In a world of eight billion people, it can be hard to imagine that there’s a lack of stories. Yet, the same kind of content seems to be made and re-made over and over year after year. Hollywood is a perfect example of this originality problem. With readaptations, sequels, prequels, remakes, and more, it’s becoming the norm to see the familiar on the screen instead of the new.
Some people might claim this is happening because, in our time of advanced resources, everything that had the potential to be created already has been. Well, if only 5% of the oceans have been explored, then I’d say there are more stories to uncover too. I mean, haven’t we seen enough adaptations of Batman throughout the years?
Where are the original concepts?
Some might say that new ideas simply aren’t being brought to the table. This isn’t true. A lot of creatives and entrepreneurs are full of ideas that are new and could work. The reason that higher-ups don’t always like the new material? Well, they often put the blame on consumers.They find that consumers don’t latch onto new ideas as easily because it’s unfamiliar territory and has the potential to fail.
The people on top know what sells. And if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. So, because people love Batman, (it has broken box-office records time and time again) studios keep on making that movie. Other businesses often replicate this same mentality. And as a CEO or COO, once you’ve reached the top, it makes sense you want to play it safe. You’ve already made your fair share of risky moves to get where you are, and now it’s time to stick with what works. Ensuring a profit is just a smart business decision. It’s all about the risk factor.
Franchises, sequels, reboots, oh my.
Now, focusing back on the entertainment industry, critics have begun saying that things like innovation and ingenuity are going on the wayside because of this originality problem. In 2017 it was discovered that 41 out of the 50 highest-grossing movies of all time were either a remake, sequel, or reboot. These have become the main players in the game, and if you don’t recycle an idea, it’s hard to go anywhere. In fact, as a scriptwriter, it is nearly impossible to sell an original idea or script unless you are the Aaron Sorkin of the industry. Company leaders are starting to see new material not as the future, but as a dying ideology.
What does this mean for the future?
Now, does this mean you should tearfully burn all of your original ideas in a bonfire? Absolutely not. The opposite, actually. Consumers are reaching a tipping point, and we’re starting to realize that the lack of ideas is a problem. For example, it’s been a while since we’ve seen new original movies, ones we used to love. We miss seeing movies like Forrest Gump, Bridesmaids, or The Truman Show. Consumers are starting to notice the lack of diversity in characters, stories, and people on their screens.
This newfound awareness could turn things around. Take, for example, some of the few original concepts that have snuck their way through the wire. Squid Game was an original concept and was an absolutely massive success. But it also took creator Hwang Dong-hyuk almost ten years to make it happen. This tells us that original concepts can be successful if they are only given their time in the spotlight. If higher-ups continue to push down creative ideas, we could continue losing beloved stories, ideas, and inventions to time.
