Reuters claim that gay films are doing worse than ever at the box office and with critics, despite the success of Brokeback Mountain and TV shows like Brothers & Sisters. They also claim that the rise of gay-themed cable channels like Logo and Here! are contributing to the proliferation of “gaysploitation” films, along the lines of the blaxploitation films of the 1970s.
As much as many people love the fact that there is now dedicated channels for gay content, it is true that the existence of them, and the need for more cheap, reusable gay content as a result, has probably contributed to lowering the bar.
This will continue as long as queer content is locked out of (or we don’t aspire to reach) mainstream distribution channels. Gay audiences are all too willing to download crappy video content for free on the web or watch gay schlock on cable TV.
It used to be that films were launched at festivals in the hope of securing mainstream distribution in cinemas. Now, according to Hollywood Reporter, film festivals are simply launching pads for DVD and cable distribution. Hence, standards are falling because the cable channels are clamouring for stuff they can get on the cheap and resell quickly to a salivating audience.
So, even if queer people ARE willing to get off their couches and support queer cinema at festivals, most of what we’re getting is nowhere near as good as it was ten years ago, because it doesn’t need to be. No matter how bad it is, it will get a run on cable, fund itself adequately and perpetuate this low-quality cycle.
There are of course two ways of looking at this. Some say that the fact that people are recognising the need for queer content – and just getting it made regardless of quality – is a huge leap forward for queer entertainment. I think that because we’re willing to settle for less it means that nobody will take that next step into developing gay projects with substance.
It takes real talent to produce films like Brokeback Mountain that attract new audiences but where queer content isn’t compromised. That kind of talent isn’t being nurtured in our community. Crossover success relies on established directors such as Ang Lee taking big risks and dipping their toes in gay waters.
We legitimise the scraps thrown at us over and over again. It’s either that or starve. Despite the occasional exception, we are headed down a slippery slope towards mediocrity in our entertainment. We’re a legitimate market, and we’re limiting ourselves.
Maybe we need to stop snacking on junk food, go a little hungry for a while, and really demand the good stuff whenever we choose to consume.
June 29, 2008 at 7:44 am
Good point, though I haven’t really been to a festival for a while (gonna see if I can change that with next year’s Mardi Gras…) since none of the dyke films at the London festival this year appealed.
TV in Britain has been a bit better lately with fabulous stuff on *the* prime time show (that’s not a soap or reality thing) – Doctor Who and its spin-off Torchwood. Just watched the penultimate episode for this series of Doctor Who and there was no holding back from Captain Jack and Ianto’s relationship, and this is a series purely aimed at a family (kiddie) audience. With Steven Moffat taking over next year there might be more lesbians in it (though I’m sure the key character in the Midnight episode of Doctor Who was a lesbian). He had two fab dykes in his Jekyl.