in Hollywood were reluctant to challenge Trump prior to his election, and the release of “The Apprentice” faced difficulties finding a U.S. theatrical distributor. This became even more challenging after Trump’s presidential campaign hinted at filing a lawsuit to prevent the film from being released. The movie had initially been anticipated with great excitement at Cannes in May of the previous year.

Amy Baer, one of the film’s producers, mentioned that there was a noticeable hesitation regarding involvement with the movie following its screening at Cannes. This hesitance was significant enough to dampen any initial enthusiasm we might have had.

While some distributors passed outright, there were others that “politely stepped away,” she said.

After that, Briarcliff Entertainment acquired the rights to distribute the movie. This distributor often handles contentious or political themes, having previously released Michael Moore’s documentary “Fahrenheit 11/9,” which focused on the early years of the Trump presidency. As the contract was finalized, they only had a few weeks left before the election to organize a cinema release and promotional campaign.

You can rent or purchase the movie digitally on platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube. At present, Briarcliff is discussing distribution options with multiple streaming services, but as of now, there’s no news to share regarding this matter.

Just like other movies carrying political undertones, “Union,” a documentary focusing on the pioneering unionization attempt within an Amazon warehouse, has encountered a similar predicament. Despite being listed among the Oscar nominees, it hasn’t secured a distribution deal, as reported by The Ankler.

Despite the challenging conditions of the documentary industry this year, the announcement of the Melania Trump documentary took many by surprise. What was unexpected was its swift popularity, which appeared to contradict the fortunes of other political documentaries.

The director of this documentary, Brett Ratner, drew attention with his appointment, as it marks his return to significant filmmaking after accusations of sexual misconduct against him surfaced about a decade back from several women he worked with. However, Ratner maintains his innocence regarding these allegations.

Apart from the reported $40 million Amazon spent on acquiring the documentary, this news emerged about four months after Amazon’s CEO and The Washington Post proprietor, Jeff Bezos, decided against running a proposed editorial endorsement for former Vice President Kamala Harris in his newspaper. At that point, Bezos stated that abstaining from endorsing presidential candidates would help rebuild trust within the Post.

Onlookers perceived the two actions as connected, seemingly aimed at winning support from the latest government, yet they contrast sharply with how the entertainment world publicly opposed the initial Trump administration.

In the final years of Donald Trump’s presidency, the entertainment sector unveiled numerous vibrant and thought-provoking productions that defied traditional norms, much like how Hollywood adapted to societal changes during the administrations of George W. Bush and Richard Nixon.

Following Trump’s departure from the White House, movies such as A24’s “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and Netflix’s comet satire “Don’t Look Up” delved into topics of widespread devastation and the necessary actions to prevent it. Last year, the media company co-founded by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, Higher Ground Productions, expanded their significant first-look agreement with Netflix.

1. It’s quite possible that the recent wildfires in Southern California have added to the gloomy atmosphere in Hollywood, as it has been experiencing a prolonged period of financial restraint.

2. The ongoing financial crunch in Hollywood might have been deepened by the effect of the recent fires in Southern California, contributing to an overall sense of despair there.

3. With Hollywood already grappling with financial constraints, the recent wildfires in Southern California could have further dimmed the spirits there.

4. The financial retrenchment Hollywood has been going through might have been exacerbated by the impact of the recent fires in Southern California, leading to a more somber mood.

5. The financial troubles in Hollywood may have been worsened by the effect of the recent wildfires in Southern California, creating a generally subdued atmosphere.

Currently, with the ongoing crisis and fires, there’s a hint of weariness and undeniably a sense of disorientation due to the rapid pace at which the Trump administration has unveiled some of their proposals, according to Steve Caplan, a principal strategist at Message based in Los Angeles who has been active in politics, advertising, and entertainment for many years. However, as the midterm elections and the governor’s race approach, people will be reflecting on the situation more deeply.

Nunan from UCLA characterized Trump as a significant catalyst or amplifier for individuals in the field leaning towards liberalism, who were already experiencing challenges because of the ongoing industrial slump.

“Just kind of a feeling of defeat has pervaded this place,” he said. “And it’s really unfortunate.”

It’s well-known that Hollywood has supported Democratic politicians for a long time. Celebrities like George Clooney and Julia Roberts attended fundraising events for former President Joe Biden. After his lackluster first debate, some in the entertainment industry urged Biden to withdraw from the race. However, many of these influential figures later backed Kamala Harris during her campaign.

The reason for the current atmosphere in Hollywood might partly lie in the fact that at the Golden Globe Awards held before Trump’s inauguration last month, the show avoided political discussions, with host Nikki Glaser and presenters mainly avoiding commentary on contemporary issues. However, during the Grammy Awards earlier this month, award recipients were more vocal about their opinions.

Due to the extended period required for movie production, it’s still premature to determine if the current administration or Hollywood’s response to it will influence ongoing or upcoming film projects. However, according to Caplan from Message, the indications are not promising.

He noted that the current trend and strategic moves by various brands and companies suggest a tough landscape for executing projects. Whether creativity and content are involved or not, it seems likely that it will prove to be a difficult task.

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2025-02-11 15:32

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