Change Is Good

As actors, you’re likely aware of the rapidly shifting landscape of the entertainment industry. Since the strikes last year, uncertainty and fear about the future have been widespread. But here’s the truth: the industry has been here before. Seismic shifts have taken place time and again, and while scary, they have all made way to new possibilities and reinvention.

Over the past century, the entertainment industry has undergone dramatic changes, driven by technological advancements, shifts in the cultural landscape, and the rise of new distribution methods. The rise of television in the 1950s overtook radio and movie theaters as the main source of entertainment. Some of us remember the introduction of the I-Pod, which sparked a major upheaval in the music industry. Today, streaming services have surpassed traditional media outlets.

The History Of Reinvention

Every time a new technology emerges, the industry has had to adapt. When television first arrived in the 1950s, movie studios panicked, and the old Hollywood studio system collapsed. But from that shift came the “New Hollywood” of the late 1960s and early ‘70s, a golden age that gave birth to a new wave of creativity and innovation in film. One of the best accounts of this period is Peter Biskind's book Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, which chronicles the dramatic changes in Hollywood during that time.

BBS Productions & the Birth Of New Hollywood

BBS Productions, was a radical independent film production company, founded in 1967 by producers Bert Schneider, Bob Rafelson, and Steve Blauner. The company was at the forefront of the “New Hollywood” movement, which emphasized more daring, realistic, and personal storytelling. BBS helped break the traditional Hollywood mold by giving directors and screenwriters more creative control. I encourage you to look into the films and the stories about these groundbreaking artists. The photo above is of Criterion Collection’s box set of the BBS film library, including the documentary, Lost And Found - the BBS Story.

Make History

Just as BBS Productions and many other artists shaped the future of cinema, we have the opportunity to do the same today. We have the tools - smartphones, social media, and the internet - that previous generations of filmmakers could only dream of. In the 1960s and 1970s, independent filmmakers had to hunt down expensive equipment and film stock. Today, much of that technology is more affordable and accessible than ever before.

Spike Lee once said that the main reason young filmmakers went to film school was simply to get access to the equipment. Now, we have that equipment in our pockets.

The best way to face uncertainty is by learning from the past. Knowledge is power. Don’t wait for someone else to make things happen for you. By mastering the tools at your disposal and exploring your own ideas, you can be part of the next wave of innovation. Remember, you have the chance to make history.

All my best,

Greg Braun

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