Oscar winner Viola Davis says social media has undermined her art form, especially when it comes to modern theater films.
The actor from “Fences” and “The First Lady” made a blunt and juicy accusation of what it takes to market films today. In a conversation about his JuVee content label at Saturday’s Produced By annual conference, Davis talked about the notion of escaping the cineplex and how store movies can erode the nuance of storytelling.
“Social media has taken over the definition of this art form. I think the word “escapism” is something interesting: the goal we all have is to sit in a movie with popcorn and Sour Patch Kids and forget about our lives, but it literally destroys our way. of art. ”she said.
Davis explained that his preadolescent daughter consumes great commercial dishes like Marvel, which Davis says she is a fan of, but “every time you are in a room selling a story, it’s about how much you can create a story that let us escape. Then the characters become a Mr. Potato Head, become Bobble Heads. We forget who these people really are until a movie pops up that makes our minds fly. “
Sitting with husband and business partner Julius Tennon, Davis explained that she created JuVee Productions to help explore stories rooted in reality. Davis said such prestigious projects exist to “see ourselves, our mess. But in these narratives there are usually no people who look like us. It’s a resistance to our humanity.”
Moderated by actor Yvette Nicole Brown on Century City’s Fox Lot, aspiring producers took the opportunity to seek advice from Davis and Tennon to build their projects. A Kenyan-born filmmaker from the crowd asked the couple how they deal with rejection of studios and networks when they are out of release.
“I would be bolder,” Davis suggested. “I have to say, especially as a black person, there are so many things that are taboo. Most people who are in the room asking for money or green light, there are certain things that you don’t say. It will be too insulting. you know until you try it “.
“My mom always said, a closed mouth doesn’t feed,” Tennon concluded.
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