Dennis Quaid on Hollywood

Quick Overview

Dennis Quaid discusses how the Hollywood movie industry has changed, noting that post-COVID, it is harder to find reliable reviews and that actors are increasingly self-promoting on social media rather than relying on traditional press, which he finds exhausting.

Key Points: Quaid believes Hollywood took a significant blow from COVID-19, and the environment for promoting films has drastically changed. He notes the difficulty in finding reliable reviews for upcoming movies, contrasting it with the past when newspaper ads sufficed. He observes that actors are now constantly self-promoting on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, which he finds exhausting. Quaid mentions that the media landscape has fragmented, making it hard to know which sources to trust for film information. He contrasts the current environment with the 1970s/80s, citing the film 'Breaking Away' as an example of a time when a movie's success wasn't tied to constant social media presence. Quaid states that he is currently working on a new project, 'Happy Face,' and an autobiography, and that he only chooses projects he truly believes in. He references director Roger Corman, noting that Corman's films were rarely about the star's personal life, unlike today's culture.

Context: This is an interview segment from DW (Deutsche Welle) featuring Jordan Peterson interviewing actor Dennis Quaid. The discussion centers on Quaid's observations about the current state of the Hollywood film industry, particularly concerning promotion, media landscape changes post-COVID, and the shift in how actors are perceived and interact with the public.

Detailed Analysis

Dennis Quaid expresses to Jordan Peterson that the Hollywood movie industry suffered significantly due to COVID-19, leading to a fractured media landscape where finding reliable reviews for new films is difficult. He contrasts this with the past, recalling that for his film 'Breaking Away' (1979), a newspaper ad sufficed, whereas now, actors feel compelled to constantly self-promote on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Quaid admits this constant self-promotion is exhausting, and he chooses projects based on personal belief, referencing his upcoming film 'Happy Face' and his autobiography. He points out that actors like Roger Corman never had to deal with this level of personal scrutiny, noting that Corman's films were not about the star's personal life, which is a stark contrast to today where everything about an actor's life, including their political leanings, is scrutinized. He concludes that actors who do not participate in this constant self-broadcasting risk being overlooked, citing the example of a serial killer who had a famous father, suggesting that some individuals are inherently flawed despite appearing successful.